Beetle diversity in fragmented thornscrub and isolated trees

Abstract Due to land use change mainly for induced agriculture, Tamaulipan thornscrubin northeast Mexico has been cleared and transformed into small patches of vegetation as small as isolated trees surrounded by agricultural fields. In this study, we explored how tree isolation or growing inside a fragment of remnant vegetation influence diversity of coleopterans in two plant species (Prosopis laevigata (Humb. &Bonpl.exWilld.) M.C. Johnst. (mesquite) and Ebenopsis ebano (Berl.) Barneby (Texas ebony). We found 72 coleopteran morphospecies; fifteen occurred mainly in remnant fragments and ten mainly in isolated trees. There were more insects under isolated mesquites than under those immersed in remnant fragments, while in Texas ebony the highest beetle density for isolated trees coincided with periods of bean and maize in surrounding agriculture. Keywords: coleopterans, vegetation-patches, landscape Resumo Devido a mudança de uso da terra para induzir principalmente a agricultura, o bioma thornscrub no nordeste México tem sido transformado em fragmentos pequenos como árvores isoladas rodeadas por campos agrícolas. Neste estudo exploramos como o isolamento das árvores influi na diversidade de coleópteros em duas espécies de plantas (Prosopis laevigata (Humb. & Bonpl.ex Willd) M.C. Johnst. (mesquite) e Ebenopsis ebano (Berl.) Barneby (Texas ebony). Encontramos 72 morfospecies do coleópteros; quinze ocorreram principalmente em fragmentos remanescentes e dez em árvores isoladas. No estudo houve mais insetos nas “mesquite” isoladas do que nos fragmentos remanescentes do bioma thornscrub, enquanto que em “Texas ebony” a densidade alta de coleópteros para árvores isoladas coincidiu com períodos de produção de feijão e milho na agricultura ao redor. Palavras-chave: coleoptera, paisagem fragmentada, vegetação fragmentad

The Current Status of the Distribution Range of the Western Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Northern Mexico

Abstract The distribution range of the western pine beetle Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is supported only by scattered records in the northern parts of Mexico, suggesting that its populations may be marginal and rare in this region. In this study, we review the geographical distribution of D. brevicomis in northern Mexico and perform a geometric morphometric analysis of seminal rod shape to evaluate its reliability for identifying this species with respect to other members of the Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) complex. Our results provide 30 new records, with 26 distributed in the Sierra Madre Occidental and 4 in the Sierra Madre Oriental. These records extend the known distribution range of D. brevicomis to Durango and Tamaulipas states in northern Mexico. Furthermore, we find high geographic variation in size and shape of the seminal rod, with conspicous differences among individuals from different geographical regions, namely west and east of the Great Basin and between mountain systems in Mexico. Key words: seminal rod shape, geometric morphometry, Dendroctonus frontalis comple

Oral chondroitin sulfate and prebiotics for the treatment of canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a randomized, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND Canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic enteropathy of unknown etiology, although microbiome dysbiosis, genetic susceptibility, and dietary and/or environmental factors are hypothesized to be involved in its pathogenesis. Since some of the current therapies are associated with severe side effects, novel therapeutic modalities are needed. A new oral supplement for long-term management of canine IBD containing chondroitin sulfate (CS) and prebiotics (resistant starch, β-glucans and mannaoligosaccharides) was developed to target intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress, and restore normobiosis, without exhibiting any side effects. This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in dogs with IBD aims to evaluate the effects of 180 days administration of this supplement together with a hydrolyzed diet on clinical signs, intestinal histology, gut microbiota, and serum biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. RESULTS Twenty-seven client-owned biopsy-confirmed IBD dogs were included in the study, switched to the same hydrolyzed diet and classified into one of two groups: supplement and placebo. Initially, there were no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05) for any of the studied parameters. Final data analysis (supplement: n = 9; placebo: n = 10) showed a significant decrease in canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI) score in both groups after treatment (p < 0.001). After treatment, a significant decrease (1.53-fold; p < 0.01) in histologic score was seen only in the supplement group. When groups were compared, the supplement group showed significantly higher serum cholesterol (p < 0.05) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) levels after 60 days of treatment (p < 0.01), and the placebo group showed significantly reduced serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels after 120 days (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between groups at any time point for CIBDAI, WSAVA histologic score and fecal microbiota evaluated by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). No side effects were reported in any group. CONCLUSIONS The combined administration of the supplement with hydrolyzed diet over 180 days was safe and induced improvements in selected serum biomarkers, possibly suggesting a reduction in disease activity. This study was likely underpowered, therefore larger studies are warranted in order to demonstrate a supplemental effect to dietary treatment of this supplement on intestinal histology and CIBDAI

