INDEPENDENT OBSERVATIONS OF PHAEOMELANIC MALES OF THE VARIABLE SEEDEATER (SPOROPHILA CORVINA) WITH COMMENTS ABOUT ITS POTENTIAL FOR EVOLUTIONARY DIVERGENCE

Plumage coloration largely depends on the type and concentration of pigments present in feathers. Therefore, changes in pigment deposition may result in aberrant colorations, which, in turn, will likely interfere with the plumage color’s function (e.g., signaling, protection). Published records of aberrant plumage colors underestimate the type and frequency of these phenotypes, especially in the tropics. Here, we report five independent observations of phaeomelanic males of the Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina), in which typically white feathers were instead chestnut-red, likely due to the deposition of phaeomelanin. Our observations add to previous reports of aberrant melanin-based coloration in this species, suggesting that genomic region(s) influencing the expression of phaeomelanin are a biased target for mutations. Because mutations affecting the regulation of melanin deposition result in novel plumage phenotypes, we discuss aberrant phenotypes as an important source of variation fueling rapid divergence among populations of this avian clade

Industrialización de la riqueza vegetal: oportunidades sociales y económicas

Las empresas enfrentan un importante desafío es esta economía globalizada, porque para sobrevivir tienen que ofrecer nuevos productos con valor agregado en los mercados internacionales. Para ello se requieren profesionales entrenados en las metodologías para el desarrollo de nuevos productos (DNP), y los egresados universitarios tienen que tener estas habilidades para que puedan contribuir a enfrentar esta situación. J unto con esto se requieren también productos innovadores de la mano con la conservación del medio ambiente y aprovechando al máximo los recursos disponibles, bien sea de la tierra o de transformación tecnológica. Con este proyecto se pretende abrir una ventana de oportunidad para que los alumnos del programa de Ingeniería de Procesos puedan adquirir el entrenamiento necesario para desempeñarse con éxito en el DNP. A demás, los empresarios del campo puedan obtener un valor agregado para sus productos como alternativa en tiempos de precios desfavorables.Companies face a major challenge is this globalized economy, because to survive they have to offer new products with added value in the international market. This requires professionals trained in the methodologies for the development of new products (DNP) and university graduates must have these skills so that they can contribute to deal with this situation. A long with this they also require innovations running by the side of conservation of the environment and the taking of full advantage of available resources, either from land or technological transformation. This project is to open a window of opportunity so that the Process Engineering students can acquire the knowledge needed to perform successfully in the DNP training. A lso field employers can get valueadded products as an alternative in times of unfavourable prices

Characterizing the limited use of point-of-care ultrasound in Colombian emergency medicine residencies

Background: Emergency medicine (EM) is a growing specialty in Colombia with five residency programs in the country. EM leadership is interested in incorporating point-of-care (POC) ultrasound into a standardized national EM residency curriculum. This study is a nationwide survey of Colombian EM residents designed to explore the current state of POC ultrasound use within EM residencies and examine specific barriers preventing its expansion. Methods: We conducted a mix-methodology study of all available current EM residents in the five EM residencies in Colombia. The quantitative survey assessed previous ultrasound experience, current use of various applications, desire for further training, and perceived barriers to expanded use. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with current EM residents to gather additional qualitative insight into their practice patterns and perceived barriers to clinician-performed ultrasound. Results: Sixty-nine EM residents completed the quantitative survey, a response rate of 85% of all current EM residents in Colombia; 52% of resident respondents had previously used ultrasound during their training. Of these, 58% indicated that they had performed 40 scans. The most frequently used applications indicated by respondents were trauma, obstetrics, and procedures including vascular access. A quarter indicated they had previously received some ultrasound training, but almost all expressed an interest in learning more. Significant barriers included lack of trained teachers (indicated by 78% of respondents), absence of machines (57%), and limited time (41%). In FGDs, the barriers identified were inter-specialty conflicts over the control of ultrasonography, both institutionally and nationally, and program-specific curriculum decisions to include POC ultrasound. Conclusion: While currently limited in their access, EM residents in Colombia have a strong interest in integrating POC ultrasound into their training. Current barriers to expanded use include traditional barriers such as a lack of equipment seen in many developing countries, as well as inter-specialty conflicts typical of developed countries. Further collaboration is underway to help overcome these obstacles and integrate POC ultrasound into Colombian EM residency training

Characterizing the limited use of point-of-care ultrasound in Colombian emergency medicine residencies

