Diversification trajectories and paleobiogeography of Neogene chondrichthyans from Europe

Despite the rich fossil record of Neogene chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks, rays, and skates) from Europe, little is known about the macroevolutionary processes that generated their current diversity and geographical distribution. We compiled 4368 Neogene occurrences comprising 102 genera, 41 families, and 12 orders from four European regions (Atlantic, Mediterranean, North Sea, and Paratethys) and evaluated their diversification trajectories and paleobiogeographic patterns. In all regions analyzed, we found that generic richness increased during the early Miocene, then decreased sharply during the middle Miocene in the Paratethys, and moderately during the late Miocene and Pliocene in the Mediterranean and North Seas. Origination rates display the most significant pulses in the early Miocene in all regions. Extinction rate pulses varied across regions, with the Paratethys displaying the most significant pulses during the late Miocene and the Mediterranean and North Seas during the late Miocene and early Pliocene. Overall, up to 27% and 56% of the European Neogene genera are now globally and regionally extinct, respectively. The observed pulses of origination and extinction in the different regions coincide with warming and cooling events that occurred during the Neogene globally and regionally. Our study reveals complex diversity dynamics of Neogene chondrichthyans from Europe and their distinct biogeographic composition despite the multiple marine passages that connected the different marine regions during this time

Extreme weather events in Myanmar: data needs for more effective humanitarian action

Extreme weather events, such as floods and cyclones, have increased in number in recent years. At the same time, there is growing evidence that providing for anticipatory humanitarian action – rather than post-event action – can give the affected populations more dignity, security and time in dealing with the impact of these shocks. Such anticipatory action, however, requires accurate weather forecasts, as well as mechanisms to provide financial resources on an ongoing basis. David MacLeod, Evan Easton-Calabria, Erin Coughlan de Perez and Catalina Jaime present research findings that evaluate both these factors in the context of Myanmar, one of the countries most at risk in its region

Controle da podridão cinzenta da maçã por produtos naturais biologicamente ativos

Indexación: Web of Science; ScieloBiorend SC (chitosan), BC-1000 EC (grapefruit extract plus bioflavonoids) and ECO-100 SC (bioflavonoids plus organic acids, citric phytoalexins, fatty acids, glycerides and sugars), respectively, suppressed grey rot of apple caused by B. cinerea by 80.1%, 79.0% and 76.5% when used as post-harvest treatments under controlled conditions. When applied as combined pre- and post-harvest treatments Biorend SC inhibited fruit rot by 49.9 %, while BC-1000 EC and ECO-100 SC were ineffective. None of the products inhibited fruit rot when applied as pre-harvest treatments under controlled conditions or as post-harvest treatments under commercial conditions. The algal polysaccharide ulvan used in post-harvest treatments suppressed grey rot by 56.0% under controlled conditions, but had no inhibitory effect on combined pre- and post-harvest treatments. The inability of products to activate defense mechanisms (chitinase and peroxidase) of fruits was consistent with the unsuccessful control of rot by pre-harvest treatment. The results suggest that the natural products used have potential for use in integrated management of Botrytis rot when applied after harvest.Biorend SC (quitosana), BC-1000 EC (extrato de toranja mais flavonóides), e ECO-100 SC (bioflavonóides mais ácidos orgânicos, fitoalexinas cítricas, ácidos graxos glicerídeos e açúcares) inibiram em 80,1%, 79,0% e 76,5%, respectivamente, a podridão causada por Botrytis cinerea quando utilizados no tratamento pós-colheita de frutos de maçã sob condições controladas.Tratamento combinado de Biorend SC, com aplicação tanto em pré como no pós-colheita, proporcionou 49,9% de inibição da podridão, enquanto BC-1000 e ECO-100 EC não foram efetivos. Nenhum desses produtos inibiu a podridão cinzenta, quando utilizados em tratamento de pré-colheita em condições controladas ou em tratamento de pós-colheita em condições comerciais. O polissacarídeo algal ulvana, utilizado nos tratamentos de pós-colheita, reduziu em 56% a podridão cinzenta das maçãs em condições controladas, mas não teve efeito inibitório nos tratamentos combinados de pré e pós-colheita. A incapacidade dos produtos em ativar mecanismos de defesa (quitinases e peroxidases) nos frutos, após o tratamento em pré-colheita, foi consistente com a falta de controle da podridão nesse tipo de ensaio. Pelos resultados, sugere-se que os produtos naturais utilizados apresentam potencial para a utilização no manejo integrado da podridão de Botrytis quando aplicados em pós-colheita.http://ref.scielo.org/kcxb9

