Oceanography promotes self-recruitment in a planktonic larval disperser

The application of high-resolution genetic data has revealed that oceanographic connectivity in marine species with planktonic larvae can be surprisingly limited, even in the absence of major barriers to dispersal. Australia's southern coast represents a particularly interesting system for studying planktonic larval dispersal, as the hydrodynamic regime of the wide continental shelf has potential to facilitate onshore retention of larvae. We used a seascape genetics approach (the joint analysis of genetic data and oceanographic connectivity simulations) to assess population genetic structure and self-recruitment in a broadcast-spawning marine gastropod that exists as a single meta-population throughout its temperate Australian range. Levels of self-recruitment were surprisingly high, and oceanographic connectivity simulations indicated that this was a result of low-velocity nearshore currents promoting the retention of planktonic larvae in the vicinity of natal sites. Even though the model applied here is comparatively simple and assumes that the dispersal of planktonic larvae is passive, we find that oceanography alone is sufficient to explain the high levels of genetic structure and self-recruitment. Our study contributes to growing evidence that sophisticated larval behaviour is not a prerequisite for larval retention in the nearshore region in planktonic-developing species

Caracterización Molecular de la Diversidad Fúngica de los Bosques Llucud y Palictahua: Potencialidades en Control Biológico/Molecular Characterization of Diversity Fungic of the Llucud and Palictahua Forests: Potential in Biological Control

Dentro de los microorganismos más abundantes que se pueden encontrar en formaciones ecosistémicas naturales como los bosques andinos del Ecuador se encuentran los hongos microscópicos, los cuales desempeñan funciones cruciales en dichos ecosistemas. Por lo cual el objetivo de esta investigación fue caracterizar molecularmente la diversidad de hongos presentes en los bosques nativos Llucud y Palictahua, estableciendo sus potencialidades de uso en el control biológico de plagas y enfermedades que afectan a los cultivos agrícolas y cuyo control en su mayoría se lo realiza con plaguicidas químicos. Mediante secuenciación de próxima generación (NGS por sus siglas en inglés) de las muestras compuestas de suelo tomadas del horizonte “A” (rizósfera) de cada bosque, se identificaron 56 especies de hongos en Palictahua y 38 en Llucud, presentándose en ambos bosques un total de 6 hongos con importantes potencialidades para su uso en el control biológico, dentro de las cuales se encontraron: Brachyphoris oviparasitica (nematófago), Simplicillium (entomopatógeno y micoparásito), Hamamotoa lignophila (levadura con actividad Killer) en Llucud, y Metarhizium robertsii (entomopatógeno), Brachyphoris oviparasitica (nematófago) y Paraphaeosphaeria parmeliae (micoparásito) en Palictahua. El Bosque Palictahua presentó mayor diversidad de hongos que el bosque Llucud, sin embargo es importante cuidar ambos bosques, pues poseen una gran riqueza microbiana con un sinnúmero de posibilidades de uso en la medicina, industria, biotecnología y otros campos. Among the most abundant microorganisms that can be found in natural ecosystem formations such as the Andean forests of Ecuador are microscopic fungi, which play crucial roles in these ecosystems. So that the objective of this research was to molecularly characterize the diversity of fungi present in the native forests Llucud and Palictahua, establishing their potential for use in the biological control of pests and diseases that affect agricultural crops and whose control is mostly carried out with chemical pesticides. Through next-generation sequencing (NGS for its acronym in English) of compound samples of soil took from “A” horizon (rhizosphere). 56 species of fungi were identified in Palictahua and 38 in Llucud, presenting in both forests a total of 6 fungi with significant potential for use in biological control, among which were found: Brachyphoris oviparasitica (nematophagous), Simplicillium sp. (entomopathogen and mycoparasite), Hamamotoa lignophila (yeast with Killer activity) in Llucud, and Metarhizium robertsii (entomopathogen), Brachyphoris oviparasitica (nematophagous) and Paraphaeosphaeria parmeliae (mycoparasite) in Palictahua. The Palictahua forest presented greater diversity of fungi than the Llucud forest, however it is important to take care of both forests, since they have a great microbial richness with a myriad of possibilities of use in medicine, industry, biotechnology and other fields. Palabras clave: Biodiversidad, Microbiota, Plaguicidas. Keywords: Biodiversity, Microbiota, Pesticides