Background: Emergency medicine (EM) is a growing specialty in Colombia with five residency programs in the country. EM leadership is interested in incorporating point-of-care (POC) ultrasound into a standardized national EM residency curriculum. This study is a nationwide survey of Colombian EM residents designed to explore the current state of POC ultrasound use within EM residencies and examine specific barriers preventing its expansion. Methods: We conducted a mix-methodology study of all available current EM residents in the five EM residencies in Colombia. The quantitative survey assessed previous ultrasound experience, current use of various applications, desire for further training, and perceived barriers to expanded use. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with current EM residents to gather additional qualitative insight into their practice patterns and perceived barriers to clinician-performed ultrasound. Results: Sixty-nine EM residents completed the quantitative survey, a response rate of 85% of all current EM residents in Colombia; 52% of resident respondents had previously used ultrasound during their training. Of these, 58% indicated that they had performed <10 scans and 17% reported >40 scans. The most frequently used applications indicated by respondents were trauma, obstetrics, and procedures including vascular access. A quarter indicated they had previously received some ultrasound training, but almost all expressed an interest in learning more. Significant barriers included lack of trained teachers (indicated by 78% of respondents), absence of machines (57%), and limited time (41%). In FGDs, the barriers identified were inter-specialty conflicts over the control of ultrasonography, both institutionally and nationally, and program-specific curriculum decisions to include POC ultrasound. Conclusion: While currently limited in their access, EM residents in Colombia have a strong interest in integrating POC ultrasound into their training. Current barriers to expanded use include traditional barriers such as a lack of equipment seen in many developing countries, as well as inter-specialty conflicts typical of developed countries. Further collaboration is underway to help overcome these obstacles and integrate POC ultrasound into Colombian EM residency training. © 2014 Henwood et al.; licensee Springer

Attitudes of Mexican anesthesiologists to indicate preoperative fasting periods: A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND: In Mexico, guidelines for fasting periods, or any audits on this topic are unavailable, and therefore the attitudes of anesthesiologists for recommending preoperative fasting periods are unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional survey of anesthesiologists subscribed to the Annual Updated Course, organized by the Sociedad Mexicana de Anestesiologia in 2000. The response rate was 31.4%. RESULTS: Most respondents were general anesthesiologists, with 5 or more years experience in a clinical post, were working in both public and private hospitals, and were performing anesthetic procedures on both pediatric and adult patients and in both ambulatory and hospitalized patients. Approximately 23% of the respondents considered natural fruit juices to be clear liquids. For a pediatric patient ingesting breast milk 1 h before undergoing a surgical procedure, 45% thought that surgery should be delayed for 3h, followed by those delaying the surgical procedure for 6 to 8 h. Our results show that more than 50% of the anesthesiologists had better defined attitudes for fasting milk and clear liquids in patients of 6 month or under than for older children and adults. However, due to the poor definition or pre-operative fasting, using clear liquids, in all other patient groups, several patients are allowed to go without oral clear liquids administration for prolonged periods. CONCLUSION: Preoperative fasting periods recommended by Mexican anesthesiologists differ from international guidelines

Analytical Performance of a Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay Using TaqMan Probes for Quantification of Trypanosoma cruzi Satellite DNA in Blood Samples

Background: The analytical validation of sensitive, accurate and standardized Real-Time PCR methods for Trypanosoma cruzi quantification is crucial to provide a reliable laboratory tool for diagnosis of recent infections as well as for monitoring treatment efficacy. Methods/Principal Findings: We have standardized and validated a multiplex Real-Time quantitative PCR assay (qPCR) based on TaqMan technology, aiming to quantify T. cruzi satellite DNA as well as an internal amplification control (IAC) in a single-tube reaction. IAC amplification allows rule out false negative PCR results due to inhibitory substances or loss of DNA during sample processing. The assay has a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.70 parasite equivalents/mL and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1.53 parasite equivalents/mL starting from non-boiled Guanidine EDTA blood spiked with T. cruzi CLBrener stock. The method was evaluated with blood samples collected from Chagas disease patients experiencing different clinical stages and epidemiological scenarios: 1- Sixteen Venezuelan patients from an outbreak of oral transmission, 2- Sixty three Bolivian patients suffering chronic Chagas disease, 3- Thirty four Argentinean cases with chronic Chagas disease, 4- Twenty seven newborns to seropositive mothers, 5- A seronegative receptor who got infected after transplantation with a cadaveric kidney explanted from an infected subject. Conclusions/Significance: The performing parameters of this assay encourage its application to early assessment of T. cruzi infection in cases in which serological methods are not informative, such as recent infections by oral contamination or congenital transmission or after transplantation with organs from seropositive donors, as well as for monitoring Chagas disease patients under etiological treatment.Fil: Duffy, Tomas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones En Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Cura, Carolina Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Ramírez, Juan C.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Abate, Teresa. Universidad Central de Venezuela. Instituto de Medicina Tropical; VenezuelaFil: Cayo, Nelly M.. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Biologia de la Altura; ArgentinaFil: Parrado, Rudy. Universidad San Simón; BoliviaFil: Diaz Bello, Zoraida. Universidad Central de Venezuela. Instituto de Medicina Tropical; VenezuelaFil: Velazquez, Elsa Beatriz. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Parasitología; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz Calderón, Arturo. Universidad Central de Venezuela. Instituto de Medicina Tropical; VenezuelaFil: Juiz, Natalia Anahí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Basile, Joaquín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Lineth. Universidad San Simón; BoliviaFil: Riarte, Adelina. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Parasitología; ArgentinaFil: Nasser, Julio Rubén. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Ocampo, Susana B.. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Biologia de la Altura; ArgentinaFil: Yadon, Zaida E.. Pan-American Health Organization; Estados UnidosFil: Torrico, Faustino. Universidad San Simón; BoliviaFil: Alarcón de Noya, Belkisyole. Universidad Central de Venezuela. Instituto de Medicina Tropical; VenezuelaFil: Ribeiro, Isabela. Drugs and Neglected Diseases Initiative; SuizaFil: Schijman, Alejandro Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentin

Size and Shape Constraints of (486958) Arrokoth from Stellar Occultations

We present the results from four stellar occultations by (486958) Arrokoth, the flyby target of the New Horizons extended mission. Three of the four efforts led to positive detections of the body, and all constrained the presence of rings and other debris, finding none. Twenty-five mobile stations were deployed for 2017 June 3 and augmented by fixed telescopes. There were no positive detections from this effort. The event on 2017 July 10 was observed by the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy with one very short chord. Twenty-four deployed stations on 2017 July 17 resulted in five chords that clearly showed a complicated shape consistent with a contact binary with rough dimensions of 20 by 30 km for the overall outline. A visible albedo of 10% was derived from these data. Twenty-two systems were deployed for the fourth event on 2018 August 4 and resulted in two chords. The combination of the occultation data and the flyby results provides a significant refinement of the rotation period, now estimated to be 15.9380 ± 0.0005 hr. The occultation data also provided high-precision astrometric constraints on the position of the object that were crucial for supporting the navigation for the New Horizons flyby. This work demonstrates an effective method for obtaining detailed size and shape information and probing for rings and dust on distant Kuiper Belt objects as well as being an important source of positional data that can aid in spacecraft navigation that is particularly useful for small and distant bodies.Fil: Buie, Marc W.. Southwest Research Institute.; Estados UnidosFil: Porter, Simon B.. Southwest Research Institute.; Estados UnidosFil: Tamblyn, Peter. Southwest Research Institute.; Estados UnidosFil: Terrell, Dirk. Southwest Research Institute.; Estados UnidosFil: Parker, Alex Harrison. Southwest Research Institute.; Estados UnidosFil: Baratoux, David. Géosciences Environnement Toulouse; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Kaire, Maram. Ministry of Higher Education Research and Innovation; Senegal. Asociación Senegalesa para la Promoción de la Astronomía; SenegalFil: Leiva, Rodrigo. Southwest Research Institute.; Estados UnidosFil: Verbiscer, Anne J.. University of Virginia; Estados UnidosFil: Zangari, Amanda M.. Southwest Research Institute.; Estados UnidosFil: Colas, François. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Observatoire de Paris; Francia. Sorbonne University; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Diop, Baidy Demba. Direction de la Formation et de la Communication; SenegalFil: Samaniego, Joseph I.. University of Colorado; Estados UnidosFil: Wasserman, Lawrence H.. Lowell Observatory; Estados UnidosFil: Benecchi, Susan D.. Planetary Science Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Caspi, Amir. Southwest Research Institute.; Estados UnidosFil: Gwyn, Stephen. Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre; CanadáFil: Kavelaars, J. J.. Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre; CanadáFil: Ocampo Uría, Adriana C.. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Rabassa, Jorge Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Skrutskie, M. F.. University of Virginia; Estados UnidosFil: Soto, Alejandro. Southwest Research Institute.; Estados UnidosFil: Tanga, Paolo. Université Côte d’Azur; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Young, Eliot F.. Southwest Research Institute.; Estados UnidosFil: Stern, S. Alan. Southwest Research Institute.; Estados UnidosFil: Andersen, Bridget C.. University of Virginia; Estados UnidosFil: Arango Pérez, Mauricio E.. Universidad de Antioquia; ColombiaFil: Arredondo, Anicia. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Estados UnidosFil: Artola, Rodolfo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: García Migani, Esteban Andrés. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Geofísica y Astronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentin