Neogene Bony Fishes from the Bahía Inglesa Formation, Northern Chile

Despite being one of the richest Neogene deposits of marine fossil vertebrates along the Pacific coast of South America, no detailed study of bony fishes from the Bahía Inglesa Formation has been carried out. Through the revision of historical collections of the Caldera Paleontological Museum, we describe 27 fossil remains of bony fishes. Fossils described here are distributed in 13 taxa. Among these, Sardinops sp. cf. S. sagax (Clupeidae) represents the first fossil record of the genus for Chile, Labrodon sp. (Labridae) and Stelliferinae (Sciaenidae) are the first respective records for the southeast Pacific Ocean, Sarda sp. (Scombridae) represents the first fossil record for South America, Semicossyphus sp. (Labridae) and Anisotremus sp. (Haemulidae) are the first respective records for the Southern Hemisphere. Gymnosarda sp. (Scombridae) is described for the first time for the Neogene. We performed a paleobathymetric analysis of fossil fishes, including elasmobranchs, to understand the paleoenvironment followed by a similarity analysis that compares the faunal composition of the Bahía Inglesa Fm. with other fossil assemblages for the Pacific of South America. Our results show that the fish fauna from the Bahía Inglesa Fm. likely represents a depth range of 98 to 382 m with a mean depth range of 252 m in an uppermost bathyal environment. The assemblage from the Bahía Inglesa Fm. shows low taxonomic similarity levels with other Neogene geological units from the southeast Pacific Ocean. The study represents the first paleoecological and paleobiogeographic analysis of the fossil fish fauna from the Southeast Pacific. Key words. Atacama region. Clupeiformes. Eastern Pacific. Paleoenviroments. Perciformes. Ophidiiformes

Influencia del biocarbón aplicado al suelo sobre atributos de rendimiento y calidad de avena forrajera

El suelo es un recurso imprescindible para la producción agrícola y, por lo tanto, requiere de condiciones adecuadas para favorecer una nutrición adecuada de los cultivos y generar mayores rendimientos. El biocarbón (BC) ha sido propuesto ampliamente para mejorar la calidad del suelo y la productividad de los cultivos. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar los efectos del biocarbón sobre el rendimiento y calidad de la avena forrajera, en el periodo otoño-invierno 2016-2017. Un diseño de bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones fue usado, el cual incluía tres tratamientos y un testigo: T0 = testigo absoluto; T1 = [fertilización convencional: (120-60-00 kg ha-1)]; T2 = (2.25 Mg ha-1 de biocarbón + fertilización convencional); T3 = (4 Mg ha-1 de biocarbón + fertilización convencional). El experimento se condujo en campo abierto con una densidad de siembra de 120 kg ha-1. Las variables evaluadas fueron: altura de planta (AP), materia verde (MV), materia seca (MS); fibra detergente neutra (FDN), fibra detergente ácida (FDA), proteína cruda (PC), nutrientes digestibles totales (NDT), digestibilidad de la materia seca (DMS). Los datos registrados se sometieron a análisis de varianza y las medias se compararon con la prueba de Tukey (P < 0.05). Diferencias estadísticas significativas (≤ 0.05) se observaron para AP y MV, donde T2 registró el mayor valor de 33 y 102%, respectivamente, frente al control. Se concluye que la aplicación de biocarbón influye positivamente sobre atributos de rendimiento de avena forrajera. Sin embargo, se deben realizar estudios más detallados, considerando condiciones distintas al presente estudio

Photon Shielding Features of Quarry Tuff

Abstract. Cantera is a quarry tuff widely used in the building industry; in this work the shielding features of cantera were determined. The shielding characteristics were calculated using XCOM and MCNP5 codes for 0.03, 0.07, 0.1, 0.3, 0.662, 1, 2, and 3 MeV photons. With XCOM the mass interaction coefficients, and the total mass attenuation coefficients, were calculated. With the MCNP5 code a transmission experiment was modelled using a point-like source located 42 cm apart from a point-like detector. Between the source and the detector, cantera pieces with different thickness, ranging from 0 to 40 cm were included. The collided and uncollided photon fluence, the Kerma in air and the Ambient dose equivalent were estimated. With the uncollided fluence the linear attenuation coefficients were determined and compared with those calculated with XCOM. The linear attenuation coefficient for 0.662 MeV photons was compared with the coefficient measured with a NaI(Tl)-based �-ray spectrometer and a 137Cs source

