Habitat characterization and modeling of the potential distribution of the Military Macaw (Ara militaris) in Mexico

AbstractForest structure and composition have been used to assess the habitat characteristics that determine bird distributions. The patterns of distribution have been shaped by historical and ecological factors that play different roles at both temporal and spatial scales. The objectives of this research were to characterize the habitat of the endangered Military Macaw (Ara militaris) and evaluate the potential distribution of this species based on trends of land use changes in Mexico. We characterized the community structure and floristic composition of 8 forests that are currently used by the Military Macaw for breeding and feeding and compared the results with 6 similar forests characterized in other studies but without historical records of the presence of the Military Macaw. The Military Macaw preferred sites with high diversity of plant species dominated by trees from 4 to 15m in height and from 5 to 90cm in diameter at breast height. We identified 236 plant species in the 8 forests with 20 species (8.4%) used for nesting and feeding by the Military Macaw. The floristic composition is important for the presence of the Military Macaw because there were significant differences between forests with and without its presence. The potential area of distribution of the Military Macaw had decreased by 32% and the remnant areas are included in only 8 National Protected Areas. The protected areas of natural forests should be increased to preserve the sites of potential distribution and consequently the habitat of the Military Macaw in Mexico

The imperative for quality control programs in Monkeypox virus DNA testing by PCR: CIBERINFEC quality control

© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Medical Virology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.To evaluate molecular assays for Mpox diagnosis available in various clinical microbiology services in Spain through a quality control (QC) approach. A total of 14 centers from across Spain participated in the study. The Reference Laboratory dispatched eight serum samples and eight nucleic acid extracts to each participating center. Some samples were spiked with Mpox or Vaccinia virus to mimic positive samples for Mpox or other orthopox viruses. Participating centers provided information on the results obtained, as well as the laboratory methods used. Among the 14 participating centers seven different commercial assays were employed, with the most commonly used kit being LightMix Modular Orthopox/Monkeypox (Mpox) Virus (Roche®). Of the 12 centers conducting Mpox determinations, concordance ranged from 62.5% (n = 1) to 100% (n = 11) for eluates and from 75.0% (n = 1) to 100% (n = 10) for serum. Among the 10 centers performing Orthopoxvirus determinations, a 100% concordance was observed for eluates, while for serum, concordance ranged from 87.5% (n = 6) to 100% (n = 4). Repeatedly, 6 different centers reported a false negative in serum samples for Orthopoxvirus diagnosis, particularly in a sample with borderline Ct = 39. Conversely, one center, using the TaqMan™ Mpox Virus Microbe Detection Assay (Thermo Fisher), reported false positives in Mpox diagnosis for samples spiked with vaccinia virus due to cross-reactions. We observed a positive correlation of various diagnostic assays for Mpox used by the participating centers with the reference values. Our results highlight the significance of standardization, validation, and ongoing QC in the microbiological diagnosis of infectious diseases, which might be particularly relevant for emerging viruses.This research was supported by CIBER (Strategic Action for Monkeypox)—Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red—(CB 2021), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Unión Europea—NextGenerationEU. A. d. S. is supported by ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’ (grant number JR22/00055).Peer reviewe

Abriendo la puertazul: al lado del menor en situación de adversidad en salud

YesCon la acción de apertura de la PuertAzul, esta publicación se centra en abrir el debate, la discusión, a través de lo que opinan los involucrados en el proceso de atención de una persona menor que vive una situación de adversidad, relacionada con la salud

The imperative for quality control programs in Monkeypox virus DNA testing by PCR: CIBERINFEC quality control

To evaluate molecular assays for Mpox diagnosis available in various clinical microbiology services in Spain through a quality control (QC) approach. A total of 14 centers from across Spain participated in the study. The Reference Laboratory dispatched eight serum samples and eight nucleic acid extracts to each participating center. Some samples were spiked with Mpox or Vaccinia virus to mimic positive samples for Mpox or other orthopox viruses. Participating centers provided information on the results obtained, as well as the laboratory methods used. Among the 14 participating centers seven different commercial assays were employed, with the most commonly used kit being LightMix Modular Orthopox/Monkeypox (Mpox) Virus (Roche®). Of the 12 centers conducting Mpox determinations, concordance ranged from 62.5% (n = 1) to 100% (n = 11) for eluates and from 75.0% (n = 1) to 100% (n = 10) for serum. Among the 10 centers performing Orthopoxvirus determinations, a 100% concordance was observed for eluates, while for serum, concordance ranged from 87.5% (n = 6) to 100% (n = 4). Repeatedly, 6 different centers reported a false negative in serum samples for Orthopoxvirus diagnosis, particularly in a sample with borderline Ct  = 39. Conversely, one center, using the TaqMan™ Mpox Virus Microbe Detection Assay (Thermo Fisher), reported false positives in Mpox diagnosis for samples spiked with vaccinia virus due to cross-reactions. We observed a positive correlation of various diagnostic assays for Mpox used by the participating centers with the reference values. Our results highlight the significance of standardization, validation, and ongoing QC in the microbiological diagnosis of infectious diseases, which might be particularly relevant for emerging viruses.This research was supported by CIBER (Strategic Action for Monkeypox)—Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red—(CB 2021), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Unión Europea—NextGenerationEU. A. d. S. is supported by ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’(grant number JR22/00055)S

COVID-19 outbreak in long-term care facilities from Spain. Many lessons to learn.

Background/objectivesTo analyze mortality, costs, residents and personnel characteristics, in six long-term care facilities (LTCF) during the outbreak of COVID-19 in Spain.DesignEpidemiological study.SettingSix open LTCFs in Albacete (Spain).Participants198 residents and 190 workers from LTCF A were included, between 2020 March 6 and April 5. Epidemiological data were also collected from six LTCFs of Albacete for the same period of time, including 1,084 residents.MeasurementsBaseline demographic, clinical, functional, cognitive and nutritional variables were collected. 1-month and 3-month mortality was determined, excess mortality was calculated, and costs associated with the pandemics were analyzed.ResultsThe pooled mortality rate for the first month and first three months of the outbreak were 15.3% and 28.0%, and the pooled excess mortality for these periods were 564% and 315% respectively. In facility A, the percentage of probable COVID-19 infected residents were 33.6%. Probable infected patients were older, frail, and with a worse functional situation than those without COVID-19. The most common symptoms were fever, cough and dyspnea. 25 residents were transferred to the emergency department, 21 were hospitalized, and 54 were moved to the facility medical unit. Mortality was higher upon male older residents, with worse functionality, and higher comorbidity. During the first month of the outbreak, 65 (24.6%) workers leaved, mainly with COVID-19 symptoms, and 69 new workers were contracted. The mean number of days of leave was 19.2. Costs associated with the COVID-19 in facility A were estimated at € 276,281/month, mostly caused by resident hospitalizations, leaves of workers, staff replacement, and interventions of healthcare professionals.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic posed residents at high mortality risk, mainly in those older, frail and with worse functional status. Personal and economic costs were high

Llamando a la puerta azul. Al lado del menor en situación de adversidad en salud

Contiene: Llamando a la puertazul. Al lado del menor en situación de adversidad en salud (173 p.); Anexo 1. Así se realizó (45 p.); Anexo 2. Relación de biográficos (32 p.); Anexo 3. Instrumentos para la recuperación (19 p.); Anexo 4. Recomendaciones operativas en cuidados paliativos a menores (14 p.); Recopilar y resaltar (32 p.). Publicado en la página de la Consejería de Salud: www.juntadeandalucia.es/salud (Consejería de Salud / Ciudadanía / Participar. Subvenciones / 'Al Lado' con... / 'Al Lado' del Menor en situación de alta adversidad en salud)I. Un proyecto para estar al lado de menores en situación de adversidad en salud. II. Partiendo de las necesidades. III. Estrategias transversales. IV. Itinerario de atención compartida, como instrumento de seguimiento y mejora. V. Teniendo en cuenta el grado de adversidad. VI. Alta adversidad y cuidados paliativos en el menor. 1. Sobre el concepto, las oportunidades y los escenarios de los cuidados paliativos en las personas menores. 2. Necesidades del menor en situación terminal y su familia. 3. Los últimos días. 4. La atención al dueloYes'Al lado del menor en situación de adversidad en Salud' pretende, desde un modelo basado en la cooperación, estar “al lado” en el proceso de recuperación de menores afectados por una enfermedad y de sus familias, en colaboración entre los servicios de salud y las asociaciones

La ciudad de las mujeres

Blog del proyecto: http://ciudaddelasmujeres.blogspot.comEl trabajo obtuvo un Premio Tomás García Verdejo a las buenas prácticas educativas en la Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura para el curso 2017/2018. Modalidad BSe presenta un proyecto llevado a cabo durante el curso académico 2017/2018 en el IES Albalat (Navalmoral de la Mata, Cáceres) que pretendía la promoción de la igualdad efectiva entre mujeres y hombres mediante su integración en la enseñanza. Las actividades llevadas a cabo tenían los siguientes objetivos específicos: promover la educación inclusiva, profundizar en la educación en valores democráticos y de convivencia ciudadana que contribuyan a la implicación social del alumnado, propiciar el desarrollo de pedagogías activas como la enseñanza interdisciplinar y los métodos colaborativos que favorezcan a la reflexión docente y la coordinación pedagógica, fomentar estrategias metodológicas que permitan el uso de competencia clave mediante la interrelación de ámbitos del conocimiento y hacer reflexionar a la comunidad educativa sobre la necesidad de dar visibilidad a las mujeresExtremaduraES