Quantifying Potential Cost-Savings Through an Alternative Imaging-Based Diagnostic Process in Presumptive Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (SRA) is a condition that is not well understood and difficult to confirm by a conventional diagnostic process. We aimed to quantify the potential cost-savings of an alternative diagnostic process (ADP) imaging-based, for patients with presumptive SRA from everyday clinical practice. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis for patients with presumptive SRA who tested negative for both rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, through an ADP imaging-based, that is a standard clinical practice in our center. After we confirmed the diagnosis of SRA or reclassified patients in terms of another proper diagnosis, we estimate direct costs in two scenarios: a conventional and ADP. We compared the cost of RA treatment during the first year against the cost of the most misdiagnosed treatment (osteoarthritis) found after applying the ADP to determine potential cost-savings. Results: We included 440 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of SRA. According to the imaging-based ADP, SRA was confirmed in 106/440 (24.1%), unspecified RA in 9/440 (2.0%), and osteoarthritis in 325/440 (73.9%) of those patients. Although the costs of conventional diagnosis per patient is lower than those of ADP ($59,20 USD vs$269,57 USD), we found a potential drug cost-savings of $1,570,775.20 US Dollars after 1 year of correct treatment. Conclusion: An alternative diagnosis process, including X-rays, US and MRI imaging, and clinical and blood-test assessment, not only increased diagnostic certainty in patients referred for evaluation of presumptive SRA but also suggested a potential cost-savings in pharmacological treatments avoided in misdiagnosed patients

Genome-wide association study of an unusual dolphin mortality event reveals candidate genes for susceptibility and resistance to cetacean morbillivirus

Infectious diseases are significant demographic and evolutionary drivers of populations, but studies about the genetic basis of disease resistance and susceptibility are scarce in wildlife populations. Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is a highly contagious disease that is increasing in both geographic distribution and incidence, causing unusual mortality events (UME) and killing tens of thousands of individuals across multiple cetacean species worldwide since the late 1980s. The largest CeMV outbreak in the Southern Hemisphere reported to date occurred in Australia in 2013, where it was a major factor in a UME, killing mainly young Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). Using cases (nonsurvivors) and controls (putative survivors) from the most affected population, we carried out a genome-wide association study to identify candidate genes for resistance and susceptibility to CeMV. The genomic data set consisted of 278,147,988 sequence reads and 35,493 high-quality SNPs genotyped across 38 individuals. Association analyses found highly significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies among cases and controls at 65 SNPs, and Random Forests conservatively identified eight as candidates. Annotation of these SNPs identified five candidate genes (MAPK8, FBXW11, INADL, ANK3 and ACOX3) with functions associated with stress, pain and immune responses. Our findings provide the first insights into the genetic basis of host defence to this highly contagious disease, enabling the development of an applied evolutionary framework to monitor CeMV resistance across cetacean species. Biomarkers could now be established to assess potential risk factors associated with these genes in other CeMV-affected cetacean populations and species. These results could also possibly aid in the advancement of vaccines against morbilliviruses.Kimberley C. Batley, Jonathan Sandoval‐Castillo, Catherine M. Kemper, Catherine R. M. Attard, Nikki Zanardo, Ikuko Tomo, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Luciana M. Mölle

Situação atual da violência contra a mulher: evolução e impacto no Peru

Objective: To carry out a systematic review of various publications on the current situation of violence against women, as well as its evolution and impact in Peru. Methods: It was carried out through the electronic search of various scientific articles related to the subject. The search sources were PubMed, Scielo, and Google Scholar. The keywords were: «violence against women», «impact», «self-esteem» and «Peru». Results: Of the 99 articles found, 69 were discarded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria, leaving 30 articles for this review. Conclusion: Violence is present in most moments of our lives, manifesting itself in different ways, among them is violence against women, which is exercised in different ways, either by physical abuse or verbal abuse.Objetivo: Realizar una revisión sistemática de diversas publicaciones sobre la situación actual de la violencia contra la mujer, así como su evolución e impacto en el Perú. Métodos: Se realizó a través de la búsqueda electrónica de diversos artículos científicos relacionados con el tema. Las fuentes de búsqueda fueron PubMed, Scielo y Google académico. Las palabras claves fueron: «violencia contra la mujer», «impacto», «autoestima» y «Perú». Resultados: De los 99 artículos encontrados, se descartaron 69, por no cumplir con los criterios de inclusión, por lo que quedando 30 artículos para esta revisión. Conclusión: La violencia está presente en la mayoría de los momentos de nuestra vida, manifestándose de distintas formas, entre ellas está la violencia contra la mujer, la cual se ejerce de diferentes maneras, ya sea por maltrato físico o maltrato verbal.Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão sistemática de várias publicações sobre a situação atual da violência contra a mulher, bem como sua evolução e impacto no Peru. Métodos: Foi realizado por meio da busca eletrônica de diversos artigos científicos relacionados ao assunto. As fontes de busca foram PubMed, Scielo e Google Acadêmico. As palavras-chave foram: «violência contra as mulheres», «impacto», «auto-estima» e «Peru». Resultados: Dos 99 artigos encontrados, 69 foram descartados por não atenderem aos critérios de inclusão, restando 30 artigos para esta revisão. Conclusão: A violência está presente na maioria dos momentos de nossas vidas, manifestando-se de diversas formas, dentre elas está a violência contra a mulher, exercida de diversas formas, seja por agressões físicas ou verbais

