Sub-arcsecond radio and optical observations of the likely counterpart to the gamma-ray source 2FGL J2056.7+4939

We have searched and reviewed all multi- wavelength data available for the region towards the gamma-ray source 2FGL J2056.7+4939 in order to con- strain its possible counterpart at lower energies. As a result, only a point-like optical/infrared source with flat-spectrum radio emission is found to be consistent with all X-ray and gamma-ray error circles. Its struc- ture is marginally resolved at radio wavelengths at the sub-arcsecond level. An extragalactic scenario appears to be the most likely interpretation for this object.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time, and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space. While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes, vast areas of the tropics remain understudied. In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity, but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases. To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge, it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

A continuum of admixture in the Western Hemisphere revealed by the African Diaspora genome

Host-parasite interactio

Impact of blood parasites on immunoglobulin level and parental effort: a medication field experiment on a wild passerine

1. Very few studies to date have evaluated experimentally the effects of blood parasites on physiological variables and breeding performance in wild birds. In this study, blood parasitaemias of female Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus L. were experimentally manipulated to assess subsequent changes in immunoglobulin level and parental effort during reproduction. 2. At the beginning of the nestling period, female Blue Tits were medicated with a high dose (HD) or a low dose (LD) of the antimalarial Primaquine, or with saline solution (control). Treatment with Primaquine causes a reduction in blood parasitaemias in the study population. 3. Immunoglobulin levels decreased in females from the HD group during the experimental period (10 days), while the levels increased in control females. 4. Only females in the HD group increased significantly their provisioning rates from the early to the late nestling stage. Total (male and female) provisioning rates increased significantly for the HD and LD groups, but not for the control group. 5. Nestlings reared by control females suffered a higher infestation by the ectoparasitic blowfly Protocalliphora azurea (Fallén). 6. Medication and the associated decrease in immunoglobulin levels allow females to allocate more resources towards parental effort. In addition, there is a potential link of medication with the health of the nestlings. 7. This study gives indirect support to the trade-off between reproductive effort and immune defence in avian hosts, and sheds light on the evolutionary significance of the link between parasitism, immunity, life-history decisions and fitness. © 2006 The Authors.This study was funded by projects BOS2000-1125 and BOS2003-05724 from Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (to SM) and BOS2001-0587 and CGL2004-00787 (to J. Moreno). We thank Tonantzin Calvo, László Z. Garamszegi, José Llama, Javier Martínez and Inma Nogueras for their help. J. Morales was supported by a FPI grant from Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología. GT was supported by a FPI grant from the Comunidad de Madrid and partially by an accommodation grant to reside at the Residencia de Estudiantes from the Ayuntamiento de Madrid and an I3P post-doctoral contract from CSIC.Peer reviewe

Association study in African-admixed populations across the Americas recapitulates asthma risk loci in non-African populations (vol 10, 880, 2019)

Host-parasite interactio

Mortality from esophagectomy for esophageal cancer across low, middle, and high-income countries: An international cohort study.

BACKGROUND No evidence currently exists characterising global outcomes following major cancer surgery, including esophageal cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to characterise impact of high income countries (HIC) versus low and middle income countries (LMIC) on the outcomes following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. METHOD This international multi-center prospective study across 137 hospitals in 41 countries included patients who underwent an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, with 90-day follow-up. The main explanatory variable was country income, defined according to the World Bank Data classification. The primary outcome was 90-day postoperative mortality, and secondary outcomes were composite leaks (anastomotic leak or conduit necrosis) and major complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade III - V). Multivariable generalized estimating equation models were used to produce adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS Between April 2018 to December 2018, 2247 patients were included. Patients from HIC were more significantly older, with higher ASA grade, and more advanced tumors. Patients from LMIC had almost three-fold increase in 90-day mortality, compared to HIC (9.4% vs 3.7%, p < 0.001). On adjusted analysis, LMIC were independently associated with higher 90-day mortality (OR: 2.31, CI: 1.17-4.55, p = 0.015). However, LMIC were not independently associated with higher rates of anastomotic leaks (OR: 1.06, CI: 0.57-1.99, p = 0.9) or major complications (OR: 0.85, CI: 0.54-1.32, p = 0.5), compared to HIC. CONCLUSION Resections in LMIC were independently associated with higher 90-day postoperative mortality, likely reflecting a failure to rescue of these patients following esophagectomy, despite similar composite anastomotic leaks and major complication rates to HIC. These findings warrant further research, to identify potential issues and solutions to improve global outcomes following esophagectomy for cancer