Can we expect to protect threatened species in protected areas? A case study of the genus Pinus in Mexico

Podemos proteger especies en riesgo en áreas protegidas? Un estudio de caso del genero Pinus en México Jesús Aguirre Gutiérrez * and Joost F. Duivenvoorden Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystems Dynamics (IBED), Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 HX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. *Correspondent: [email protected] Abstract. The distribution of 56 Pinus species in Mexico was modelled with MAXENT. The pine species were classified as threatened according to IUCN criteria. Our aim was to ascertain whether or not threatened pine species were adequately represented in protected areas. Almost 70% of the species had less than 10% of their modelled distribution area protected. None of the pine species reached their representation targets. Threatened pine species were less widely distributed, occurred at lower maximum elevations, and were less well represented in protected areas than other pine species. The results suggest that the present system of protected areas in Mexico fails to protect pine species adequately. Conservation targets should be especially directed to species with narrow distributions which occur at low altitudes, such as Pinus. attenuata, P. cembroides subsp. cembroides var. lagunae, P. radiata var. binata, P. rzedowskii, and P. muricata. Key words: MAXENT, species distribution model, IUCN, conservation. Resumen. La distribución de 56 especies del género Pinus en México fue modelada por medio de MAXENT. Nuestro objetivo principal fue investigar si las especies de pino clasificadas por IUCN como amenazadas tienen una representación adecuada en las áreas protegidas de México. Se encontró que casi el 70% de las especies tienen menos del 10% de su distribución modelada protegida. Ninguna de las especies alcanzó el nivel de representación propuesto como adecuado. Se observó que las especies de pino clasificadas como amenazadas tienen un distribución más estrecha, ocurren a menores elevaciones máximas y se encuentran menos representadas en las áreas protegidas en comparación con las otras especies de pino modeladas. Los resultados sugieren que la red actual de áreas protegidas en México no protege adecuadamente el genero Pinus. Proponemos que los esfuerzos de conservación deben estar dirigidos especialmente a especies con distribución reducida y que se encuentran principalmente distribuidas a bajas altitudes, como por ejemplo Pinus attenuata, P. cembroides subsp. cembroides var. lagunae, P. radiata var. binata, P. rzedowskii and P. muricata. Palabras clave: MAXENT, modelos de distribución de especies, IUCN, conservación

Release of Sterile Mosquitoes with Drones in Urban and Rural Environments under the European Drone Regulation

In recent years, several countries have developed the use of sterile insect techniques (SIT) to fight against mosquitoes that transmit diseases. From a technical and economic point of view, the use of drones in the aerial release of sterile mosquitoes leads to important improvements in aerial coverage and savings in operational costs due to the requirement of fewer release sites and field staff. However, these operations are under the European drone regulation, one of the most advanced in the world. The main contribution and novelty of this paper with respect to previous work is the analysis of the SIT application with drones under the European risk-based regulation in two scenarios: urban and rural areas. The specific operations risk assessment (SORA) methodology has been applied to assess the risk of drone operations in these scenarios. The paper presents the operational requirements for aerial release of mosquitoes with drones along with the regulatory considerations that must be applied. Finally, an overview of the conditions in operation that could relax risks and mitigation measures is also discussed.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación iMOV3D (CER-20191007)

Efecto del NaCl en la textura y perfil sensorial de un queso de soya (tofu)

El alto contenido de proteínas de la soya puede ser aprovechado para la elaboración de derivados como el queso de soya, comúnmente conocido como tofu. No obstante, el típico sabor herbáceo muchas veces perceptible puede limitar su aceptabilidad, razón por la cual el objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la adición de cloruro de sodio o “sal común” (NaCl) sobre la textura y perfil sensorial de un queso de soya o tofu. Como materia prima se utilizó leche de soya con un 12% de sólidos totales, optimizando en primer lugar la dosis de CaCl2 como agente coagulante, y preparando posteriormente quesos con adición de NaCl al 0,5 %. Estos quesos fueron evaluados instrumentalmente mediante texturimetría y sensorialmente por un panel de jueces. Como resultados se obtuvo que la adición de NaCl no mejoró ni la textura ni el perfil sensorial del tofu, al obtener quesos menos firmes y más frágiles, comparados con los elaborados sin adición de NaCl

Testing projected wild bee distributions in agricultural habitats: predictive power depends on species traits and habitat type

Species distribution models (SDM) are increasingly used to understand the factors that regulate variation in biodiversity patterns and to help plan conservation strategies. However, these models are rarely validated with independently collected data and it is unclear whether SDM performance is maintained across distinct habitats and for species with different functional traits. Highly mobile species, such as bees, can be particularly challenging to model. Here, we use independent sets of occurrence data collected systematically in several agricultural habitats to test how the predictive performance of SDMs for wild bee species depends on species traits, habitat type, and sampling technique. We used a species distribution modeling approach parametrized for the Netherlands, with presence records from 1990 to 2010 for 193 Dutch wild bees. For each species, we built a Maxent model based on 13 climate and landscape variables. We tested the predictive performance of the SDMs with independent datasets collected from orchards and arable fields across the Netherlands from 2010 to 2013, using transect surveys or pan traps. Model predictive performance depended on species traits and habitat type. Occurrence of bee species specialized in habitat and diet was better predicted than generalist bees. Predictions of habitat suitability were also more precise for habitats that are temporally more stable (orchards) than for habitats that suffer regular alterations (arable), particularly for small, solitary bees. As a conservation tool, SDMs are best suited to modeling rarer, specialist species than more generalist and will work best in long-term stable habitats. The variability of complex, short-term habitats is difficult to capture in such models and historical land use generally has low thematic resolution. To improve SDMs’ usefulness, models require explanatory variables and collection data that include detailed landscape characteristics, for example, variability of crops and flower availability. Additionally, testing SDMs with field surveys should involve multiple collection techniques

Mural Endocarditis: The GAMES Registry Series and Review of the Literature

Spanish Collaboration on Endocarditis—Grupo de Apoyo al Manejo de la Endocarditis infecciosa en España (GAMES).[Introduction] Mural infective endocarditis (MIE) is a rare type of endovascular infection. We present a comprehensive series of patients with mural endocarditis.[Methods] Patients with infectious endocarditis (IE) from 35 Spanish hospitals were prospectively included in the GAMES registry between 2008 and 2017. MIEs were compared to non-MIEs. We also performed a literature search for cases of MIE published between 1979 and 2019 and compared them to the GAMEs series.[Results] Twenty-seven MIEs out of 3676 IEs were included. When compared to valvular IE (VIE) or device-associated IE (DIE), patients with MIE were younger (median age 59 years, p < 0.01). Transplantation (18.5% versus 1.6% VIE and 2% DIE, p < 0.01), hemodialysis (18.5% versus 4.3% VIE and 4.4% DIE, p = 0.006), catheter source (59.3% versus 9.7% VIE and 8.8% DIE, p < 0.01) and Candida etiology (22.2% versus 2% DIE and 1.2% VIE, p < 0.01) were more common in MIE, whereas the Charlson Index was lower (4 versus 5 in non-MIE, p = 0.006). Mortality was similar. MIE from the literature shared many characteristics with MIE from GAMES, although patients were younger (45 years vs. 56 years, p < 0.001), the Charlson Index was lower (1.3 vs. 4.3, p = 0.0001), catheter source was less common (13.9% vs. 59.3%) and there were more IVDUs (25% vs. 3.7%). S. aureus was the most frequent microorganism (50%, p = 0.035). Systemic complications were more common but mortality was similar.[Conclusion] MIE is a rare entity. It is often a complication of catheter use, particularly in immunocompromised and hemodialysis patients. Fungal etiology is common. Mortality is similar to other IEs.Peer reviewe

Expression and potential role of apolipoprotein D on the death–survival balance of human colorectal cancer cells under oxidative stress conditions

Producción CientíficaPurpose Inverse correlations of apolipoprotein D (ApoD) expression with tumor growth have been shown, therefore proposing ApoD as a good prognostic marker for diverse cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Besides, ApoD expression is boosted upon oxidative stress (OS) in many pathological situations. This study aims at understanding the role of ApoD in the progression of human CRC. Methods Samples of CRC and distant normal tissue (n051) were assayed for levels of lipid peroxidation, expression profile of OS-dependent genes, and protein expression. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the ApoD gene were analyzed (n0139), with no significant associations found. Finally, we assayed the effect of ApoD in proliferation and apoptosis in the CRC HT-29 cell line

Older Adult Patients in the Emergency Department: Which Patients should be Selected for a Different Approach?

Background: While multidimensional and interdisciplinary assessment of older adult patients improves their short-term outcomes after evaluation in the emergency department (ED), this assessment is time-consuming and ill-suited for the busy environment. Thus, identifying patients who will benefit from this strategy is challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to identify older adult patients suitable for a different ED approach as well as independent variables associated with poor short-term clinical outcomes. Methods: We included all patients >= 65 years attending 52 EDs in Spain over 7 days. Sociodemographic, comorbidity, and baseline functional status data were collected. The outcomes were 30 -day mortality, re -presentation, hospital readmission, and the composite of all outcomes. Results: During the study among 96,014 patients evaluated in the ED, we included 23,338 patients >= 65 years-mean age, 78.4 +/- 8.1 years; 12,626 (54.1%) women. During follow-up, 5,776 patients (24.75%) had poor outcomes after evaluation in the ED: 1,140 (4.88%) died, 4,640 (20.51) returned to the ED, and 1,739 (7.69%) were readmitted 30 days after discharge following the index visit. A model including male sex, age >= 75 years, arrival by ambulance, Charlson Comorbidity Index >= 3, and functional impairment had a C -index of 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.82) for 30 -day mortality. Conclusion: Male sex, age >= 75 years, arrival by ambulance, functional impairment, or severe comorbidity are features of patients who could benefit from approaches in the ED different from the common triage to improve the poor short-term outcomes of this population