Systematics, biogeography, and diversification of Scytalopus tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), an enigmatic radiation of Neotropical montane birds

Copyright © American Ornithological Society 2020. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: [email protected]. We studied the phylogeny, biogeography, and diversification of suboscine passerines in the genus Scytalopus (Rhinocryptidae), a widespread, species-rich, and taxonomically challenging group of Neotropical birds. We analyzed nuclear (exons, regions flanking ultraconserved elements) and mitochondrial (ND2) DNA sequence data for a taxonomically and geographically comprehensive sample of specimens collected from Costa Rica to Patagonia and Brazil. We found that Scytalopus is a monophyletic group sister to Eugralla and consists of 3 main clades roughly distributed in (1) the Southern Andes, (2) eastern Brazil, and (3) the Tropical Andes and Central America. The clades from the Southern Andes and eastern Brazil are sister to each other. Despite their confusing uniformity in plumage coloration, body shape, and overall appearance, rates of species accumulation through time in Scytalopus since the origin of the clade in the Late Miocene are unusually high compared with those of other birds, suggesting rapid non-adaptive diversification in the group. We attribute this to their limited dispersal abilities making them speciation-prone and their occurrence in a complex landscape with numerous barriers promoting allopatric differentiation. Divergence times among species and downturns in species accumulation rates in recent times suggest that most speciation events in Scytalopus predate climatic oscillations of the Pleistocene. Our analyses identified various cases of strong genetic structure within species and lack of monophyly of taxa, flagging populations which likely merit additional study to clarify their taxonomic status. In particular, detailed analyses of species limits are due in S. parvirostris, S. latrans, S. speluncae, the S. atratus complex, and the Southern Andes clade

Sensitivity of Metrics of Phylogenetic Structure to Scale, Source of Data and Species Pool of Hummingbird Assemblages along Elevational Gradients

Patterns of phylogenetic structure of assemblages are increasingly used to gain insight into the ecological and evolutionary processes involved in the assembly of co-occurring species. Metrics of phylogenetic structure can be sensitive to scaling issues and data availability. Here we empirically assess the sensitivity of four metrics of phylogenetic structure of assemblages to changes in (i) the source of data, (ii) the spatial grain at which assemblages are defined, and (iii) the definition of species pools using hummingbird (Trochilidae) assemblages along an elevational gradient in Colombia. We also discuss some of the implications in terms of the potential mechanisms driving these patterns. To explore how source of data influence phylogenetic structure we defined assemblages using three sources of data: field inventories, museum specimens, and range maps. Assemblages were defined at two spatial grains: coarse-grained (elevational bands of 800-m width) and fine-grained (1-km2 plots). We used three different species pools: all species contained in assemblages, all species within half-degree quadrats, and all species either above or below 2000 m elevation. Metrics considering phylogenetic relationships among all species within assemblages showed phylogenetic clustering at high elevations and phylogenetic evenness in the lowlands, whereas those metrics considering only the closest co-occurring relatives showed the opposite trend. This result suggests that using multiple metrics of phylogenetic structure should provide greater insight into the mechanisms shaping assemblage structure. The source and spatial grain of data had important influences on estimates of both richness and phylogenetic structure. Metrics considering the co-occurrence of close relatives were particularly sensitive to changes in the spatial grain. Assemblages based on range maps included more species and showed less phylogenetic structure than assemblages based on museum or field inventories. Coarse-grained assemblages included more distantly related species and thus showed a more even phylogenetic structure than fine-grained assemblages. Our results emphasize the importance of carefully selecting the scale, source of data and metric used in analysis of the phylogenetic structure of assemblages

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

XVI International Congress of Control Electronics and Telecommunications: "Techno-scientific considerations for a post-pandemic world intensive in knowledge, innovation and sustainable local development"

Este título, sugestivo por los impactos durante la situación de la Covid 19 en el mundo, y que en Colombia lastimosamente han sido muy críticos, permiten asumir la obligada superación de tensiones sociales, políticas, y económicas; pero sobre todo científicas y tecnológicas. Inicialmente, esto supone la existencia de una capacidad de la sociedad colombiana por recuperar su estado inicial después de que haya cesado la perturbación a la que fue sometida por la catastrófica pandemia, y superar ese anterior estado de cosas ya que se encontraban -y aún se encuentran- muchos problemas locales mal resueltos, medianamente resueltos, y muchos sin resolver: es decir, habrá que rediseñar y fortalecer una probada resiliencia social existente - producto del prolongado conflicto social colombiano superado parcialmente por un proceso de paz exitoso - desde la tecnociencia local; como lo indicaba Markus Brunnermeier - economista alemán y catedrático de economía de la Universidad de Princeton- en su libro The Resilient Society…La cuestión no es preveerlo todo sino poder reaccionar…aprender a recuperarse rápido.This title, suggestive of the impacts during the Covid 19 situation in the world, and which have unfortunately been very critical in Colombia, allows us to assume the obligatory overcoming of social, political, and economic tensions; but above all scientific and technological. Initially, this supposes the existence of a capacity of Colombian society to recover its initial state after the disturbance to which it was subjected by the catastrophic pandemic has ceased, and to overcome that previous state of affairs since it was found -and still is find - many local problems poorly resolved, moderately resolved, and many unresolved: that is, an existing social resilience test will have to be redesigned and strengthened - product of the prolonged Colombian social conflict partially overcome by a successful peace process - from local technoscience; As Markus Brunnermeier - German economist and professor of economics at Princeton University - indicates in his book The Resilient Society...The question is not to foresee everything but to be able to react...learn to recover quickly.Bogot