Beyond the forecast: knowledge gaps to anticipate disasters in armed conflict areas with high forced displacement

Although conflict-affected populations are often exposed to and severely impacted by disasters, little is known about their perceptions and practices concerning early warning and early action (EWEA) or how EWEA strategies can protect communities affected by conflict- and climate-related disasters. This is particularly problematic as, due to the multiple challenges posed by conflict and compound crises in these contexts, early warnings of weather hazards do not often translate in early actions. This comprehensive literature review examined 384 peer reviewed papers produced between 2004 and 2022, focused on the 20 countries most affected by non-international armed conflict and exposed to climate hazards. This paper answers the question: what is the state of knowledge of EWEA for climate hazards in countries affected by armed conflict and high levels of forced displacement? Findings demonstrate that most research focuses on climate science rather than social science across six elements of the EWEA value chain: 1. hazards analysis, 2. understanding vulnerability and exposure, 3. warning communication and dissemination, 4. forecasting availability and monitoring, 5. early action planning, and 6. financing systems. In total, 75.65% of the research studies focused on hazard analysis, forecast availability, and monitoring. There has been a strong increase in academic research on EWEA in conflict-affected countries since 2004. However, we identify that most of this research has been in Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Nigeria which, although severely affected by conflict, also have a higher level of economic development and stability. In contrast, there is little research focused on EWEA in most of the remaining countries. Across all thematic areas, there is a lack of consideration of conflict dynamics in EWEA research. This paper contributes to evidence on the need to recognize people affected by conflict in disaster risk reduction, as called for in the Sendai Framework for Action midterm review, with the aim of enhancing EWEA investments to enable tailored approaches appropriate for conflict-affected states

Population Pharmacokinetic Study of Benznidazole in Pediatric Chagas Disease Suggests Efficacy despite Lower Plasma Concentrations than in Adults

Introduction:Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, can lead to long term cardiac morbidity. Treatment of children with benznidazole is effective, but no pediatric pharmacokinetics data are available and clinical pharmacology information on the drug is scarce.Patients and Methods:Prospective population pharmacokinetic (PK) cohort study in children 2-12 years old with Chagas disease treated with oral benznidazole 5-8 mg/kg/day BID for 60 days. (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00699387).Results:Forty children were enrolled in the study. Mean age was 7.3 years. A total of 117 samples were obtained from 38 patients for PK analysis. A one compartment model best fit the data. Weight-corrected clearance rate (CL/F) showed a good correlation with age, with younger patients having a significantly higher CL/F than older children and adults. Simulated median steady-state benznidazole concentrations, based on model parameters, were lower for children in our study than for adults and lowest for children under 7 years of age. Treatment was efficacious in the 37 patients who completed the treatment course, and well tolerated, with few, and mild, adverse drug reactions (ADRs).Discussion:Observed benznidazole plasma concentrations in children were markedly lower than those previously reported in adults (treated with comparable mg/kg doses), possibly due to a higher CL/F in smaller children. These lower blood concentrations were nevertheless associated to a high therapeutic response in our cohort. Unlike adults, children have few adverse reactions to the drug, suggesting that there may be a direct correlation between drug concentrations and incidence of ADRs. Our results suggest that studies with lower doses in adults may be warranted.Trial Registration:ClinicalTrails.gov NCT00699387.Fil: Altcheh, Jaime Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez". Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas; ArgentinaFil: Moscatelli, Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez". Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas; ArgentinaFil: Mastrantonio Garrido, Guido Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas. Área de Toxicología; ArgentinaFil: Moroni, Samanta. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez". Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas; ArgentinaFil: Giglio, Norberto. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez". Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas; ArgentinaFil: Marson, María Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas. Área de Toxicología; ArgentinaFil: Ballering, Griselda. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez". Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas; ArgentinaFil: Bisio, Margarita María Catalina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez". Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas; ArgentinaFil: Koren, Gideon. University of Toronto. Hospital for Sick Children. División of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology; CanadáFil: García Bournissen, Facundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez". Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas; Argentina. University of Toronto. Hospital for Sick Children. División of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology; Canad

