Special Issue on Applied Earth Observation and Remote Sensing in Latin America

This special Issue focused on recent research led by South American researchers and teams. It is a long overdue pos- sibility offered to researchers in this geographical area to share their excellent work with the international community. Accord- ingly, the response to the call for papers was overwhelming, with more than 60 papers submitted from eight countries. Eventually, 23 articles were accepted, among which 11 are authored from Brazil, while Argentina and Mexico contribute each with five papers, and Colombia and Ecuador have one arti- cle accepted each. Testifying the international breadth of these researches, seven of these contributions have coauthors from outside Latin America: two from Italy, and one from France, Canada, Finland, USA, and Germany. Before describing the contributions that have been selected for this issue, it is worth recalling briefly the history and current situation of remote sensing activities in the three major countries in the area, which, as mentioned, contribute to the large majority of the works published in the following pages.ITESO, A.C

Natural language processing for web browsing analytics: Challenges, lessons learned, and opportunities

In an Internet arena where the search engines and other digital marketing firms’ revenues peak, other actors still have open opportunities to monetize their users’ data. After the convenient anonymization, aggregation, and agreement, the set of websites users visit may result in exploitable data for ISPs. Uses cover from assessing the scope of advertising campaigns to reinforcing user fidelity among other marketing approaches, as well as security issues. However, sniffers based on HTTP, DNS, TLS or flow features do not suffice for this task. Modern websites are designed for preloading and prefetching some contents in addition to embedding banners, social networks’ links, images, and scripts from other websites. This self-triggered traffic makes it confusing to assess which websites users visited on purpose. Moreover, DNS caches prevent some queries of actively visited websites to be even sent. On this limited input, we propose to handle such domains as words and the sequences of domains as documents. This way, it is possible to identify the visited websites by translating this problem to a text classification context and applying the most promising techniques of the natural language processing and neural networks fields. After applying different representation methods such as TF–IDF, Word2vec, Doc2vec, and custom neural networks in diverse scenarios and with several datasets, we can state websites visited on purpose with accuracy figures over 90%, with peaks close to 100%, being processes that are fully automated and free of any human parametrizationThis research has been partially funded by the Spanish State Research Agency under the project AgileMon (AEI PID2019-104451RBC21) and by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities under the program for the training of university lecturers (Grant number: FPU19/05678

Incidencia del cáncer de tiroides en la consulta central de tiroides, últimos nueve años en Pinar del Río / Incidence of cancer in the thyroid gland. Its behaviour at central medical consultation during 1998-2007 Pinar del Rio

Se realizó un estudio observacional clínico de caso paciente, retrospectivo, descriptivo y de corte transversal, en un universo de 679 enfermos intervenidos quirúrgicamente por afecciones de la glándula tiroides en " Hospital León Cuervo Rubio" , para evaluar la frecuencia con que se presenta el cáncer de tiroides en la consulta central de tiroides de Pinar del Río. Durante los últimos nueve años, se seleccionó una muestra de 104 portadores de cáncer de tiroides diagnosticados por la biopsia por parafina en el departamento de Anatomía patológica del mismo Hospital, entre los años 1999 al 2007. Se procesaron variables cualitativas y cuantitativas como número de casos por año, variedad histológica y otras, y se representaron en tablas y gráficos, se determinó que el 15% del universo sufre de cáncer de tiroides. El carcinoma bien diferenciado fue la variedad histológica que predominó (96 %), en ocasiones se asociaban con otras enfermedades, predominando la tiroiditis de Hashimoto, el indiferenciado toma valores por encima de lo normal con el 3,8 %, se refiere un caso de carcinoma folicular el resto se representa por la variedad papilar, Palabras clave: Glándula tiroides, cáncer. ABSTRACT A clinical, retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional case report study was carried out at "Leon Cuervo Rubio" General Hospital, taking a total of 679 patients who underwent a surgery of thyroid gland during the last 9 years. A sample of 104 patients who suffered from cancer of the thyroid was selected - being this corroborated by means of paraffin wax biopsies. These biopsies were performed at the Department of Anatomy in the institution during 1999-2007. Qualitative and quantitative variables and the figures of cases per year were processed, histological variety and other items were represented in tables and charts. 15% of the total of patients suffered from cancer of thyroid, histologically the differentiated carcinoma prevailed (96%), and sometimes it was associated with other diseases, mainly Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. The values of the undifferentiated carcinoma were over the normal (3, 8%), referring to a follicular one, the rest was represented for the papillary variety. Key words: Thyroid gland, cance

Relación del desarrollo Gonadal de la almeja blanca ( Protothaca asperrima) (Pélecypoda: Veneridae) con la tasa de consumo de oxigeno.

