First data on plastic ingestion by blue sharks (Prionace glauca) from the Ligurian Sea (North-Western Mediterranean Sea)

Few studies have focused so far on plastic ingestion by sharks in the Mediterranean Sea. The aim of this paper was to determine, for the first time, the plastic litter ingested by blue sharks (Prionace glauca), categorized as \u201cCritically Endangered\u201d in the Mediterranean Sea by IUCN, caught in the Pelagos Sanctuary SPAMI (North-Western Mediterranean Sea). The analysis of the stomach contents was performed following the MSFD Descriptor 10 standard protocol implemented with FT-IR spectroscopy technique. The results showed that 25.26% of sharks ingested plastic debris of wide scale of sizes from microplastics (<5 mm) to macroplastics (>25 mm). The polyethylene sheetlike user plastics, widely used as packaging material, are the most ingested debris. This research raises a warning alarm on the impact of plastic debris on a threatened species, with a key role in the food web, and adds important information for futures mitigation actions

BIENES Y SERVICIOS ECOSISTÉMICOS, Y SU PERCEPCIÓN SOCIAL EN LA RESERVA FORESTAL EL MONTUOSO

Land rent for extensive animal breeding and subsistence agriculture constitute their main income of the inhabitants; nevertheless, “El Montuoso” conserves the more important fragments of native forests in the province of Herrera. The study has identified the main ecosystem goods and services of the Reserve, as well as the social perception of these services by the inhabitants of the Reserve and its neighborhood area. The inhabitants of the Reserve recognize the contributions of the forest remnants to the family economy of the local communities; although some of them, such as those due to inter-agency interaction, stay unnoticed. The results highlight the recognition made by most of “El Montuoso” inhabitants about the importance of conservation of the Reserve to assure the ecosystem goods and services that they provide, mainly their biological diversity, the water supply, the opportunities offered for ecotourism. However, they present conflicting opinions because the conservation of these values does not allow them to improve their life quality.La renta de tierras para ganadería extensiva y la agricultura de subsistencia, constituyen los principales ingresos de los habitantes; pese a ello, El Montuoso conserva los fragmentos de bosques nativos más importantes en la provincia de Herrera. El estudio ha permitido identificar los principales bienes y servicios ecosistémicos de la Reserva, así como la percepción social de estos servicios por los habitantes de la misma y de su zona de vecindad. Los pobladores de El Montuoso reconocen los aportes de los remanentes del bosque, a la economía familiar; aunque algunos de ellos, como los relativos a la interacción ecosistémica entre los organismos, pasan inadvertidos. Los resultados destacan el reconocimiento que hacen la mayoría de los habitantes de El Montuoso, sobre la importancia de conservar la Reserva, por los bienes y servicios ecosistémicos que les brinda, como son: la provisión de productos maderables y no maderables del bosque, el suministro de agua y las oportunidades que ofrece para el ecoturismo. Pero a su vez, presentan opiniones encontradas debido a que en su mayoría perciben que la conservación de estos valores no les permite mejorar sus medios de vida, por lo cual manifiestan frustración

Bienes y servicios ecosistémicos, y su percepción social en la Reserva Forestal el Montuoso

La renta de tierras para ganadería extensiva y la agricultura de subsistencia, constituyen los principales ingresos de los habitantes; pese a ello, El Montuoso conserva los fragmentos de bosques nativos más importantes en la provincia de Herrera. El estudio ha permitido identificar los principales bienes y servicios ecosistémicos de la Reserva, así como la percepción social de estos servicios por los habitantes de la misma y de su zona de vecindad. Los pobladores de El Montuoso reconocen los aportes de los remanentes del bosque, a la economía familiar; aunque algunos de ellos, como los relativos a la interacción ecosistémica entre los organismos, pasan inadvertidos. Los resultados destacan el reconocimiento que hacen la mayoría de los habitantes de El Montuoso, sobre la importancia de conservar la Reserva, por los bienes y servicios ecosistémicos que les brinda, como son: la provisión de productos maderables y no maderables del bosque, el suministro de agua y las oportunidades que ofrece para el ecoturismo. Pero a su vez, presentan opiniones encontradas debido a que en su mayoría perciben que la conservación de estos valores no les permite mejorar sus medios de vida, por lo cual manifiestan frustració

