18 research outputs found

    The genus Eragrostis (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) in northwestern South America (Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru): morphological and taxonomic studies

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    ilustraciones, fotografĂ­a, mapasA morphological and taxonomic treatment of Eragrostis for northwest South America is given. The present revision intends to clarify the taxonomic and nomenclatural problems of the species of Eragrostis present in northwest South America. The classification, nomenclature, affinities, and macro and micromorphological variation of the genus are discussed. Forty-five morphological and micromorphological characters were selected for use in the descriptions and differentiation among the species. This study is based on the examination of herbarium specimens from AAU, AMAZ, ANSM, BA, BAA, BAB, BM, CA, CAUP, COAH, COL, CORD, CPUN, CTES, CUZ, ENCB, F, GB, GH, HAO, HUA, HUT, K, LE, LIL, LINN, LP, MA, MEXU, MICH, MO, NY, P, PSO, QCA, RSA, S, SGO, SI, TAES, UC, UPS, US, USM, UTC, W, and WIS, including the type specimens of most species studied. In addition, extensive field studies were performed to assess the diversity of the genus in this region of South America. Thirty-seven species are recognized in the study area (24 native and 13 introduced-naturalized); four of the species are cited for the first time for Colombia [Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud., Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau, Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) Steud., Eragrostis soratensis Jedwabn.] and three for Peru [Eragrostis acutiflora (Kunth) Nees, Eragrostis bahiensis Schrad. ex Schult., and Eragrostis secundiflora J. Presl]. Eragrostis condensata (J. Presl) Steud. is endemic to Ecuador, while Eragrostis magna Hitchc. and Eragrostis pilgeri Fedde are endemic to Peru. Twenty-nine species are recorded in Colombia, 19 in Ecuador, and 26 in Peru. Keys for determining the species, descriptions, illustrations, geographical distributions, morphological and ecological observations, chromosome numbers, specimens studied, and synonymies are provided for all native and adventive species of Eragrostis in northwestern South America. Eragrostis lasseri Luces is placed as a synonym of Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br., and Eragrostis nigricans (Kunth) Steud. var. punensis Nicora is placed as a synonym of Eragrostis mexicana (Hornem.) Link subsp. mexicana. The lectotype for Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau is designated here. Eragrostis patula (Kunth) Steud. and Eragrostis unioloides (Retz.) Nees ex Steud. are excluded from the Colombian Flora since all specimens identified as Eragrostis patula are apparently misidentified and are usually referable to Eragrostis tenuifolia (A. Rich.) Hochst. ex Steud. A single specimen identified as Eragrostis unioloides as cited in the Flora of Antioquia (Colombia) was misidentified and it belongs to Chascolytrum juergensii (Hack.) Essi, Souza-Chies & Longhi-Wagner. (texto tomado de la fuente)Se presenta un estudio morfológico y taxonómico de las especies del género Eragrostis del noroeste de Sudamérica. Con esta revisión se pretende clarificar los problemas taxonómicos y nomenclaturales de los taxones de Eragrostis presentes en el noroeste de Sudamérica. Se analizan diversos aspectos relativos a la clasificación, la nomenclatura, las afinidades genéricas y la variación macro y micromorfológica de los caracteres. Se consideraron 45 caracteres –entre macro y micromorfológicos– los cuales son de suma utilidad en la elaboración de las descripciones, así como para diferenciar y reconocer las diferentes especies. Esta investigación está basada en el análisis de los especímenes depositados en los herbarios AAU, AMAZ, ANSM, BA, BAA, BAB, BM, CA, CAUP, COAH, COL, CORD, CPUN, CTES, CUZ, ENCB, F, GB, GH, HAO, HUA, HUT, K, LE, LIL, LINN, LP, MA, MEXU, MICH, MO, NY, P, PSO, QCA, RSA, S, SGO, SI, TAES, UC, UPS, US, USM, UTC, W y WIS, en el que se incluye, además, el estudio de material tipo para la mayoría de las especies consideradas. Adicionalmente, se realizaron numerosas salidas de campo, con el fin de enriquecer las colecciones del género para esta área geográfica de Sudamérica. Se reconocen 37 especies para el área de estudio (24 nativas y 13 introducidas-naturalizadas), de las cuales siete especies constituyen novedades corológicas: Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud., Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau, Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) Steud. y Eragrostis soratensis Jedwabn. se citan por primera vez para Colombia, mientras que Eragrostis acutiflora (Kunth) Nees, Eragrostis bahiensis Schrad. ex Schult. y Eragrostis secundiflora J. Presl se registran por primera vez para Perú. Merece destacarse que Eragrostis condensata (J. Presl) Steud. es endémica de Ecuador, mientras que Eragrostis magna Hitchc. y Eragrostis pilgeri Fedde son endémicas de Perú. Este género está representado en Colombia por 29 especies, en Ecuador por 19 y en Perú por 26. Se presentan las claves para reconocer las especies nativas y adventicias presentes en el noroeste de Sudamérica, así como también las descripciones de éstas, la iconografía, la distribución geográfica, los especímenes estudiados, los sinónimos, los números cromosómicos, y se comentan algunas observaciones morfológicas y ecológicas. Por otra parte, Eragrostis lasseri Luces se reduce a la sinonimia de Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br., y Eragrostis nigricans (Kunth) Steud. var. punensis Nicora se reduce a la sinonimia de Eragrostis mexicana (Hornem.) Link subsp. mexicana. Se designa el lectotipo para Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau. Las especies Eragrostis patula (Kunth) Steud. y Eragrostis unioloides (Retz.) Nees ex Steud. se excluyen de la flora colombiana. Eragrostis patula es frecuentemente considerada en floras locales de Colombia; sin embargo, los especímenes referidos a dicha especie pertenecen generalmente a Eragrostis tenuifolia (A. Rich.) Hochst. ex Steud. Entre tanto, Eragrostis unioloides ha sido citada para la Flora de Antioquia (Colombia) con base en un único ejemplar, pero realmente el espécimen corresponde claramente a Chascolytrum juergensii (Hack.) Essi, Souza-Chies & Longhi-Wagner. (texto tomado de la fuente)Presentation -- Abstract -- Resumen -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Macromorphological analyses -- Micromorphological analyses -- Phytoliths -- Reproductive structures – Microscopy -- Micromorphological and anatomical terminology -- Species concept -- Ant samples -- Results and Discussion -- Phytoliths -- Silica bodies -- Long cells – Short cells -- Stomatal complexes – Macrohairs -- Microhairs -- Prickle hairs – Papillae – Glands -- An overview of glands in grasses -- Microhairs (bicellular trichomes) in Eragrostis -- Multicellular glands (extrafloral nectaries) in Eragrostis -- Spikelet morphology -- Caryopsis morphology -- Diversity of species of Eragrostis in northwestern South America -- Ecology and geographic distribution -- Economic importance -- Taxonomic treatment -- Eragrostis Wolf -- Etymology -- Base chromosome number and levels of ploidy -- Monophyly of Eragrostis -- Biochemical features --The subtribe Eragrostidinae -- Key to separate Eragrostis and Steirachne -- Infrageneric classification -- Comments -- Key to the species of Eragrostis in Colombia -- Key to the species of Eragrostis in Ecuador -- Key to the species of Eragrostis in Peru -- Descriptions of the species -- Eragrostis acutiflora (Kunth) Nees -- Eragrostis airoides Nees -- Eragrostis andicola R. E. Fr -- Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud. -- Eragrostis attenuata Hitchc. -- Eragrostis bahiensis Schrad. Ex Schult. -- Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau -- Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vignolo ex Janch. -- Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br. -- Eragrostis condensata (J. Presl) Steud. -- Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees -- Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) Steud. -- Eragrostis hypnoides (Lam.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. -- Eragrostis intermedia Hitchc. -- Eragrostis japonica (Thunb.) Trin. -- Eragrostis lugens Nees -- Eragrostis lurida J. Presl. -- Eragrostis magna Hitchc. -- Eragrostis maypurensis (Kunth) Steud. -- Eragrostis mexicana (Hornem.) Link -- Eragrostis mokensis Pilg. -- Eragrostis nigricans (Kunth) Steud. -- Eragrostis pastoensis (Kunth) Trin. -- Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees -- Eragrostis peruviana (Jacq.) Trin. -- Eragrostis pilgeri Fedde -- Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv. -- Eragrostis polytricha Nees -- Eragrostis prolifera (Sw.) Steud. -- Eragrostis rufescens Schrad. ex Schult -- Eragrostis secundiflora J. Presl. -- Eragrostis soratensis Jedwabn -- Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult -- Eragrostis tenuifolia (A. Rich.) Hochst. ex Steud. -- Eragrostis unioloides (Retz.) Nees ex Steud. -- Eragrostis viscosa (Retz.) Trin -- Eragrostis weberbaueri Pilg. -- Excluded names -- Acknowledgments -- Literature Cited -- Appendix 1. List of names and synonyms -- Appendix 2. List of vernacular namesPrimera ediciĂł

    Revision of Muhlenbergia (Poaceae, Chloridoideae, Cynodonteae, Muhlenbergiinae) in Peru: classification, phylogeny, and a new species, M. romaschenkoi

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    A taxonomic treatment, phylogeny based on analysis of six DNA sequence markers (ITS, ndhA intron, rpl32-trnL, rps3, rps16 intron and rps16-trnK) and classification of Muhlenbergia for Peru is given. Seventeen species and one presumed hybrid are recognised. Muhlenbergia romaschenkoi sp. nov. is newly described from the Río Huallaga Valley, northeast of Huánuco. The type of Podosemum angustatum [≡ Muhlenbergia angustata] clearly aligns with what we had been referring to as the hybrid between this species and M. rigida. Therefore, we adopt the next available heterotypic name, Muhlenbergia coerulea, for what we had been calling M. angustata and change the hybrid designation to M. coerulea × M. rigida. Lectotypes are designated for Epicampes coerulea Griseb., Muhlenbergia affinis Trin., Muhlenbergia berlandieri Trin., Muhlenbergia beyrichiana Kunth, Muhlenbergia elegans var. atroviolacea Kuntze, Muhlenbergia elegans var. subviridis Kuntze and Muhlenbergia phragmitoides Griseb

    Vegetation of Northern Peru: from the humid forests to the “jalca” in Cajamarca

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    El departamento de Cajamarca, en el Norte del PerĂș, se caracteriza en general por un clima mĂĄs hĂșmedo que el resto del territorio andino peruano occidental. Teniendo en cuenta el paralelismo entre el clima y las unidades de vegetaciĂłn que ofrecen los pisos bioclimĂĄticos, los ombrotipos, la geologĂ­a y los suelos, y levantando inventarios segĂșn la metodologĂ­a de Braun-Blanquet, estudiamos la vegetaciĂłn de este territorio. Se describen 2 comunidades vegetales, 8 asociaciones, 3 subasociaciones, 3 alianzas, 1 orden y 1 clase fitosociolĂłgica. Como resultado, se analizan la comunidad de Cecropia montana y Heliocarpus americanus (termotropical subhĂșmedo-hĂșmeda) y de Muntingia calabura y Hura crepitans (infratropical seco-subhĂșmeda), ambas de la clase Nectandro laevis-Licarietea canellae presente en el norte del territorio. Hacia el sur, los bosques lauroides y esclerĂłfilos estĂĄn representados por las nuevas asociaciones Axinaeo nitidae-Podocarpetum oleifolii (bosques mesotropicales, hĂșmedo-hiperhĂșmedos), Verbesino auriculigerae-Siparunetum muricatae (bosques mesotropicales hĂșmedo-hiperhĂșmedos de ĂĄreas alteradas), Berberido beauverdianae-Myrcianthetum myrsinoidis (bosques del piso mesotropical inferior seco-subhĂșmedo) y Aristeguietio discoloris-Kageneckietum lanceolatae (bosques del piso mesotropical superior seco-subhĂșmedo), todas agrupadas en la nueva alianza Monnino pilosae-Myrcianthion myrsinoidis (Pruno rigidae-Oreopanacetea floribundi). Las asociaciones nuevas Baccharito latifoliae-Monactinetum flaverioidis (supra-mesotropical subhĂșmedo-seca) y Monactino flaverioidis-Colignonietum parviflorae (mesotropical hĂșmeda) son las arbustedas sucesionales de los bosques y se agrupan en la alianza Otholobio munyensis-Rubion robusti all. nova y en la nueva clase andina Clematido peruvianae-Baccharitetea latifoliae. Se describen dos nuevas asociaciones de los pajonales del pĂĄramo (“jalca”) con sus subasociaciones: Calamagrostio tarmensis-Hypericetum laricifolii (pajonales supratropicales hĂșmedos del sector Chota-ContumazĂĄ), con la subasociaciĂłn cortaderietosum nitidae en ĂĄreas rocosas, y Agrostio tolucensis-Paspaletum bonplandiani (pajonales orotropicales hĂșmedos-hiperhĂșmedos del sector Chota-ContumazĂĄ), con la subasociaciĂłn puyetosum fastuosae en suelos hĂșmedos, y calamagrostietosum curvulae como una subasociaciĂłn de transiciĂłn hacia los pajonales de la puna del centro del PerĂș. AdemĂĄs, hemos reconocido y lectotipificado la asociaciĂłn supratropical hĂșmeda Oreobolo goeppingieri-Hypericetum laricifolii, caracterĂ­stica del sector biogeogrĂĄfico Loja-Cutervo. Todas estas asociaciones de pastizales pertenecen a la nueva alianza Agrostio tolucensis-Paspalion bonplandiani y al nuevo orden Agrostio tolucensis-Paspaletalia bonplandiani (Calamagrostietea vicunarum). Por otra parte, presentamos un esquema sintaxonĂłmico con todas las clases fitosociolĂłgicas estudiadas por el momento en el departamento de Cajamarca, incluyendo bosques secos y vegetaciĂłn con cactus y otras plantas suculentas (Acacio macracanthae-Prosopidetea pallidae), alisedas (Alnetea acuminatae), bosques altoandinos (Polylepidetea tarapacano-besseri), y vegetaciĂłn helofĂ­tica de riveras (Tessario integrifoliae-Baccharitetea salicifoliae). Como resultado de este estudio fitosociolĂłgico comentamos la biogeografĂ­a del N del PerĂș estableciendo los sectores Loja-Cutervo y Chota-ContumazĂĄ, y finalmente hemos cartografiado la vegetaciĂłn potencial de Cajamarca

    La vegetaciĂłn del Norte del PerĂș: de los bosques a la jalca en Cajamarca

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    Español.   El departamento de Cajamarca, en el Norte del PerĂș, se caracteriza en general por un clima mĂĄs hĂșmedo que el resto del territorio andino peruano occidental. Teniendo en cuenta el paralelismo entre el clima y las unidades de vegetaciĂłn que ofrecen los pisos bioclimĂĄticos, los ombrotipos, la geologĂ­a y los suelos, y levantando inventarios segĂșn la metodologĂ­a de Braun-Blanquet, estudiamos la vegetaciĂłn de este territorio. Se describen 2 comunidades vegetales, 8 asociaciones, 3 subasociaciones, 3 alianzas, 1 orden y 1 clase fitosociolĂłgica. Como resultado, se analizan la comunidad de Cecropia montana y Heliocarpus americanus (termotropical subhĂșmedo-hĂșmeda) y de Muntingia calabura y Hura crepitans (infratropical seco-subhĂșmeda), ambas de la clase Nectandro laevis-Licarietea canellae presente en el norte del territorio. Hacia el sur, los bosques lauroides y esclerĂłfilos estĂĄn representados por las nuevas asociaciones Axinaeo nitidae-Podocarpetum oleifolii (bosques mesotropicales, hĂșmedo-hiperhĂșmedos), Verbesino auriculigerae-Siparunetum muricatae (bosques mesotropicales hĂșmedo-hiperhĂșmedos de ĂĄreas alteradas), Berberido beauverdianae-Myrcianthetum myrsinoidis (bosques del piso mesotropical inferior seco-subhĂșmedo) y Aristeguietio discoloris-Kageneckietum lanceolatae (bosques del piso mesotropical superior seco-subhĂșmedo), todas agrupadas en la nueva alianza Monnino pilosae-Myrcianthion myrsinoidis (Pruno rigidae-Oreopanacetea floribundi). Las asociaciones nuevas Baccharito latifoliae-Monactinetum flaverioidis (supra-mesotropical subhĂșmedo-seca) y Monactino flaverioidis-Colignonietum parviflorae (mesotropical hĂșmeda) son las arbustedas sucesionales de los bosques y se agrupan en la alianza Otholobio munyensis-Rubion robusti all. nova y en la nueva clase andina Clematido peruvianae-Baccharitetea latifoliae. Se describen dos nuevas asociaciones de los pajonales del pĂĄramo (“jalca”) con sus subasociaciones: Calamagrostio tarmensis-Hypericetum laricifolii (pajonales supratropicales hĂșmedos del sector Chota-ContumazĂĄ), con la subasociaciĂłn cortaderietosum nitidae en ĂĄreas rocosas, y Agrostio tolucensis-Paspaletum bonplandiani (pajonales orotropicales hĂșmedos-hiperhĂșmedos del sector Chota-ContumazĂĄ), con la subasociaciĂłn puyetosum fastuosae en suelos hĂșmedos, y calamagrostietosum curvulae como una subasociaciĂłn de transiciĂłn hacia los pajonales de la puna del centro del PerĂș. AdemĂĄs, hemos reconocido y lectotipificado la asociaciĂłn supratropical hĂșmeda Oreobolo goeppingieri-Hypericetum laricifolii, caracterĂ­stica del sector biogeogrĂĄfico Loja-Cutervo. Todas estas asociaciones de pastizales pertenecen a la nueva alianza Agrostio tolucensis-Paspalion bonplandiani y al nuevo orden Agrostio tolucensis-Paspaletalia bonplandiani (Calamagrostietea vicunarum). Por otra parte, presentamos un esquema sintaxonĂłmico con todas las clases fitosociolĂłgicas estudiadas por el momento en el departamento de Cajamarca, incluyendo bosques secos y vegetaciĂłn con cactus y otras plantas suculentas (Acacio macracanthae-Prosopidetea pallidae), alisedas (Alnetea acuminatae), bosques altoandinos (Polylepidetea tarapacano-besseri), y vegetaciĂłn helofĂ­tica de riveras (Tessario integrifoliae-Baccharitetea salicifoliae). Como resultado de este estudio fitosociolĂłgico comentamos la biogeografĂ­a del N del PerĂș estableciendo los