The Role of Intra-Clutch Variation of Magpie Clutches in Foreign Egg Rejection Depends on the Egg Trait Considered.

MM-M and JA conceived the idea and analyzed the data. MM-M led the writing of the manuscript. MP and JGM performed the experiment in the field work. JG and GL-C carried out the images processing and performed the analyzes related to fractal dimension. All authors contributed critically to the drafts and gave final approval for publication.We thank Brian Peer for inviting us to contribute to this special issue. We are also indebted to Daniel Hanley and Vanina Dafne Fiorini for comments that greatly improved the manuscript.The existence of a coevolutionary process between avian brood parasites and their hosts predicts a lower intra-clutch variation in egg appearance of host eggs among rejecters as this would favor egg discrimination of parasite eggs by hosts once parasitic egg mimicry had evolved. So far empirical tests of this prediction have ignored the fact that different aspects of host egg phenotypes may differ in the relative role of environmental vs. genetic determination, and hence that the role of intra-clutch variation in egg rejection within a population cannot be invariant. Here, we estimated whether the intra-clutch variation in several aspects of host eggshell features is consistently associated to rejection of parasitic foreign eggs across years in a magpie host population parasitized by great spotted cuckoos. We innovatively estimated spottiness by means of the fractal dimension of eggs, which considers the homogeneity of spot pattern complexity in eggshells. Our results show that low intra-clutch variation in the blue-green coloration at the middle area of the eggs associated with a high chance of rejection, but only in one of the 3 years we conducted the study. In addition, females that rejected foreign eggs presented more homogenous spot patterns in their clutches as estimated by their fractal dimension than females that accepted experimental eggs, independently of the year of study. Finally, intra-clutch variation in egg volume of host eggs was not associated to rejection. Analyses at the individual level revealed that the relative role of genetic vs. environmental factors that determine egg phenotype would be feature-specific in magpies, females having a characteristic spottiness, but not color or volume, pattern. Our work stresses the importance of considering a holistic approach including several aspects of variation in host egg phenotype (size, color, and homogeneity of spot pattern), as some aspects might be more susceptible to selection through egg rejection than others, presumably because they are less influenced by variation in the environmental conditions. Moreover, our study highlights the importance of replication in studies on the adaptive value of host traits in egg rejection.This study was made possible through funding by the Spanish Ministry of Science through different projects (CGL2011-27561 and CGL2014-55362-P), a grant (BES-2015-075675), the Juan de la Cierva–Incorporación Fellowship (IJC2018-036411-I), and the Junta de Andalucía through a project (P06-RNM-01862)

Effect of temperature on the oxidation of soybean biodiesel

This paper proposes to examine the effect of temperature on the oxidation behavior of biodiesel. Soybean biodiesel was oxidized at different temperatures (room temperature, 60, and 110 °C), and the increase in primary and secondary oxidation products was determined based on the peroxide and anisidine values, respectively, during the induction period (IP). The results indicated that the evolution of hydroperoxides followed zero-order reaction kinetics during the IP at all temperatures, and their rate of formation was exponentially affected by temperature. It was also deduced that temperature influenced the ratio between primary and secondary oxidation products formation, which decreased as the temperature increased. Additionally, it was possible to predict the oxidation behavior of the soybean biodiesel at room temperature by an exponential model fitted to the IP values at different temperatures (70, 80, 90, 100, and 110 °C) using the Rancimat apparatus.The authors are grateful to the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for their financial support and to the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Level or Education Personnel (CAPES) for a scholarship (Process n° BEX 6667/12-0).Peer Reviewe

Prevalencia de ametropías en escolares entre los 6 y 11 años del sur occidente de la ciudad de Barranquilla en el segundo semestre del 2022

La salud visual en niños de edad escolar es un aspecto muy importante de la salud en la infancia y del desarrollo de las capacidades cognitivas durante el crecimiento. El aumento del uso de dispositivos digitales en la actualidad supone un riesgo conocido para el desarrollo de defectos refractivos en este grupo etario. Por ello es importante conocer la prevalencia de esta en la población infantil de la ciudad de Barranquilla. Esta investigación analiza la prevalencia de los defectos refractivos y los distintos factores de riesgo asociados a esta. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal, con una muestra de 252 niños. Mediante una encuesta y un tamizaje con tabla de Snellen se pudieron identificar aspectos como: tiempo de actividad diaria al aire libre, tiempo de actividad diaria de uso de dispositivos digitales, días de uso semanal de estos, edad de inicio de uso de dispositivos digitales y años de uso totales, además de la agudeza visual y la presencia o no de ametropía. Si bien el tamaño muestral alcanzado para analizar estas variables no permitió realizar de forma significativa una asociación, el tamizaje y el cuestionario realizado cumplen con objetivos de determinar la problemática de este grupo poblacional y reconocer la prevalencia de ametropías y los riesgos de la población infantil barranquillera.PregradoMedic

Laboratory Hyperspectral Image Acquisition System Setup and Validation

Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) techniques have demonstrated potential to provide useful information in a broad set of applications in different domains, from precision agriculture to environmental science. A first step in the preparation of the algorithms to be employed outdoors starts at a laboratory level, capturing a high amount of samples to be analysed and processed in order to extract the necessary information about the spectral characteristics of the studied samples in the most precise way. In this article, a custom-made scanning system for hyperspectral image acquisition is described. Commercially available components have been carefully selected in order to be integrated into a flexible infrastructure able to obtain data from any Generic Interface for Cameras (GenICam) compliant devices using the gigabyte Ethernet interface. The entire setup has been tested using the Specim FX hyperspectral series (FX10 and FX17) and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) has been developed in order to control the individual components and visualise data. Morphological analysis, spectral response and optical aberration of these pushbroom-type hyperspectral cameras have been evaluated prior to the validation of the whole system with different plastic samples for which spectral signatures are extracted and compared with well-known spectral libraries.Laboratory Hyperspectral Image Acquisition System Setup and ValidationpublishedVersio

Physico-chemical characterization of inclusion complex between hydroxymethylnitrofurazone and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin

Hydroxymethylnitrofurazone (NFOH) is a prodrug that is active against Trypanosoma cruzi. It however presents low solubility and high toxicity. Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) can be used as a drug-delivery system for NFOH modifying its physico-chemical properties. The aim of this work is to characterize the inclusion complex between NFOH and HP-beta-CD. The rate of NFOH release decreases after complexation and thermodynamic parameters from the solubility isotherm studies revealed that a stable complex is formed (deltaGº= 1.7 kJ/mol). This study focuses on the physico-chemical characterization of a drug-delivery formulation that comes out as a potentially new therapeutic option for Chagas disease treatment.FAPESPCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

Modernización de la valuación masiva de la tierra en la provincia de Córdoba a través de técnicas de aprendizaje computacional

Este documento aborda los resultados obtenidos del trabajo conjunto entre el Centro de Estudios Territoriales de la FCEFyN-UNC, el Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba a través del Ministerio de Finanzas y el Programa de Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD). Este “Estudio territorial y del mercado inmobiliario de la provincia de Córdoba” tuvo como objetivos determinar las valuaciones de todos los inmuebles urbanos y rurales, conforme valores de mercado. Metodológicamente se implementaron Modelos de Valuación Masiva Automatizada y utilizaron herramientas geomáticas (SIG, procesamiento de imágenes, análisis espaciales, etc.), en la construcción de variables territoriales y a los fines de calcular valores a partir de algoritmos y modelos matemáticos. El estudio resultó en la determinación de las nuevas valuaciones para aproximadamente 2.000.000 de inmuebles que posee la provincia de Córdoba. La actualización de los valores catastrales así como la implementación de metodologías que colaboran en acelerar los procesos de valuaciones masivas y permiten asignar el valor más probable y próximo al mercado, de manera objetiva, eficiente y eficaz, contribuyen a un mejor conocimiento de la riqueza territorial de una región, a una menor distorsión impositiva y menores pérdidas económicas en la aplicación de los impuestos; entre otros.This document exposes the results obtained from the joint work between the Territorial Studies Center of the FCEFyN-UNC, the Government of the Province of Córdoba through the Ministry of Finance and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). This "Territorial study and real estate market of the province of Córdoba" had as objectives to determine the valuations of all urban and rural properties, according to market values. Methodologically, Automated Massive Valuation Models were implemented and were used geomatic tools (GIS, image processing, spatial analysis, etc.), in the construction of territorial variables and in order to calculate values from algorithms and mathematical models. The study resulted in the determination of the new valuations for approximately 2,000,000 properties owned by the province of Córdoba. The updating of the cadastral values as well as the implementation of methodologies that collaborate in accelerating the processes of massive valuations and allow assigning the most probable value and near to the market, in an objective, efficient and effective way, contribute to a better knowledge of the territorial wealth of a region, to a lesser tax distortion and lower economic losses in the application of taxes; among others.Fil: Piumetto, Mario Andrés. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Gustavo M.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Monayar, María Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro de Estudios Urbanos y Regionales. Grupo Vinculado Instituto de Investigación de Vivienda y Hábitat al Ceur; ArgentinaFil: Carranza, Juan Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Universidad Empresarial Siglo XXI; ArgentinaFil: Morales, Hernan. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentin

A tale of two cities: Aedes Mosquito surveillance across the Texas-Mexico Border

Cross border situations complicate epidemiologic risk assessments in transboundary regions such as the US-Mexico border. Countries have different health policies, mosquito control policies, and mosquito surveillance systems. We established a binational Aedes mosquito surveillance program in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, and McAllen, Texas by replicating a part of the Mexican Integrated Vector Monitoring System (IVMS) across the international border. The entomologic surveillance of the IVMSs is based on ova collection cups (ovitraps) and for the binational project, the surveillance protocol was modified to include an Autocidal Gravid Ovitrap (AGO) in the center of every city-block (100 m2) distribution of four ovitraps. We measured the weekly abun-dance of Aedes eggs and adult females in 72 clusters (cluster = one AGO and four ovitraps) in Reynosa and 67 clusters in McAllen from Epidemiologic Week (EW) 17 to EW 36. The mean weekly egg counts were 34 and 22 in McAllen and Reynosa respectively. The female adult mosquito counts were more than 5 in 12 out of 20 (60%) weeks in McAllen, and in 5 out of 16 (31%) weeks in Reynosa. For every increase of one female mosquito, the egg counts in the corresponding ovitraps increased by 2.33% (95% HDI: 2.31%–-2.42%) in McAllen and by 0.6% (95% HDI: 0.5%–0.62%) in Reynosa. Counter knowledge, weekly increase of temperature had a negative influence in adult and egg counts in Reynosa and McAllen. Precipitation had a positive influence on egg counts in McAllen