Aves de la cuenca del río Sapo, departamento de Morazán, El Salvador

A review was made of the bird species registered in different sites that are part of the upper watershed of the Sapo river, a continuous forest ecosystem in different states of succession of 6,000 hectares, which represent the largest private protected area that could be established in El Salvador. This standard list, generated from field visits and the review of multiple sources, including 28 ornithological works, can help to make a bird analysis and its importance, especially for the protection of vulnerable and little-known species in the country. This in order to create a mechanism to help protect this area. From this review, we recorded a total of 231 species, the first published record of the Buff-collared Nightjar (Antrostomus ridgwayi), as a new species for the country. The Mountain Trogon (Trogon mexicanus) which for El Salvador is only known in the mountains of the department of Morazán and the new national distribution of Black Swift (Cypseloides niger), Rufous-necked Wood-Rail (Aramides axillaris) and Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens).Se hizo una revisión de las especies de aves registradas en diferentes sitios que conforman la cuenca alta del río Sapo, un ecosistema de bosque continuo en diferentes estados de sucesión, con más de 6,000 hectáreas de extensión, siendo el área protegida privada de mayor tamaño que pudiera establecerse en El Salvador. Este listado patrón, que se generó a partir de visitas de campo y la revisión de múltiples fuentes, que incluyeron 28 trabajos ornitológicos, puede ayudar al análisis de la avifauna y su importancia, sobre todo por la protección de especies vulnerables y poco conocidas en El Salvador. Esto con el fin de crear un mecanismo de gestión que contribuya a la protección de la zona. De esta revisión, se registra un total de 231 aves, entre ellas, el primer reporte publicado del Tapacaminos tu cuchillo (Antrostomus ridgwayi) como una nueva especie para el país. El Trogón de Montaña (Trogon mexicanus) que en El Salvador, solo se conoce en las montañas del departamento de Morazán y los nuevos registros de distribución nacional como el Vencejo Negro (Cypseloides niger), el Tamborcito (Aramides axillaris) y el Chipe Azuloso (Setophaga caerulescens)

Time-Dependent Collagen Fibered Structure in the Early Distraction Callus: Imaging Characterization and Mathematical Modeling

Collagen is a ubiquitous protein present in regenerating bone tissues that experiences multiple biological phenomena during distraction osteogenesis until the deposition of phosphate crystals. This work combines fluorescence techniques and mathematical modeling to shed light on the mechano-structural processes behind the maturation and accommodation-to-mineralization of the callus tissue. Ovine metatarsal bone calluses were analyzed through confocal images at different stages of the early distraction osteogenesis process, quantifying the fiber orientation distribution and mean intensity as fiber density measure. Likewise, a mathematical model based on the experimental data was defined to micromechanically characterize the apparent stiffening of the tissue within the distracted callus. A reorganization of the fibers around the distraction axis and increased fiber density were found as the bone fragments were gradually separated. Given the degree of significance between the mathematical model and previous in vivo data, reorganization, densification, and bundle maturation phenomena seem to explain the apparent mechanical maturation observed in the tissue theoretically.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness [Grant No. DPI2017-82501-P]; the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) [Grant No. PID2020-113790RB-I00/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033]; and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) with the Junta de Andalucı ´a [Grant No. US-1261691]

Multiscale characterisation of cortical bone tissue

Multiscale analysis has become an attractive technique to predict the behaviour of materials whose microstructure strongly changes spatially or among samples, with that microstructure controlling the local constitutive behaviour. This is the case, for example, of most biological tissues-such as bone. Multiscale approaches not only allow, not only to better characterise the local behaviour, but also to predict the field-variable distributions (e.g., strains, stresses) at both scales (macro and micro) simultaneously. However, multiscale analysis usually lacks sufficient experimental feedback to demonstrate its validity. In this paper an experimental and numerical micromechanics analysis is developed with application to cortical bone. Displacement and strain fields are obtained across the microstructure by means of digital image correlation (DIC). The other mechanical variables are computed following the micromechanics theory. Special emphasis is given to the differences found in the different field variables between the micro- and macro-structures, which points out the need for this multiscale approach in cortical bone tissue. The obtained results are used to establish the basis of a multiscale methodology with application to the analysis of bone tissue mechanics at different spatial scales