Reflexiones universitarias. San Pedro Valencia: renovación urbana, saneamiento ambiental y emprendimientos turísticos. Otoño 2015

Los trabajos que aquí se presentan se elaboraron por las y los estudiantes como parte de las actividades del Proyecto de Aplicación Profesional (PAP) “San Pedro Valencia: renovación urbana, saneamiento ambiental y emprendimientos turísticos”, durante el periodo de Otoño de 2015. A lo largo del periodo los autores compartieron sus reflexiones en torno a su percepción sobre el contexto en el que actúa el PAP; sobre las alternativas posibles a la problemática detectada y lo que significa pensar una alternativa; sobre los sujetos con los que se ha interactuado a lo largo de la experiencia de trabajo y sobre el papel del profesionista y del ciudadano en un mundo como el que nos tocó vivir. La obra está compuesta por reflexiones personales de las y los estudiantes que, explorando estas temáticas, comparten sus aprendizajes y observaciones de forma vívida.ITESO, A.C

Tisanópteros asociados al limón mexicano (Citrus x aurantifolia (Christm) Swingle) en Apatzingán, Michoacán, México

Objetive. to determine taxonomically the species of Thysanoptera in Mexican lime (Citrus xaurantifolia (Christm) Swingle), to understand their fluctuation and population density, andto calculate their interaction with rainfall.Design/methodology/approach. a simple random sample was used. The collections andsamples were carried out every 15 days, in 10 trees, and in 10 vegetative shoots. Thevegetative parts were washed with soap solution, to separate the thrips that were placed inentomologic containers with alcohol at 70 %. In total, 375 pieces of micromounting wereprepared. The taxonomic determination was by comparison. To understand the interaction ofThysanoptera with rainfall, the information was analyzed through a square polynomial, withthe RS REG. SAS method. 2 Results. the number of Thysanoptera collected was 4968. The species Scolothripssexmaculatus was dominant, followed by Scirtothrips citri, Frankliniella cephalica, and F.bispinosa. Four predator species of mites and thrips were identified: Scolothripssexmaculatus, Leptothrips mcconelli, Stomatothrips brunneus and Scolothrips palidus. Anadult specimen of the genus Microcephalothrips sp. 1 was found, two individuals of thegenera Liothrips and Microcephalothrips sp. 2, and seven of the genus Karnyothrips, whosespecies were not identified. A peak in the fluctuation and population density was detected,which corresponded to the months of January to April. The effect of rainfall was determinant.Limitations on study/implications. Civil unsafety and decapitalization of the lime productsystem.Findings/conclusions. Five dominating species were present in the three localities:Scolothrips sexmaculatus, Scirtothrips citri, Frankliniella bispinosa, F. cephacila and F.curticornis.Objetivo: determinar taxonómicamente las especies de tisanópteros en limón mexicano (Citrus x aurantifolia (Christm) Swingle), conocer su fluctuación y densidad poblacional, y calcular la interacción con la precipitación pluvial.Diseño/metodología/aproximación: Se utilizó un muestreo aleatorio simple. Las recolectasy muestreos fueron realizados cada 15 d, en diez árboles, y en diez brotes vegetativos. Las partes vegetativas fueron lavadas con una solución jabonosa, para separar a los trips, que fueron depositados en frascos entomológicos con alcohol a 70%. En total, se prepararon 375 micromontajes. La determinación taxonómica fue por comparación. Para conocer la 3 interacción de los tisanópteros con la precipitación pluvial, la información se analizó mediante un polinomio cuadrado, con el método RS REG. SAS.Resultados: Se obtuvieron 4968 tisanópteros. La especie Scolothrips sexmaculatus fuedominante, seguida de Scirtothrips citri, Frankliniella cephalica, y F. bispinosa. Seidentificaron cuatro especies depredadoras de ácaros y trips: Scolothrips sexmaculatus,Leptothrips mcconelli, Stomatothrips brunneus y Scolothrips palidus. Se encontró un ejemplaradulto del género Microcephalothrips sp. 1, dos individuos de los géneros Liothrips yMicrocephalothrips sp. 2 y siete del género Karnyothrips cuyas especies no se identificaron.Se detectó un pico en la fluctuación y densidad poblacional, que correspondió a los meses deenero a abril. El efecto de la precipitación pluvial fue determinante.Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: Inseguridad civil, y descapitalización del sistema producto limón.Hallazgos/conclusiones: En las tres localidades, se presentaron cinco especies dominantes: Scolothrips sexmaculatus, Scirtothrips citri, Frankliniella bispinosa, F. cephacilay F. curticornis

