Evaluación multidisciplinar 3D de una estructura kárstica asociada a colapso y subsidencia (Cuenca del Ebro)

La propagación de cavidades de disolución localizadas por debajo de series aluviales genera una serie de evidencias cuya representación superficial, en ocasiones, puede no ser indicativa de su extensión real en profundidad. La propagación de cavidades a través de medios heterogéneos, en los que pueden existir niveles cementados, puede producir cambios en la progresión de dichas cavidades y la identificación en superficie de grietas, colapsos, o zonas de subsidencia que pueden involucrar decenas de miles de metros cúbicos de material inestable. Cualquier tipo de evaluación de soluciones mitigadoras en estos contextos debe considerar la amplitud de estos volúmenes y el origen del proceso con independencia de la actividad registrada en superficie. En este trabajo se aborda un estudio integrado con el objetivo de determinar la estructura de un sector con evidencias de actividad kárstica superficial y evaluar su extensión y desarrollo tridimensional integrando el análisis geomorfológico, de inspección de campo, geofísica (GPR) y sondeos. The propagation of solution cavities located below alluvial deposits produce surficial evidences that, in some cases, cannot be representative of their actual extension at depth. Cavity propagation through heterogeneous media, for example with interbedded cemented levels, can produce changes in the propagation of deformation producing the identification of cracks, collapses or subsidence zones at the surface. These processes can involve thousands of cubic meters of unstable materials. Any evaluation of mitigation tasks, in this context, needs to consider: i) the amplitude of the affected volumes and ii) the in depth origin with independence of the surficial recorded activity In this work an integrated analysis is developed to evaluate the size and 3D structure of a sector with surficial evidences of karstic activity integrating geomorphological analysis, field inspection, geophysics (GPR) and boreholes

Brighter-colored paper wasps (Polistes dominula) have larger poison glands

Introduction Aposematism is a defense system against predators consisting of the toxicity warning using conspicuous coloration. If the toxin production and aposematic coloration is costly, only individuals in good physical condition could simultaneously produce abundant poison and striking coloration. In such cases, the aposematic coloration not only indicates that the animal is toxic, but also the toxicity level of individuals. The costs associated with the production of aposematic coloration would ensure that individuals honestly indicate their toxicity levels. In the present study, we examine the hypothesis that a positive correlation exists between the brightness of warning coloration and toxicity level using as a model the paper wasp (Polistes dominula). Results We collected wasps from 30 different nests and photographed them to measure the brightness of warning coloration in the abdomen. We also measured the volume of the poison gland, as well as the length, and the width of the abdomen. The results show a positive relationship between brightness and poison-gland size, which remained positive even after controlling for the body size and abdomen width. Conclusion The results suggest that the coloration pattern of these wasps is a true sign of toxicity level: wasps with brighter colors are more poisonous (they have larger poison glands)

Experimental evidence of contamination on the dynamics of shrimp populations: susceptibility to spatial isolation

Landscape-scale ecology comprises complex structures where a flow of energy, materials and organisms among ecosystems conditions the dynamics of populations. Several natural and anthropogenic stressors are likely to affect the landscape composition, generally leading to the rupture of ecological connectivity among populations. Although contamination is considered one of the most threatening factors for biodiversity, its impact on spatial dynamics of populations (e.g., distribution, persistence and abundance) from an eco-toxicological perspective is still unknown. In the current study, the potential effect that contamination can exert on the loss of connectivity among populations (chemically fragmented habitats) leading to population isolation was assessed. The estuarine shrimp Palaemon varians was used as model organisms and a novel version of the HeMHAS (Heterogeneous Multi-Habitat Assay System) was used to simulate spatially heterogeneous landscapes. In order to provide more ecological relevance to the study, besides copper as stressor [at low (0.5 μg/L) and high (25 μg/L) levels], other two factors were simultaneously tested: fish kairomones (as a predation signal) and food availability. Different scenarios were simulated in the HeMHAS to create heterogeneous landscapes that vary depending on the presence or absence of these stressors. The behavior observed by the population of P. varians clearly showed that the shrimp detected copper and avoided the regions with the highest levels of contamination. However, when fish kairomones were added to previously preferred regions, the behavior of shrimp populations did a radical turn: they escape the predator signals, moving towards contaminated regions, but with a clear preference for less contaminated areas. When faced whether to stay in a clean area with no food or moving through disturbed regions to colonize a clean region with food, shrimps’ populations crossed the regions, but with a more dynamic transit in the region with kairomones and no copper. These results indicate that contamination might interfere in the spatial dynamics of shrimps’ populations by: (i) triggering avoidance, (ii) preventing colonization, (iii) isolating populations and (iv) making them more susceptible to local extinction

Experimental evidence of how contamination might modify the shrimps’ population dynamics and make them susceptible to spatial isolation