Nitrogen and Phosphorous Retention in Tropical Eutrophic Reservoirs with Water Level Fluctuations: A Case Study Using Mass Balances on a Long-Term Series

Nitrogen and phosphorous loading drives eutrophication of aquatic systems. Lakes and reservoirs are often effective N and P sinks, but the variability of their biogeochemical dynamics is still poorly documented, particularly in tropical systems. To contribute to the extending of information on tropical reservoirs and to increase the insight on the factors affecting N and P cycling in aquatic ecosystems, we here report on a long-term N and P mass balance (2003–2018) in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, which showed that this tropical eutrophic reservoir lake acts as a net sink of N (−41.7 g N m y) and P (−2.7 g P m y), mainly occurring through net sedimentation, equivalent to 181% and 68% of their respective loading (23.0 g N m y and 4.2 g P m y). The N mass balance also showed that the Valle de Bravo reservoir has a high net N atmospheric influx (31.6 g N m y), which was 1.3 times the external load and likely dominated by N fixation. P flux was driven mainly by external load, while in the case of N, net fixation also contributed. During a period of high water level fluctuations, the net N atmospheric flux decreased by 50% compared to high level years. Our results outlining water regulation can be used as a useful management tool of water bodies, by decreasing anoxic conditions and net atmospheric fluxes, either through decreasing nitrogen fixation and/or promoting denitrification and other microbial processes that alleviate the N load. These findings also sustain the usefulness of long-term mass balances to assess biogeochemical dynamics and its variability.This research was funded by UNAM, PAPIIT-IN207702 and CONACYT-SEMARNAT, C01-1125 projects to M.M-

A parabolic solar collector for harnessing solar energy in Bucaramanga, Colombia

In this work, a solar energy collection system based on a parabolic solar collector adjusted to the conditions and availability of energy was designed to examine this type of collection device and evaluate the energy potential when installed in an educational institution. To do this, data from the historical series of solar radiation compiled by the POWER project (Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources) were analyzed and compared with data from the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies in Colombia (IDEAM)

Observation of the Crab Nebula with the HAWC Gamma-Ray Observatory

The Crab Nebula is the brightest TeV gamma-ray source in the sky and has been used for the past 25 years as a reference source in TeV astronomy, for calibration and verification of new TeV instruments. The High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory (HAWC), completed in early 2015, has been used to observe the Crab Nebula at high significance across nearly the full spectrum of energies to which HAWC is sensitive. HAWC is unique for its wide field-of-view, nearly 2 sr at any instant, and its high-energy reach, up to 100 TeV. HAWC's sensitivity improves with the gamma-ray energy. Above $\sim$1 TeV the sensitivity is driven by the best background rejection and angular resolution ever achieved for a wide-field ground array. We present a time-integrated analysis of the Crab using 507 live days of HAWC data from 2014 November to 2016 June. The spectrum of the Crab is fit to a function of the form $\phi(E) = \phi_0 (E/E_{0})^{-\alpha -\beta\cdot{\rm{ln}}(E/E_{0})}$. The data is well-fit with values of $\alpha=2.63\pm0.03$, $\beta=0.15\pm0.03$, and log$_{10}(\phi_0~{\rm{cm}^2}~{\rm{s}}~{\rm{TeV}})=-12.60\pm0.02$ when $E_{0}$ is fixed at 7 TeV and the fit applies between 1 and 37 TeV. Study of the systematic errors in this HAWC measurement is discussed and estimated to be $\pm$50\% in the photon flux between 1 and 37 TeV. Confirmation of the Crab flux serves to establish the HAWC instrument's sensitivity for surveys of the sky. The HAWC survey will exceed sensitivity of current-generation observatories and open a new view of 2/3 of the sky above 10 TeV.Comment: Submitted 2017/01/06 to the Astrophysical Journa