Molecular identification of hammerhead shark trunks from the southern Gulf of California using multiplex PCR

The demand for shark fins in Asiatic markets has resulted in excessive increases in shark catches, even for species that may be under protection or subject to management. As such, it has been necessary to develop and promote monitoring efforts for exploited species and taxonomic groups in order to improve fishing management strategies for elasmobranchs. Identifying species from landings is one of many fishing management problems because landed organisms have usually already been processed and are therefore incomplete, which makes identification problematic, impedes the generation of proper species records, and leads to poor fishery assessments. Tools that can correctly identify species, such as various molecular techniques, have become essential for accurate fishery assessments. In this study, 30 hammerhead trunks from artisanal fisheries from the southern portion of the Gulf of California were identified using multiplex PCR (17 Sphyrna lewini and 13 Sphyrna zygaena). The total fee to identify each trunk with this technique was ~ $3.80 and the procedure required 2 to 5 days. When compared with other widely-used methods, such as PCR-RFLP or barcoding, multiplex PCR is fast, efficient, low-cost, and easy to implement in a laboratory

Use of Sports Supplements in Competitive Handball Players: Sex and Competitive Level Differences

Sports supplements are commonly used by elite athletes with the main goal of enhancing sport performance. Supplements use might be substantially different depending on the sport discipline, sex, and competitive level. To date, data about prevalence and the most-commonly used supplements in handball are scarce. Thus, the aim of this investigation was to determine the patterns of supplements use by handball players of both sexes and with different competitive levels: One hundred and eighty-seven handball players (112 men and 75 women) of different competitive levels (106 professional and 81 amateur) completed a validated self-administered questionnaire about supplements use. Supplements were classified according to the categorization of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Overall, 59.9% of the handball players (n = 112) declared the use of at least one supplement and there were no significant differences between men and women (58.9% vs. 61.3%, p = 0.762) nor between professional vs. amateur handball players (67.1% vs. 53.8%, p = 0.074). The most prevalent supplements were sports drinks (42.2%), followed by energy bars (35.3%) and caffeine-containing products (31.6%). However, a greater consumption of group A supplements (those with strong scientific evidence; p = 0.029) and group B supplements (those with emerging scientific support, p = 0.012) was observed in male compared to female handball players. Supplements categorized as medical supplements were more commonly consumed in professional vs. amateur players (0.48 ± 0.80 vs. 0.21 ± 0.44, supplements p < 0.006). Additionally, a higher consumption of group B supplements was observed in professional compared to amateur players (0.58 ± 0.88 vs. 0.33 ± 0.72 supplements, p = 0.015). Handball players revealed a moderate use of supplements while sex and competitive level slighted changed the pattern of supplements use. A high portion of handball players use supplements as fuel during exercise and reported the use of caffeine-containing supplements to enhance performance.Universidad Francisco de Vitoria UFV-2020/4

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Study on Tuning the Electrical and Optical Properties of Zr-Doped ZnO Thin Films Grown by Atomic Layer Deposition

This work reports the ellipsometry analysis of atomic layer deposition (ALD) films of ZnO doped with Zr to determine parameters like free carrier concentration and mobility. Thin films of zinc oxide (ZnO) and Zr-doped ZnO of thickness similar to 100 nm were prepared by atomic layer deposition on sapphire, SiO2/Si(100), and Si(100) substrates. Variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to study their optical properties in the 0.5-3.5 eV spectral range. The optical constants were accurately obtained using a model that combines Drude and Tauc-Lorentz oscillators with Bruggeman effective medium approximations, allowing the inclusion of a roughness layer in the optical model. The effect of Zr doping (ca. 1.9- 4.4 atom %) was then investigated in both as- prepared samples and samples annealed in the temperature range of 100-300 degrees C. All of the films exhibited good optical transparency (ca. 70-90% in the visible region). For doping levels below 2.7 atom %, the real part of the dielectric permittivity reveals a semiconductor-to-metal transition in the near-infrared (NIR) region, as the permittivity goes from positive to negative. Besides, the plasma energy increases with increasing Zr concentration, and both resistivity and carrier concentration exhibit slightly parabolic behaviors, with a minimum of similar to 1.5 x 10(-3) Omega cm and a maximum of 2.4 x 10(20) cm(-3), respectively, at the same critical Zr concentration (2.7 atom %). In contrast, the carrier mobility decreases rapidly from 76.0 to 19.2 cm(2)/(V s) with increasing Zr content, while conductivities and carrier mobilities worsen when the annealing temperature increases, probably due to the segregation of ZnO crystals. Finally, the optical band gap is very stable, revealing its interesting independence of substrate composition and annealing temperature, as it collapses to a single master curve when band gap energy is plotted versus free carrier concentration, following the Burstein-Moss effect. Overall, the Zr-doped ZnO films studied here would be a highly desirable system for developing thermally stable transparent conductive oxides (TCOs)