Modelling the potential impacts of climate change on the hydrology of the Aipe river basin in Huila, Colombia

[EN] The dynamics of a global world, and humans performing as a new geological force, require that an effort is undertaken to make robust decisions in order to devise strategies for the management and adaptation to climate change. This study aims to investigate the potential impact of climate change on the hydrology of the Aipe river basin in Huila, Colombia. The abcd Thomas model (four parameters) was calibrated and validated for the stream flows of the Aipe catchment (1992¿2012). The sensitivity and identifiability of the parameters were evaluated using the Monte Carlo Analysis Toolbox (MCAT). The results show the ability of the model to simulate the monthly stream flow (Nash¿Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient of 0,89). The most influential parameters are: a (water storage in the soil) and c (contribution to the aquifer). From the simulated scenarios, the baseline (1992¿2012) was estimated to be an average flow of 15,44 m3s¿1; the trend extrapolation scenario estimated a rate 13,79 m3s¿1 (¿10,64%); while for the multi-model assembly scenario it was 9,34 m3s¿1 (¿39,47%) and for the A2 scenario it was 5,74 m3s¿1 (¿62,60%). Lastly, we propose a set of strategies for adaptation to climate change that are committed to the integral management of water resources.[ES] La dinámica de un mundo global y el hombre como nueva fuerza geológica plantean la necesidad de tomar decisiones robustas, diseñar estrategias de manejo y de adaptarse al cambio climático. Este estudio investiga la respuesta hidrológica de la cuenca hidrográfica del río Aipe (688.9 km2 ), en Huila, Colombia, en acorde con los escenarios de cambio climático desde 2011 a 2040. El modelo hidrológico abcd de Thomas (4 parámetros) fue calibrado y validado comparando el caudal simulado y lo observado en el punto de cierre de la cuenca (en la estación Puente Carretera), usando series históricas mensuales (1992¿2012). Realizamos la evaluación de la sensibilidad e identificabilidad de los parámetros con la herramienta `Monte Carlo Analysis Toolbox¿ (MCAT). Los resultados muestran que el modelo es capaz de representar adecuadamente los caudales mensuales observados en el punto de desagüe de la cuenca, al encontrarse un índice de eficiencia de Nash¿Sutcliffe (NSE) de 0,89. Los parámetros más influyentes son a (almacenamiento del agua en el suelo) y c (aporte al acuífero). Con respecto a la simulación de los escenarios, la línea base (1992¿2012) estimó un caudal medio de 15,44 m3 s ¿1 ; el escenario de extrapolación de tendencias estimó un caudal de 13,79 m3 s ¿1 (¿10,64%); el escenario de ensamble multi-modelo de 9,34 m3 s ¿1 (¿39,47%) y el escenario A2 de 5,74 m3 s ¿1 (¿62,60%). Proponemos una batería de medidas de adaptación al cambio climático que buscan la gestión integral del recurso hídrico.Romero-Cuellar, J.; Buitrago-Vargas, A.; Quintero-Ruiz, T.; Francés, F. (2018). Simulación hidrológica de los impactos potenciales del cambio climático en la cuenca hidrográfica del río Aipe, en Huila, Colombia. RIBAGUA - Revista Iberoamericana del Agua. 5(1):63-78. https://doi.org/10.1080/23863781.2018.1454574S63785

Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis

Background Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis. Methods A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16–45 years presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis). Results Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which two‐thirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; P < 0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cut‐off score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cut‐off score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent). Conclusion Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decision‐making by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified

Beetle diversity in fragmented thornscrub and isolated trees

Abstract Due to land use change mainly for induced agriculture, Tamaulipan thornscrubin northeast Mexico has been cleared and transformed into small patches of vegetation as small as isolated trees surrounded by agricultural fields. In this study, we explored how tree isolation or growing inside a fragment of remnant vegetation influence diversity of coleopterans in two plant species (Prosopis laevigata (Humb. &Bonpl.exWilld.) M.C. Johnst. (mesquite) and Ebenopsis ebano (Berl.) Barneby (Texas ebony). We found 72 coleopteran morphospecies; fifteen occurred mainly in remnant fragments and ten mainly in isolated trees. There were more insects under isolated mesquites than under those immersed in remnant fragments, while in Texas ebony the highest beetle density for isolated trees coincided with periods of bean and maize in surrounding agriculture