Transportability of non-target arthropod field data for the use in environmental risk assessment of genetically modified maize in Northern Mexico

In country, non-target arthropod (NTA) field evaluations are required to comply with the regulatory process for cultivation of genetically modified (GM) maize in Mexico. Two sets of field trials, Experimental Phase and Pilot Phase, were conducted to identify any potential harm of insect-protected and glyphosate-tolerant maize (MON89Ø34-3 × MON-88Ø17-3 and MON-89Ø34-3 × MON-ØØ6Ø3-6) and glyphosatetolerant maize (MON-ØØ6Ø3-6) to local NTAs compared to conventional maize. NTA abundance data were collected at 32 sites, providing high geographic and environmental diversity within maize production areas from four ecological regions (ecoregions) in northern Mexico. The most abundant herbivorous taxa collected included field crickets, corn flea beetles, rootworm beetles, cornsilk flies, aphids, leafhoppers, plant bugs and thrips while the most abundant beneficial taxa captured were soil mites, spiders, predatory ground beetles, rove beetles, springtails (Collembola), predatory earwigs, ladybird beetles, syrphid flies, tachinid flies, minute pirate bugs, parasitic wasps and lacewings. Across the taxa analysed, no statistically significant differences in abundance were detected between GM maize and the conventional maize control for 69 of the 74 comparisons (93.2%) indicating thatthe single or stacked insect-protected and herbicide-tolerant GM traits generally exert no marked adverse effects on the arthropod populations compared with conventional maize. The distribution of taxa observed in this study provides evidence that irrespective of variations in overall biodiversity of a given ecoregion, important herbivore, predatory and parasitic arthropod taxa within the commercial maize agroecosystem are highly similar indicating that relevant data generated in one ecoregion can be transportable for the risk assessment of the same or similar GM crop in another ecoregion

Towards sustainable partnerships in global health: the case of the CRONICAS Centre of Excellence in Chronic Diseases in Peru.

Human capital requires opportunities to develop and capacity to overcome challenges, together with an enabling environment that fosters critical and disruptive innovation. Exploring such features is necessary to establish the foundation of solid long-term partnerships. In this paper we describe the experience of the CRONICAS Centre of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, based at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru, as a case study for fostering meaningful and sustainable partnerships for international collaborative research. The CRONICAS Centre of Excellence in Chronic Diseases was established in 2009 with the following Mission: "We support the development of young researchers and collaboration with national and international institutions. Our motivation is to improve population's health through high quality research." The Centre's identity is embedded in its core values - generosity, innovation, integrity, and quality- and its trajectory is a result of various interactions between multiple individuals, collaborators, teams, and institutions, which together with the challenges confronted, enables us to make an objective assessment of the partnership we would like to pursue, nurture and support. We do not intend to provide a single example of a successful partnership, but in contrast, to highlight what can be translated into opportunities to be faced by research groups based in low- and middle-income countries, and how these encounters can provide a strong platform for fruitful and sustainable partnerships. In defiant contexts, partnerships require to be nurtured and sustained. Acknowledging that all partnerships are not and should not be the same, we also need to learn from the evolution of such relationships, its key successes, hurdles and failures to contribute to the promotion of a culture of global solidarity where mutual goals, mutual gains, as well as mutual responsibilities are the norm. In so doing, we will all contribute to instil a new culture where expectations, roles and interactions among individuals and their teams are horizontal, the true nature of partnerships