Las actitudes de los periodistas ante los métodos de legitimidad dudosa

La presente comunicación expone los resultados de un aspecto parcial de una investigación que abarca muy diversos asuntos relacionados con la ética periodística. Se trata del proyecto “Ética y excelencia informativa. La ética periodística frente a las expectativas de la ciudadanía”. Antes de pasar a presentar una serie de datos obtenidos, describiremos sucintamente el contexto científico del trabajo y la metodología empleada

Las actitudes de los periodistas ante los métodos de legitimidad dudosa

La presente comunicación expone los resultados de un aspecto parcial de una investigación que abarca muy diversos asuntos relacionados con la ética periodística. Se trata del proyecto “Ética y excelencia informativa. La ética periodística frente a las expectativas de la ciudadanía”. Antes de pasar a presentar una serie de datos obtenidos, describiremos sucintamente el contexto científico del trabajo y la metodología empleada

La compatibilidad del ejercicio de la profesión desde la perspectiva ética de los periodistas españoles

El objetivo de la presente comunicación es analizar la percepción que tienen los periodistas españoles respecto a la posibilidad de compatibilizar o no el ejercicio de la profesión con el desarrollo de otro tipo de tareas. ¿Están de acuerdo los profesionales en simultanear el periodismo con otras actividades? ¿Con cuáles son más comprensivos? ¿Antes cuáles muestran un mayor rechazo? ¿Es legítimo militar en partidos políticos o realizar publicidad comercial? ¿Es igual de lícito trabajar a la vez en varios medios informativos que hacerlo en un medio informativo y en un gabinete de prensa al mismo tiempo? ¿Qué razones explican las diferencias? ¿Podría haber ciertos factores que condicionen las apreciaciones? Éstas son algunas de las preguntas a las que trataremos de dar respuesta en esta comunicación que se inscribe en el proyecto de investigación “Ética y excelencia informativa. La deontología periodística frente a las expectativas de la ciudadanía”, financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España, dentro del Plan Nacional de I+D+i (2004–2007). Este proyecto se desarrolla de manera conjunta entre las Universidades Pompeu de Barcelona –que actúa como coordinadora–, Carlos III de Madrid, Universidad del País Vasco y Universidad de Sevilla

Impaired Virulence and In Vivo Fitness of Colistin-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

4 páginas, 2 figuras. Presentado en parte: 20 º Congreso Europeo de Microbiología Clínica y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Resumen 1389, Viena, Austria, 10-13 de abril de 2010.Acinetobacter baumannii (American Type Culture Collection strain 19606) acquires mutations in the pmrB gene during the in vitro development of resistance to colistin. The colistin-resistant strain has lower affinity for colistin, reduced in vivo fitness (competition index, .016), and decreased virulence, both in terms of mortality (0% lethal dose, 6.9 vs 4.9 log colony-forming units) and survival in a mouse model of peritoneal sepsis. These results may explain the low incidence and dissemination of colistin resistance in A. baumannii in clinical settings.This work was supported by the European Development Regional Fund “A way to achieve Europe” (ERDF); the Spanish Network for the Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD06/0008), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain; and the Autonomous government of Madrid (COMBACT S-BIO-0260/2006, L.R.).Peer reviewe