La reproducción afecta la fisiología del organismo produciendo gran cantidad de tejidos que requiere de energía, por lo tanto, el desarrollo gonadal puede afectar el consumo de oxígeno de un organismo. Por esta razón, este trabajo tiene el propósito de determinar la relación entre el desarrollo gonadal y el consumo de oxígeno en la almeja blanca Protothaca asperrima. Para esto, durante el período de enero de 1995 a enero de 1996, se llevó a cabo un estudio en Playa Bique, Arriján. En este trabajo se colectaron animales, los cuales se aclimataron y se les midió el consumo de oxígeno mediante el método de Winkler, estimándose su desarrollo gonadal usando análisis histológico. Como resultado, obtuvimos en el mes de abril la mayor tasa de consumo de oxígeno, la cual fue descendiendo paulatinamente hasta octubre, donde se incrementó nuevamente. Los parámetros físicos no estuvieron correlacionados con el consumo de oxígeno ni con el largo de los ovocitos y el estadío gonadal. Por lo que, en esta especie, no se observa relación entre el consumo de oxígeno y el desarrollo gonadal

RELACIÓN DEL DESARROLLO GONADAL DE LA ALMEJA BLANCA (Protothaca asperrima) (Pelecypoda: Veneridae) CON LA TASA DE CONSUMO DE OXIGENO

The reproduction season affects the organism physiology producing a great of deal of tissue which affect the energy requirement; so, the gonadal development influences on the oxygen uptake. Therefore, the propose of this work is the determination of the relationship between the gonadal development and the oxygen consumption in the raplike clamp Protothaca asperrima. So, a study was carried out from January 1995 to January 1996 at the Bique beach, Arraijan. This work consisted in the determination of the oxygen consumption by Winkler method and the gonadal development by histology. Our results reveal a higher oxygen uptake in April, decreasing from this up to October where it increases again. There was not correlation between oxygen consumption and physical factors. There was not relationship with the ovocite length nor with gonadal stage. Therefore, apparently there is not relationship between oxygen uptake and gonadal development in this specie.  La reproducción afecta la fisiología del organismo produciendo gran cantidad de tejidos que requiere de energía, por lo tanto, el desarrollo gonadal puede afectar el consumo de oxígeno de un organismo. Por esta razón, este trabajo tiene el propósito de determinar la relación entre el desarrollo gonadal y el consumo de oxígeno en la almeja blanca Protothaca asperrima. Para esto, durante el período de enero de 1995 a enero de 1996, se llevó a cabo un estudio en Playa Bique, Arriján. En este trabajo se colectaron animales, los cuales se aclimataron y se les midió el consumo de oxígeno mediante el método de Winkler, estimándose su desarrollo gonadal usando análisis histológico. Como resultado, obtuvimos en el mes de abril la mayor tasa de consumo de oxígeno, la cual fue descendiendo paulatinamente hasta octubre, donde se incrementó nuevamente. Los parámetros físicos no estuvieron correlacionados con el consumo de oxígeno ni con el largo de los ovocitos y el estadío gonadal. Por lo que, en esta especie, no se observa relación entre el consumo de oxígeno y el desarrollo gonadal

Association of Paraoxonase-1 Q192R (rs662) Single Nucleotide Variation with Cardiovascular Risk in Coffee Harvesters of Central Colombia

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), a high-density lipoprotein-associated antioxidant enzyme, hydrolyzes several organophosphate pesticides and oxidized lipids. The PON1 Q192R polymorphism affects the catalytic efficiency and is considered a risk factor for pesticide intoxication and cardiovascular disease (CVD) but the association is not consistent between individuals or populations. We aimed to study the association of PON1 Q192R polymorphism with CVD risk in coffee harvesters of central Colombia. Demographics were collected from 205 subjects via standardized questionnaires. Lipid profiles and serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) were measured by standard procedures. The calculated 10-year atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk was used as the cardiovascular risk estimate. Q192R genotype was determined by real-time PCR. Prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and the 10-year ASCVD risk was 33%, 62%, and 22%, respectively. BChE levels were no indicative of recent pesticide exposure, although a positive correlation was observed with BChE and hypercholesterolemia. The Q192R genotype frequencies were 38% (QQ), 44% (QR), and 18% (RR). We found an association of the 192Q genotype with hypertension. The results of this study signal the importance to evaluate the influence and potential interactions of BChE and PON1 192Q allele with known genetic and environmental factors implicated in the pathogenesis of CVD

Liquid–liquid phase separation of the Golgi matrix protein GM130

Golgins are an abundant class of peripheral membrane proteins of the Golgi. These very long (50–400 nm) rod-like proteins initially capture cognate transport vesicles, thus enabling subsequent SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. Here, we explore the hypothesis that in addition to serving as vesicle tethers, Golgins may also possess the capacity to phase separate and, thereby, contribute to the internal organization of the Golgi. GM130 is the most abundant Golgin at the cis Golgi. Remarkably, overexpressed GM130 forms liquid droplets in cells analogous to those described for numerous intrinsically disordered proteins with low complexity sequences, even though GM130 is neither low in complexity nor intrinsically disordered. Virtually pure recombinant GM130 also phase-separates into dynamic, liquid-like droplets in close to physiological buffers and at concentrations similar to its estimated local concentration at the cis Golgi

Palynostratigraphical review of the K–Pg boundary from the Ibero-Armorican Island: New data from the Maastrichtian dinosaur outcrop Veracruz 1 (Pyrenees, NE Iberian Peninsula)