Effective delivery of volatile biocides employing mesoporous silicates for treating biofilms

Nanoparticulate delivery of biocides has the potential to decrease levels of exposure to non- target organisms, and miminise long-term exposure which can promote the development of resistance. Silica nanoparticles are an ideal vehicle since they are inert, biocompatible, biodegradable, and thermally and chemically stable. Encapsulation of biocides within nanoparticulates can improve their stability, longevity and maximize the biocidal potential of hydrophobic volatile compounds. Herein, we have shown that the plant secondary metabolites allyl isothiocyanate (AIT) and cinnamaldehyde (CNAD) demonstrated increased antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli in planktonic form, when packaged into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs). Furthermore, the biocide loaded nanoparticles showed activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms which have inherent resistance to antimicrobial agents. The delivery platform can also be expanded to traditional biocides and other nonconventional antimicrobial agents

Effective delivery of volatile biocides employing mesoporous silicates for treating biofilms

Nanoparticulate delivery of biocides has the potential to decrease levels of exposure to non- target organisms, and miminise long-term exposure which can promote the development of resistance. Silica nanoparticles are an ideal vehicle since they are inert, biocompatible, biodegradable, and thermally and chemically stable. Encapsulation of biocides within nanoparticulates can improve their stability, longevity and maximize the biocidal potential of hydrophobic volatile compounds. Herein, we have shown that the plant secondary metabolites allyl isothiocyanate (AIT) and cinnamaldehyde (CNAD) demonstrated increased antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli in planktonic form, when packaged into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs). Furthermore, the biocide loaded nanoparticles showed activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms which have inherent resistance to antimicrobial agents. The delivery platform can also be expanded to traditional biocides and other nonconventional antimicrobial agents

Species-specific antimicrobial activity of essential oils and enhancement by encapsulation in mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Essential oils are volatile plant compounds that are biologically active and play an important role in natural plant protection. There are currently ∼3000 essential oils known, of which over 300 are commercially important for a variety of industries. In fact, the essential oil global market has been estimated to reach 13.94 billion USD with a demand of over 370,000 tons by 2024. These compounds have a wide variety of applications in agriculture, food and beverage, cosmetics, medicine, amongst other industries. A promising application of essential oils is as antimicrobials to target the vast number of diseases affecting crops. However, their volatile nature limits their effective use as free agents. To overcome this, we have investigated the use of mesoporous silica nanoparticles to protect essential oils from evaporation and degradation and to enhance their antimicrobial activity against bacterial phytopathogens. Silica nanoparticles were used due to their potential to be produced at an industrial scale and their biocompatibility. As a proof of concept, we evaluated 41 essential oils against bacterial phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi, causative agent of pea bacterial blight. Additionally, we compared the effect of such essential oils against Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Two of the most effective antimicrobials, cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and mustard (Brassica nigra) oils, were able to inhibit bacterial growth after 24 h at a concentration as low as 0.016% (v/v). Besides efficacy, the species-specificity of essential oils was demonstrated with &gt;67% of oils tested displaying specificity towards pathogenic P. syringae pv. pisi over non-pathogenic Pseudomonas fluorescens. Furthermore, the encapsulation of essential oils into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) as a means of extending and improving their antimicrobial effect was found to enable a 10-fold increase in potency compared to the free essential oil. Cinnamaldehyde immobilised onto MSNPs proved to be the most effective antimicrobial, eliminating &gt;99.8%, &gt;99.9%, and &gt;95% bacterial growth of P. fluorescens, P. syringae pv. pisi and P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, respectively. This system has the potential to be used to treat and prevent bacterial infections in crops and to enable a more controlled and effective exploitation of volatile compounds as antimicrobials