sectores Loja-Cutervo y Chota-ContumazĂĄ, y finalmente hemos cartografiado la vegetaciĂłn potencial de Cajamarca English. The Department of Cajamarca, in Northern Peru, is generally characterized by a more general humid climate that in the rest of the occidental Andean Peruvian territory. Taking account of the parallelism between climate and vegetation units offered by bioclimatic belts and ombrotypes, geology and soils, and making plots according to the Braun-Blanquet methodology, the vegetation of the territory was studied. Two plant communities, 8 associations, 3 subassociations, 3 alliances, 1 order and 1 phytosociological class are described. As a result, we have analyzed the Cecropia montana and Heliocarpus americanus (thermotropical subhumid-humid) and the Muntingia calabura and Hura crepitans (infratropical dry-subhumid) plant communities, both belonging to the Nectandro laevis-Licarietea canellae class in the North of the territory. To the South, laurel like and sclerophyllous forests are represented by the new associations Axinaeo nitidae-Podocarpetum oleifolii (mesotropical, humid-hyperhumid forests), Verbesino auriculigerae-Siparunetum muricatae (mesotropical humid-hyperhumid forests on disturbed areas), Berberido beauverdianae-Myrcianthetum myrsinoidis (lower mesotropical dry-subhumid forests), and Aristeguietio discoloris-Kageneckietum lanceolatae (upper mesotropical dry-subhumid forests), all grouped into the new alliance Monnino pilosae-Myrcianthion myrsinoidis (Pruno rigidae-Oreopanacetea floribundi). The supra-mesotropical, subhumid-dry Baccharito latifoliae-Monactinetum flaverioidis and the mesotropical humid Monactino flaverioidis-Colignonietum parviflorae new associations are the successional shrublands of the forests, grouped into the new alliance Otholobio munyensis-Rubion robusti and into the new Andean class Clematido peruvianae-Baccharitetea latifoliae. Two new associations for the paramo (“jalca”) grasslands have been described with their subassociations: Calamagrostio tarmensis-Hypericetum laricifolii (supratropical humid grasslands from the Chota-ContumazĂĄ biogeographical sector), with cortaderietosum nitidae subassociation on rocky areas, and Agrostio tolucensis-Paspaletum bonplandiani (orotropical humid-hyperhumid grasslands from the Chota-ContumazĂĄ biogeographical sector), with puyetosum fastuosae subassociation on humid soils, and calamagrostietosum curvulae as transitional subassociation to the puna grasslands in Central Peru. Furthermore, we have recognized and lectotypified the supratropical humid association Oreobolo goeppingieri-Hypericetum laricifolii from the Loja-Cutervo biogeographical sector. These grassland associations belong to the new alliance Agrostio tolucensis-Paspalion bonplandiani and to the new order Agrostio tolucensis-Paspaletalia bonplandiani (Calamagrostietea vicunarum class). Besides, we present a syntaxonomical scheme with all the phytosociological class studied for the moment in the Department of Cajamarca, including dry forest and succulent vegetation with cactus (Acacio macracanthae-Prosopidetea pallidae), Andean alder forests (Alnetea acuminatae), high Andean forests (Polylepidetea tarapacano-besseri), and helophytic river vegetation (Tessario integrifoliae-Baccharitetea salicifoliae). As a result of the study of the phytosociological units of Cajamarca, we comment the biogeography of Northern Peru establishing the Loja-Cutervo and Chota-ContumazĂĄ sectors, and finally, we have maped the potential vegetation of Cajamarca

    Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

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    Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

    Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

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    In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

    A phytosociological analysis and synopsis of the dry woodlands and succulent vegetation of the Peruvian Andes

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    ABSTRACT A phytosociological approach to dry forest and cactus communities on the occidental slopes of the Peruvian Andes is presented in base of 164 plots carried out following the Braun-Blanquet method. From them, 52 have been made recently, and the other 112 were taken from the literature. After a multivariate analysis, using a hierarchical clustering and a detendred correspondence analysis, the Acacio-Prosopidetea class (dry forest and cactus communities, developed on soils with some edaphic humidity or precipitations derived from El Niño Current), the Opuntietea sphaericae class (cactus communities of central and southern Peru, on few stabilized rocky or sandy soils) and the Carico-Caesalpinietea class (dry forests of the Peruvian coastal desert, influenced by the maritime humidity of the cold Humboldt Current), are differentiated. Within the Acacio-Prosopidetea class, two alliances are commented: the Bursero-Prosopidion pallidae (with two new associations Loxopterygio huasanginis-Neoraimondietum arequipensis and Crotono ruiziani-Acacietum macracanthae), and the new alliance Baccharido-Jacarandion acutifoliae (with the new associations Armatocereo balsasensis-Cercidietum praecocis and Diplopterydo leiocarpae-Acacietum macracanthae). For the Opuntietea sphaericae class, the association Haageocereo versicoloris-Armatocereetum proceri (Espostoo-Neoraimondion) is described on the basis of plots from hyperarid localities of central Peru. Finally, a typological classification of the studied plant communities is given
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