The palynostratigraphy of the K-Pg boundary interval in SW Europe has been a subject of ongoing debate, despite numerous palynological studies in the region. To address this, we review previous publications and conduct analysis of new deposits to establish a palynostratigraphical chart. A total of 40 palynological studies within the Normapolles palynological province were reexamined to elucidate key taxa restricted to the Cretaceous (K-taxa), to the Maastrichtian-Danian interval (KPg-taxa) and those restricted to the Paleogene (Pg-taxa). Eventually, we propose 18 key taxa to differentiate a Maastrichtian from a Danian palynological assemblage within the Normapolles Province. Afterward, a palynostratigraphical analysis was carried out in Veracruz 1 (Aragonese Pyrenees), one of the more modern dinosaurbearing sites of Europe. The palynological assemblage corresponded to an upper Maastrichtian age and was composed by pteridophyte spores, gymnosperms, angiosperms, dinoflagellate cysts, algae, and fungal spores. It was predominated by angiosperm pollen (Liliaceae, post-Normapolles, and triporate pollen). The plant communities in Veracruz 1 seem to be characterized by plants from an open coastal forest prevailed by Liliaceae flowering herbs and Juglandaceae/Myricaceae dicotyledonous trees and shrubs thriving in temperate-warm paleoclimate. The Gondwanan botanical influence was also supported by the presence of Bacumorphomonocolpites sp., as this taxon was previously recorded in other upper Maastrichtian deposits from Europe.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2021-122612OB-I00Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C-2019/28Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A-2020/175Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | Ref. UNAM-DGAPA 2023–2024Swedish Research Council | Ref. VR 2022-03920Universidade de Vigo/CISU

Diets and trophic structure of fish assemblages in a large and unexplored subtropical river: The Uruguay river

This article belongs to the Special Issue Trophic Interactions in Warm Freshwater EcosystemsThe Neotropics represent a hotspot for freshwater biodiversity with vast number of fish species of scarce ecological knowledge. This holds true for the Uruguay River, where fish assemblages and their diets remain unexplored. Fish assemblages were surveyed in 14 sites along the river main course, from headwaters to mouth (approximately 1800 km), with the aim to identify the trophic roles of fishes and to describe trophic structure of these assemblages, following standardized sampling campaigns and laboratory procedures. One hundred species (2309 gut contents) were analysed and classified into four trophic groups subdivided into eight lower-level groups: Piscivore, piscivore-invertivore, detritivore, omnivore-detritivore, omnivore-invertivore, omnivore-planktivore and omnivore-herbivore. The trophic structure of the assemblages varied along the river, with the relative species richness of fish consuming terrestrial invertebrates increasing towards the middle river section, probably driven by the large floodplains in that areas, supporting global theories such as the flood pulse concept. This study describes the feeding habits of fish along the Uruguay River, being the first dietary description for 29 species. This knowledge is essential for management and conservation, serving as baseline in the context of future environmental changes while generating novel evidence on the functioning of ecosystems in this scarcely studied climatic region

Altered innate immune profile in blood of systemic mastocytosis patients

[Background]: Mast cells (MC) from systemic mastocytosis (SM) patients release MC mediators that lead to an altered microenvironment with potential consequences on innate immune cells, such as monocytes and dendritic cells (DC). Here we investigated the distribution and functional behaviour of different populations of blood monocytes and DC among distinct diagnostic subtypes of SM. [Methods]: Overall, we studied 115 SM patients - 45 bone marrow mastocytosis (BMM), 61 indolent SM (ISM), 9 aggressive SM (ASM)- and 32 healthy donors (HD). Spontaneous and in vitro-stimulated cytokine production by blood monocytes, and their plasma levels, together with the distribution of different subsets of blood monocytes and DCs, were investigated. [Results]: SM patients showed increased plasma levels and spontaneous production by blood monocytes of IL1β, IL6, IL8, TNFα and IL10, associated with an exhausted ability of LPS + IFNγ-stimulated blood monocytes to produce IL1β and TGFβ. SM (particularly ISM) patients also showed decreased counts of total monocytes, at the expense of intermediate monocytes and non-classical monocytes. Interestingly, while ISM and ASM patients had decreased numbers of plasmacytoid DC and myeloid DC (and their major subsets) in blood, an expansion of AXL+ DC was specifically encountered in BMM cases. [Conclusion]: These results demonstrate an altered distribution of blood monocytes and DC subsets in SM associated with constitutive activation of functionally impaired blood monocytes and increased plasma levels of a wide variety of inflammatory cytokines, reflecting broad activation of the innate immune response in mastocytosis.This study has been funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (grant number PI19/01166; and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer [CIBERONC] programme, grant number CB16/12/00400) and co-funded by the European Union (EU). We thank the support of the Spanish National DNA Bank Carlos III (www.bancoadn.org; biobank ID B.0000716; supported by ISCIII and co-founded by EU [grant number PT20/00085]) for providing plasma samples. APP was supported by a grant of the Government of Castilla y León (Orden EDU/556/2019), Spain; co-financed with the “European Regional Development Fund” (BDNS, Identif.:422058). We thank the support of the Spanish Association of Mastocytosis and Related Diseases