BIENES Y SERVICIOS ECOSISTÉMICOS, Y SU PERCEPCIÓN SOCIAL EN LA RESERVA FORESTAL EL MONTUOSO

Land rent for extensive animal breeding and subsistence agriculture constitute their main income of the inhabitants; nevertheless, “El Montuoso” conserves the more important fragments of native forests in the province of Herrera. The study has identified the main ecosystem goods and services of the Reserve, as well as the social perception of these services by the inhabitants of the Reserve and its neighborhood area. The inhabitants of the Reserve recognize the contributions of the forest remnants to the family economy of the local communities; although some of them, such as those due to inter-agency interaction, stay unnoticed. The results highlight the recognition made by most of “El Montuoso” inhabitants about the importance of conservation of the Reserve to assure the ecosystem goods and services that they provide, mainly their biological diversity, the water supply, the opportunities offered for ecotourism. However, they present conflicting opinions because the conservation of these values does not allow them to improve their life quality.La renta de tierras para ganadería extensiva y la agricultura de subsistencia, constituyen los principales ingresos de los habitantes; pese a ello, El Montuoso conserva los fragmentos de bosques nativos más importantes en la provincia de Herrera. El estudio ha permitido identificar los principales bienes y servicios ecosistémicos de la Reserva, así como la percepción social de estos servicios por los habitantes de la misma y de su zona de vecindad. Los pobladores de El Montuoso reconocen los aportes de los remanentes del bosque, a la economía familiar; aunque algunos de ellos, como los relativos a la interacción ecosistémica entre los organismos, pasan inadvertidos. Los resultados destacan el reconocimiento que hacen la mayoría de los habitantes de El Montuoso, sobre la importancia de conservar la Reserva, por los bienes y servicios ecosistémicos que les brinda, como son: la provisión de productos maderables y no maderables del bosque, el suministro de agua y las oportunidades que ofrece para el ecoturismo. Pero a su vez, presentan opiniones encontradas debido a que en su mayoría perciben que la conservación de estos valores no les permite mejorar sus medios de vida, por lo cual manifiestan frustración

integration of enhanced optical tracking techniques and imaging in igrt

Patient setup/Optical tracking/IGRT/Treatment surveillance. In external beam radiotherapy, modern technologies for dynamic dose delivery and beam conformation provide high selectivity in radiation dose administration to the pathological volume. A comparable accuracy level is needed in the 3-D localization of tumor and organs at risk (OARs), in order to accomplish the planned dose distribution in the reality of each irradiation session. In-room imaging techniques for patient setup verification and tumor targeting may benefit of the combined daily use of optical tracking technologies, supported by techniques for the detection and compensation of organ motion events. Multiple solutions to enhance the use of optical tracking for the on-line correction of target localization uncertainties are described, with specific emphasis on the compensation of setup errors, breathing movements and non-rigid deformations. The final goal is the implementation of customized protocols where appropriate external landmarks, to be tracked in real-time by means of noninvasive optical devices, are selected as a function of inner target localization. The presented methodology features high accuracy in patient setup optimization, also providing a valuable tool for on-line patient surveillance, taking into account both breathing and deformation effects. The methodic application of optical tracking is put forward to represent a reliable and low cost procedure for the reduction of safety margins, once the patient-specific correlation between external landmarks and inner structures has been established. Therefore, the integration of optical tracking with in-room imaging devices is proposed as a way to gain higher confidence in the framework of Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) treatments

Comparación de la anatomía foliar de cuatro especies del género cryptochloa swallen (poaceae: bambusoideae: olyreae)

El género Cryptochloa consta de nueve especies distribuidas desde América Central, hasta el noroeste de América del Sur. Este género se caracteriza por presentar muchos nudos hacia la parte superior de los culmos y hojas planas. En Panamá, se han reportado ocho especies, de las cuales cuatro son endémicas. El objetivo de este trabajo es comparar la anatomía interna y la epidermis foliar, de cuatro especies del género: C. concinna, C. decumbens, C. dressleri y C. variana. Para ello, se recolectaron hojas frescas de cinco individuos por especie: en Cerro Jefe, Parque Nacional Chagres (provincia de Panamá), Parque Nacional Altos de Campana (provincia de Panamá) y Santa Rita Arriba (provincia de Colón). Se prepararon placas fijas de cortes transversales de la parte media de la hoja y se documentó la anatomía interna mediante micrografías. Además, se obtuvieron imágenes de la epidermis empleando microscopio electrónico de barrido. Con los caracteres observados se elaboró una matriz y utilizando el programa de análisis multivariado (MVSP), y se aplicó el análisis de grupo ponderado emparejado con media aritmética (UPGMA). Este análisis permitió agrupar C. concinna con C. dressleri y C. decumbens con C. variana

Multidisciplinary studies on a sick-leader syndrome-associated mass stranding of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) along the Adriatic coast of Italy