Species-specific antimicrobial activity of essential oils and enhancement by encapsulation in mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Essential oils are volatile plant compounds that are biologically active and play an important role in natural plant protection. There are currently ∼3000 essential oils known, of which over 300 are commercially important for a variety of industries. In fact, the essential oil global market has been estimated to reach 13.94 billion USD with a demand of over 370,000 tons by 2024. These compounds have a wide variety of applications in agriculture, food and beverage, cosmetics, medicine, amongst other industries. A promising application of essential oils is as antimicrobials to target the vast number of diseases affecting crops. However, their volatile nature limits their effective use as free agents. To overcome this, we have investigated the use of mesoporous silica nanoparticles to protect essential oils from evaporation and degradation and to enhance their antimicrobial activity against bacterial phytopathogens. Silica nanoparticles were used due to their potential to be produced at an industrial scale and their biocompatibility. As a proof of concept, we evaluated 41 essential oils against bacterial phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi, causative agent of pea bacterial blight. Additionally, we compared the effect of such essential oils against Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Two of the most effective antimicrobials, cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and mustard (Brassica nigra) oils, were able to inhibit bacterial growth after 24 h at a concentration as low as 0.016% (v/v). Besides efficacy, the species-specificity of essential oils was demonstrated with >67% of oils tested displaying specificity towards pathogenic P. syringae pv. pisi over non-pathogenic Pseudomonas fluorescens. Furthermore, the encapsulation of essential oils into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) as a means of extending and improving their antimicrobial effect was found to enable a 10-fold increase in potency compared to the free essential oil. Cinnamaldehyde immobilised onto MSNPs proved to be the most effective antimicrobial, eliminating >99.8%, >99.9%, and >95% bacterial growth of P. fluorescens, P. syringae pv. pisi and P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, respectively. This system has the potential to be used to treat and prevent bacterial infections in crops and to enable a more controlled and effective exploitation of volatile compounds as antimicrobials

Enhancing cinnamon essential oil activity by nanoparticle encapsulation to control seed pathogens

Natural biocides, such as cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark essential oil, have enormous potential as antimicrobials but are limited by their volatility and rapid degradation. To counteract this and to prolong the efficacy of the biocide, cinnamaldehyde (CNAD, the main bioactive compound of cinnamon essential oil) was encapsulated into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs). The synthesised CNAD-MSNPs can be used to tackle the issue of global crop loss; every year, more than 40% of global food production (estimated at $500 billion USD) is lost to diseases. This is despite the annual use of over two million tonnes of pesticides. To address seed borne diseases, CNAD-MSNPs were incorporated into a sodium alginate seed coating. As a proof of concept, this system was tested against Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi, the causative agent of pea bacterial blight, and demonstrated to increase the number of symptomless plants by 143.58% twenty days after sowing. Additionally, the concentration of CNAD present in the alginate coating was estimated to be &lt;0.0000034% (v/v); up to 90,000-fold lower than concentrations of free cinnamon oil previously reported to control some bacterial diseases. Furthermore, alginate-treated seeds germinated faster than control plants, and were physiologically similar, demonstrating the dual benefit of this treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to exploit the combined properties of essential oils, alginate and MSNPs as a seed treatment to control bacterial phytopathogens. Moreover, this study proved that the antimicrobial activity of plant products can be significantly enhanced by MSNP encapsulation, allowing volatile biocides, such as essential oils, to be used effectively at very low concentrations to treat and prevent microbial diseases in crops

Enhancing cinnamon essential oil activity by nanoparticle encapsulation to control seed pathogens

Natural biocides, such as cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark essential oil, have enormous potential as antimicrobials but are limited by their volatility and rapid degradation. To counteract this and to prolong the efficacy of the biocide, cinnamaldehyde (CNAD, the main bioactive compound of cinnamon essential oil) was encapsulated into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs). The synthesised CNAD-MSNPs can be used to tackle the issue of global crop loss; every year, more than 40% of global food production (estimated at $500 billion USD) is lost to diseases. This is despite the annual use of over two million tonnes of pesticides. To address seed borne diseases, CNAD-MSNPs were incorporated into a sodium alginate seed coating. As a proof of concept, this system was tested against Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi, the causative agent of pea bacterial blight, and demonstrated to increase the number of symptomless plants by 143.58% twenty days after sowing. Additionally, the concentration of CNAD present in the alginate coating was estimated to be <0.0000034% (v/v); up to 90,000-fold lower than concentrations of free cinnamon oil previously reported to control some bacterial diseases. Furthermore, alginate-treated seeds germinated faster than control plants, and were physiologically similar, demonstrating the dual benefit of this treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to exploit the combined properties of essential oils, alginate and MSNPs as a seed treatment to control bacterial phytopathogens. Moreover, this study proved that the antimicrobial activity of plant products can be significantly enhanced by MSNP encapsulation, allowing volatile biocides, such as essential oils, to be used effectively at very low concentrations to treat and prevent microbial diseases in crops