La construcción de valores intangibles de marcas de cerveza artesanal. Atributos inmersos en las comunicaciones.

Este estudio pretende analizar desde un enfoque hermenéutico-etnográfico, la construcción de valores intangibles del consumidor de las marcas de cerveza artesanal producidas en Medellín-Colombia, en relación a su estrategia de comunicación. Las bases teóricas se fundamentan desde los conceptos de identidad, imagen y valores intangibles de marca. Dentro de los resultados más importantes se puede destacar que la cerveza artesanal responde a un nuevo segmento como resultado de nuevas estrategias comunicativas e imaginarios alrededor de lo artesanal. Además, los valores intangibles más relevantes que perciben los usuarios de las marcas giran alrededor de la confianza, la innovación, el orgullo, entre otros. Mediante esta investigación se demuestra la importancia que tienen los valores intangibles, especialmente en la comunicación y en la construcción de una correcta imagen de marca

Scalable and Sustainable: How to Build Anticipatory Capacity into Social Protection Systems

Climate shocks contribute to a significant share of the humanitarian burden, and are a key factor in increasing poverty and food insecurity. Social protection is increasingly recognised as an instrument to help build resilience to climate risks through long-term, large-scale national systems. However, most experiences to date have focused on social protection’s role for chronic needs, or at best, shock-response, rather than on anticipation and prevention. This article argues that social protection can support more effective resilience building at scale by integrating early action and preparedness. We propose a concrete solution, namely linking a Forecast-based Financing mechanism to a social protection system to enable anticipatory actions based on forecast triggers and guaranteed funding ahead of a shock. Such a system may enhance scalability, timeliness, predictability and adequacy of social protection benefits. Key considerations for success of this emerging approach include sound analysis of forecast, risks, cost and benefits, and ring-fenced funding

Metodología para la identificación automática del deterioro en pavimento flexible, por medio de fotografías aéreas tomadas desde vehículos no tripulados

Cuando las sociedades crecen las carreteras juegan un papel importante en su desarrollo; por lo tanto, el mantenimiento del pavimento, el cual es la base para la construcción de caminos, se hace relevante cuando las vías empiezan a presentar deterioros. Actualmente las inspecciones visuales de la infraestructura vial se realizan por trabajo de campo, el cual requiere de tiempo y está ligado a las opiniones subjetivas de los inspectores; por consiguiente, en el presente proyecto se desarrolló una metodología para identificar deterioros presentes en el pavimento flexible de manera automática, utilizando técnicas de fotogrametría digital, procesamiento de imágenes y redes neuronales, el trabajo está representado en seis etapas: procesamiento de las fotografías aéreas, extracción de la superficie vial, extracción de características, identificación de grietas y baches, automatización y validación del método y de los resultados; este procedimiento se realizó con el entrenamiento de una red neuronal capaz de identificar baches, grietas y pavimento sano. Este clasificador obtuvo un porcentaje de 98.3% aciertos. La metodología planteada es un acercamiento a la generación de un sistema automatizado para la identificación de baches y grietas en pavimento flexiblePregradoINGENIERO(A) TOPOGRAFIC