Contamination is likely to affect the landscape composition, usually linked to ecological fragmentation, which may impact the distribution, persistence and abundance of species. In the current study, the estuarine shrimp Palaemon varians was exposed to copper (25 and 0.5 μg/L) simultaneously to predation signal and food to evaluate the organism’s spatial distribution within a spatially heterogeneous landscape. All experimental landscapes were simulated in the Heterogeneous Multi Habitat Assay System (HeMHAS). As results, P. varians detected and avoided copper, however, predation signal shifted the response to preference over regions with conditions previously avoided, even if that meant to increase copper exposure. When confronted to move towards environments with high food availability, lower connectivity occurred among the shrimps’ populations isolated by contamination and predation risk simultaneously. This indicate that contamination might: (i) trigger avoidance in shrimps, (ii) prevent the colonisation towards foraging areas, (iii) enhance the populations’ isolation and (iv) make populations more susceptible to local extinction

Primer registro de la cojolita (Penelope purpurascens) en el estado de Guanajuato, México

-Aquí se informa sobre el registro de la cojolita en la Reserva de Biosfera Sierra Gorda de Guanajuato, el cual es el registro más central para esa latitud y el primero para el estado. Esta especie fue registrada fotográfícamente en un bosque de encino. La presencia de esta especie enfatiza la necesidad de continuar realizando inventarios biológicos en esta Reserva de la Biosfer

Maternal genetic inheritance of red pericarp in the grain of maize

The diversity of colors in the grain of corn is wide, from whites to blacks and including a continuum of various shades of yellows, pinks, reds, purples and blues. The most abundant commercial colors are yellow and white, however other colors have become more important because of the presence of pigments to which are attributed favorable effects as a food. The pigments are also considered natural barriers of the grain against the invasion of pests and diseases in the production fields. The colors of the grain of corn occur in three different parts of the seed: the cover of the grain or pericarp, derived from the maternal tissue, with a diploid genetic content; the endo-sperm, including the aleurone layers that are cells in the grain immediately below the pericarp with a chromosome content of 3n; and the embryo, with a genetic content of 2n. The red color considered in this study is present in the pericarp ignoring possible effects in other tissues of grain and other organs of the plant. In this study, we used materials with colorless or red pericarp, and white or yellow endosperm; with the purpose of describing the type of inheritance of this character in the grain of corn. The results indicated a maternal genetic inheritance with classical complete dominance of the red color of pericarp over the clear or transparent phenotype, where the red color of the grains on ear is determined by the genotype of the mother grain but not by the seed embryo genotypes, which is characterized by uniformity of grain color of the ear. This type of inheritance could be useful in the development of pigmented varieties of higher food quality for humans

Early parenting interventions to prevent internalising problems in children and adolescents: a global systematic review and network meta-analysis

QUESTION: We compared the effectiveness of different types of parenting interventions based on an a priori taxonomy, and the impact of waitlists versus treatment as usual (TAU), in reducing child internalising problems. STUDY SELECTION AND ANALYSIS: We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of published and unpublished randomised controlled trials (RCTs) until 1 October 2022 that investigated parenting interventions with children younger than 4 years. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: studies with children born preterm, with intellectual disabilities, or families receiving support for current abuse, neglect, and substance misuse. We assessed the certainty of evidence using the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis framework. We used random-effects network meta-analysis to estimate standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% credible intervals (CrIs). FINDINGS: Of 20 520 citations identified, 59 RCTs (18 349 participants) were eligible for the network meta-analysis. Parenting interventions focusing on the dyadic relationship (SMD: -0.26, 95% CrI: -0.43 to -0.08) and those with mixed focus (-0.09, -0.17 to -0.02) were more effective in reducing internalising problems than TAU at the first time point available. All interventions were more effective than waitlist, which increased the risk of internalising problems compared with TAU (0.36, 0.19 to 0.52). All effects attenuated at later follow-ups. Most studies were rated as with 'high risk' or 'some concerns' using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool V.2. There was no strong evidence of effect modification by theoretically informed components or modifiers. CONCLUSIONS: We found preliminary evidence that relationship-focused and mixed parenting interventions were effective in reducing child internalising problems, and the waitlist comparator increased internalising problems with implications for waiting times between referral and support. Considering the high risk of bias of most studies included, the findings from this meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution. PROSPERO registration number CRD42020172251

Extended hydrodynamics from Enskog's equation for a two-dimensional system general formalism

Balance equations are derived from Enskog's kinetic equation for a two-dimensional system of hard disks using Grad's moment expansion method. This set of equations constitute an extended hydrodynamics for moderately dense bi-dimensional fluids. The set of independent hydrodynamic fields in the present formulations are: density, velocity, temperature {\em and also}--following Grad's original idea--the symmetric and traceless pressure tensor $p_{ij}$ and the heat flux vector $\mathbf q^{k}$. An approximation scheme similar in spirit to one made by Grad in his original work is made. Once the hydrodynamics is derived it is used to discuss the nature of a simple one-dimensional heat conduction problem. It is shown that, not too far from equilibrium, the nonequilibrium pressure in this case only depends on the density, temperature and heat flux vector.Comment: :9 pages, 1 figure, This will appear in J. Stat. Phys. with minor corrections and corresponds to Ref[9] of cond-mat/050710