Mass strandings of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are rare in the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, in 2014 a pod of 7 specimens stranded alive along the Italian coast of the Central Adriatic Sea: 3 individuals died on the beach after a few hours due to internal damages induced by prolonged recumbency; the remaining 4 whales were refloated after great efforts. All the dead animals were genetically related females; one was pregnant. All the animals were infected by dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) and the pregnant whale was also affected by a severe nephropathy due to a large kidney stone. Other analyses ruled out other possible relevant factors related to weather conditions or human activities. The results of multidisciplinary post-mortem analyses revealed that the 7 sperm whales entered the Adriatic Sea encountering adverse weather conditions and then kept heading northward following the pregnant but sick leader of the pod, thereby reaching the stranding site. DMV infection most likely played a crucial role in impairing the health condition and orientation abilities of the whales. They did not steer back towards deeper waters, but eventually stranded along the Central Adriatic Sea coastline, a real trap for sperm whales

Anthropic Pressure on Cetaceans Stranded Along the Ligurian Coast Within the Pelagos Sanctuary: A Case Series

Simple Summary: In recent decades, environmental changes consequent to human activities have become more important factors in the conservation of wild species. Despite the Ligurian sea being part of the Pelagos Sanctuary, which has been a Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) and a Marine Protected Area (MPA) since 1999, several anthropogenic threats affecting the health of cetacean populations living in this area are known to be present. In particular, interaction with fishing activities, contamination with chemical compounds such as organochlorine compounds (OCs), interaction with marine debris (especially, plastic debris), and the emergence of infectious agents, many of which are of terrestrial origin as a result of contamination of the marine environment by agricultural, animal, and human waste, are just some of the threats. In this regard, cetaceans stranded along the Ligurian coast between 2020 and 2022 were evaluated by means of a comprehensive post mortem examination and thorough specific diagnostic investigations to assess the level of anthropic pressure in this area by the Italian National Reference Center for Diagnosis of stranded Marine Mammals (C. Re. Di. Ma). Abstract: Data collected by C. Re. Di. Ma over a 3-year period (2020–2022) were considered to assess anthropic pressure on cetaceans living in the Ligurian sea. Out of a total of 37 stranded cetaceans, a complete post mortem examination was performed on 23 cases. Of these, 14 were further selected considering at least one of these conditions: (i) confirmed, probable, or suspected interaction with fishing activities through the application of a standardized diagnostic framework (7/14; 50%), (ii) toxicological stress through the evaluation of OCs hazardous levels (14/14; 100%), and (iii) terrestrial pathogen-associated disease (systemic infection and/or associated lesions) (7/14; 50%). For 9 animals out of a total of 14 selected, the cause of death was classified as natural (6/14; 42,8%), anthropic (3/14; 21,4%), or not determined (5/14; 35,7%) based on gross and histological pathology and ancillary testing. These findings extend our knowledge of the anthropic pressure to which cetaceans stranded along the Ligurian coastline are subjected from a multidisciplinary point of view

A multi-center output factor intercomparison to uncover systematic inaccuracies in small field dosimetry

Large uncertainties in output factor (OF) small fields dosimetry motivated multicentric studies. The focus of the study was the determination of the OFs, for different linacs and radiosurgery units, using new-generation detectors. Intercomparison studies between radiotherapy centers improved quality dosimetry practices. Results confirmed the effectiveness of the studies to uncover large systematic inaccuracies in small field dosimetry. Keywords: Multicentric studies, Small field dosimetry, Output factor

Análise comparativa dos Índices Padrão do Sistema PEARLS de Cooperativas de Crédito de Livre Admissão e Crédito Rural do Estado do Paraná de 2013 a 2015

The mains of this study was to compare the standard index of the credit unions of Free Admission and Rural Credit of State Paraná, Brazil, from 2013 to 2015, using the indicators calculated from the model proposed by WOCCU, and adapted by Bressan (2010) for the Brazilian reality called the Pearls System. The methodology adopted was multi-cases in which was used the financial balance sheets of credit unions collected on the site of Brazilian Central Bank. The indicator P was significant in the rural credit unions, which presented a high level of protection against credit risks; Group E indicated that credit unions of free admission had a greater part of their own resources to finance their investments; in group A showed an acceptable level of mobilization in both credit unions; in group L the liquidity in both credit unions was low, but attend operational needs.O presente artigo teve como objetivo comparar os índices Padrão do ramo de cooperativas de crédito de Livre Admissão e Crédito Rural no Paraná nos períodos de 2013 a 2015, utilizando os indicadores calculados a partir do modelo proposto pelo WOCCU, e adaptado por Bressan (2010), para a realidade brasileira denominado Sistema PEARLS. A metodologia adota foi de multicasos onde foram utilizados os balancetes financeiros das cooperativas de crédito coletados no site do Banco Central do Brasil. O indicador P mostrou-se significativo nas cooperativas de crédito rural, que apresentaram alto nível de proteção contra riscos de crédito; o grupo E indicou que as cooperativas de livre admissão tem a maior parte dos seus recursos próprios financiando seus investimentos; os indicadores do grupo A demonstram que ambos ramos apresentam um nível de mobilização aceitável; no grupo L a liquidez nos dois ramos é baixa, mas supri as necessidades operacionais