Development of a Semi-Field System for Contained Field Trials With Aedes Aegypti in Southern Mexico

Development of new genetic approaches to either interfere with the ability of mosquitoes to transmit dengue virus or to reduce vector population density requires progressive evaluation from the laboratory to contained field trials, before open field release. Trials in contained outdoor facilities are an important part of this process because they can be used to evaluate the effectiveness and reliability of modified strains in settings that include natural environmental variations without releasing mosquitoes into the open field. We describe a simple and cost-effective semi-field system designed to study Aedes aegypti carrying a dominant lethal gene (fsRIDL) in semi-field conditions. We provide a protocol for establishing, maintaining, and monitoring stable Ae. aegypti population densities inside field cages

Global shortage of technical agars: back to basics (resource management)

Bacteriological and technical agars are in short supply with potential consequences for research, public health, and clinical labs around the world. To diagnose bottlenecks and sustainability problems that may be putting the industry at risk, we analyzed the available time series for the global landings of Gelidium, the most important raw materials for the industry. Data on the harvest of Gelidium spp. have been reported since1912, when Japan was the only producer. After World War II the diversification of harvested species and producing countries resulted in a strong increase in global landings. Maximum harvest yields of almost 60,000 t year(-1) in the 1960s were sustained until the 1980s, after which landings decreased continuously to the present. In the 2010s, a reduction in the global production to about 25,000 t year(-1) was observed, which was lower than the yields of the 1950s. Landings by important producers such as Japan, Korea, Spain, and Portugal have collapsed. This is the ultimate cause of the present shortage of bacteriological and technical agars. However, an important factor at play is the concentration of the global landings of Gelidium in Morocco, as its relative contribution increased from 23% in the 1960s to the present 82%. Two specific bottlenecks were identified: restrictive export quotas of unprocessed Gelidium in favor of the national agar industry and resource management regulations that were apparently not enforced resulting in over-harvesting and resource decline. The global industry may well be dependent on resource management basics. Simple harvest statistics must be gathered such as the harvest effort and the variation of harvest yields along the harvest season. We discuss how this information is fundamental to manage the resource. The available harvest statistics are generally poor and limited and vary significantly among different sources of data. Probable confusions between dry and wet weight reporting and poor discrimination of the species harvested need to be resolved

Mechanical stability of the CMS strip tracker measured with a laser alignment system

Peer reviewe

Proceso mejorado para la obtención de alginato de sodio a partir del alga Macrocystis pyrifera

Se presenta un proceso mejorado para la obtención de alginato de sodio a partir del alga Macrocystis pyrifera susceptible de utilización industrial el cual se diferencia de los métodos clásicos básicamente en lo siguiente: 1) ahorro en el consumo de agua dulce (68%); 2) ahorro de energía (temperatura ambiente en la operación del proceso); 3) ahorro en el gasto de reactivos; 4) ahorro en el tiempo de procesamiento. Al aplicar el proceso desarrollado se obtiene un rendimiento de un 24.4% de alginato de sodio con una viscosidad en solución al 1.25% de 440 cps, que corresponde a un producto de viscosidad media comparado con los alginatos comerciales

Chemical composition and microbiological assays of marine algae Enteromorpha sppp. a potential food source

Enteromorpha spp. is a marine seaweed present almost year round. It often causes unsightly appearance and foul odor from decomposition by micro-organisms. This generates expenses in cleaning beaches. This work determines chemical and microbiological composition, toxicological evaluation of Enteromorpha spp., and recommends its use in human diets and promotion for commercial exploitation, and provides a solution to an ecological problem. The seaweed was collected by hand on the beach during the winters of 1997 and 1998 along the Malecon (street and sidewalk adjacent to the beach) of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Chemical analysis indicated that Enteromorpha spp. has 9-14% protein; 2-3.6% ether extract; 32-36% ash, and n-3 and n-6 fatty acids 10.4 and 10.9　g/100　g of total fatty acid, respectively. The protein of this seaweed has a high digestibility (98%). Salmonella was not found and mesophyllic aerobic and fecal coliform did not exceed the norm. Alkaloids, cyanogenic glucids, saponins, and tannic acid were scarce to null. Enteromorpha spp. is recommended for human consumption because it has several beneficial components, such as minerals, protein, essential amino acids, essential fatty acid, and fiber

Spatial and Seasonal Variation of Macroalgal Biomass in Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Baja California Sur, México

Laguna Ojo de Liebre is part of El Vizcaíno Biosphere's Reserve, one of the largest protected natural areas in the world. The contribution of seaweeds to the lagoons' total biomass had not been previously quantified. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spatial and temporal variations of seaweed biomass in the lagoon. Seaweed samples were taken every season during 1995 at six sampling stations distributed throughout the lagoon. Total specific biomass of seaweeds was at its peak in the summer, and minimum in spring. The highest total annual biomass was found at Isla Brosa in the lagoon's central portion, and the lowest in El Dátil at the head. The seasonal and spatial variation of biomass in the lagoon is related with species richness and environmental parameters. Potentially important species in terms of biomass, wide spatial and temporal distribution, and potential use were: Spyridia filamentosa, Entheromorpha clathrata, Dasya baillouviana, Hypnea valentiaeand Sargassum sinicola .Using PCA three groups of stations were defined: one chiefly at the lagoon's mouth, another comprised the islands in the central portion, and the last in the lagoon's head

Spatial and seasonal variation of macroalgal biomass in Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Baja California Sur, México

Laguna Ojo de Liebre is part of El Vizcaíno Biosphere's Reserve, one of the largest protected natural areas in the world. The contribution of seaweeds to the lagoons' total biomass had not been previously quantified. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spatial and temporal variations of seaweed biomass in the lagoon. Seaweed samples were taken every season during 1995 at six sampling stations distributed throughout the lagoon. Total specific biomass of seaweeds was at its peak in the summer, and minimum in spring. The highest total annual biomass was found at Isla Brosa in the lagoon's central portion, and the lowest in El Dátil at the head. The seasonal and spatial variation of biomass in the lagoon is related with species richness and environmental parameters. Potentially important species in terms of biomass, wide spatial and temporal distribution, and potential use were: Spyridia filamentosa, Entheromorpha clathrata, Dasya baillouviana, Hypnea valentiaeand Sargassum sinicola .Using PCA three groups of stations were defined: one chiefly at the lagoon's mouth, another comprised the islands in the central portion, and the last in the lagoon's head

Translating Research to Support Practitioners in Addressing Disparities in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Services in the United States.

Despite increased recognition of disparities in youth mental health, racial/ethnic disparities in mental health burden and in mental health service use persist. This phenomenon suggests that research documenting disparities alone has not led to extensive action in practice settings in order to significantly reduce disparities. In this commentary, we present a framework to actively target this research-to-practice gap by describing the development of a resource titled, \u27Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Racial and Ethnic Minority Youth—A Guide for Practitioners.\u27 We begin by presenting social justice as the impetus for eliminating disparities and then reviewing current knowledge and efforts aimed at reducing disparities. Subsequently, we describe knowledge transfer frameworks and goals guiding our work. Finally, we detail the steps taken in our approach to translation and implications for subsequent dissemination of this guide. Translation focused on evidence-based information on (a) mechanisms that contribute to disparities, and (b) strategies for providers to address disparities in their work. We reflect on the framework guiding our translation to offer future directions for others interested in bridging research and action