Plant characterization of genetically modified maize hybrids MON-89Ø34-3 × MON-88Ø17-3, MON-89Ø34-3 × MON-ØØ6Ø3-6, and MON-ØØ6Ø3-6: alternatives for maize production in Mexico

Environmental risk assessment (ERA) of genetically modified (GM) crops is a process to evaluate whether the biotechnology trait(s) in a GM crop may result in increased pest potential or harm to the environment. In this analysis, two GM insect-resistant (IR) herbicide-tolerant maize hybrids (MON-89Ø34-3 9 MON-88Ø17-3 and MON-89Ø34-3 9 MON-ØØ6Ø3-6) and one herbicide-tolerant GM hybrid (MON-ØØ6Ø3-6) were compared with conventional maize hybrids of similar genetic backgrounds. Two sets of studies, Experimental Phase and Pilot Phase, were conducted across five ecological regions (ecoregions) in Mexico during 2009–2013, and data were subject to meta-analysis. Results from the Experimental Phase studies, which were used for ERA, indicated that the three GM hybrids were not different from conventional maize for early stand count, days-tosilking, days-to-anthesis, root lodging, stalk lodging, or final stand count. Statistically significant differences were observed for seedling vigor, ear height, plant height, grain moisture, and grain yield, particularly in the IR hybrids; however, none of these phenotypic differences are expected to contribute to a biological or ecological change that would result in an increased pest potential or ecological risk when cultivating these GM hybrids. Overall, results from the Experimental Phase studies are consistent with those from other world regions, confirming that there are no additional risks compared to conventional maize. Results from Pilot Phase studies indicated that, compared to conventional maize hybrids, no differences were detected for the agronomic and phenotypic characteristics measured on the three GM maize hybrids, with the exception of grain moisture and grain yield in the IR hybrids. Since MON-89Ø34- 3 9 MON-88Ø17-3 and MON-89Ø34-3 9 MONØØ6Ø3- 6 confer resistance to target insect pests, they are an alternative for farmers in Mexico to protect the crop from insect damage. Additionally, the herbicide tolerance conferred by all three GM hybrids enables more cost-effective weed management

HLA-Driven Convergence of HIV-1 Viral Subtypes B and F Toward the Adaptation to Immune Responses in Human Populations

BACKGROUND: Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte (CTL) response drives the evolution of HIV-1 at a host-level by selecting HLA-restricted escape mutations. Dissecting the dynamics of these escape mutations at a population-level would help to understand how HLA-mediated selection drives the evolution of HIV-1. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We undertook a study of the dynamics of HIV-1 CTL-escape mutations by analyzing through statistical approaches and phylogenetic methods the viral gene gag sequenced in plasma samples collected between the years 1987 and 2006 from 302 drug-naive HIV-positive patients. By applying logistic regression models and after performing correction for multiple test, we identified 22 potential CTL-escape mutations (p-value<0.05; q-value<0.2); 10 of these associations were confirmed in samples biologically independent by a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte-Carlo method. Analyzing their prevalence back in time we found that escape mutations that are the consensus residue in samples collected after 2003 have actually significantly increased in time in one of either B or F subtype until becoming the most frequent residue, while dominating the other viral subtype. Their estimated prevalence in the viral subtype they did not dominate was lower than 30% for the majority of samples collected at the end of the 80's. In addition, when screening the entire viral region, we found that the 75% of positions significantly changing in time (p<0.05) were located within known CTL epitopes. CONCLUSIONS: Across HIV Gag protein, the rise of polymorphisms from independent origin during the last twenty years of epidemic in our setting was related to an association with an HLA allele. The fact that these mutations accumulated in one of either B or F subtypes have also dominated the other subtype shows how this selection might be causing a convergence of viral subtypes to variants which are more likely to evade the immune response of the population where they circulate