Redescubrimiento de Lytta corallifera (Coleoptera: Meloidae) en el centro de México

[EN] A population of Lytta corallifera Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 (Coleoptera: Meloidae), one of the less-studied and rarest species of its genus, was discovered near Charco Blanco, in the Guadalcázar Biological Preservation Area in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The rarity of L. corallifera and its apparent sensitivity to changes in its habitat make the above region an important location for the survival of the species.[ES] Se descubrió una población de Lytta corallifera Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 (Coleoptera: Meloidae), una de las especies menos estudiadas y más raras de su género, cerca de Charco Blanco, en el área natural protegida de Guadalcázar, en el estado de San Luis Potosí, México. La rareza de L. corallifera y su aparente vulnerabilidad a cambios en su hábitat hace de la región antes mencionada un punto de suma importancia para la supervivencia de esta especie.Peer reviewe

Autenticación mediante DNA barcoding de especies de meros legalmente protegidas y en peligro de extinción, sometidas a explotación pesquera, incluyendo el mero Goliat Epinephelus itajara

Fishing strategies are constantly changing to meet the needs for new or alternative food sources. Consequently, management of fishing activities regarding rates of exploitation is essential, as a number of resources have reached situations of overexploitation. The aim of the present study was to use DNA barcoding from the goliath grouper and other exploited epinephelids in order to provide procedures for DNA authentication to be used as evidence for combating putative illegal fishing. The species studied were Epinephelus adscensionis, Mycteroperca bonaci, Mycteroperca interstitialis, Epinephelus itajara, Mycteroperca venenosa, Epinephelus mystacinus, Dermatolepis inermis, Alphestes afer, Cephalopholis fulva, Mycteroperca acutirostris, Rypticus saponaceus, Mycteroperca marginata and Epinephelus morio. Four of these species are the main epinephelids fished in the Atlantic Ocean. Differential patterns of polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism were obtained from the species and additional single nucleotide polymorphisms were also detected among the four main epinephelids studied. The procedures proved very efficient and we suggest their applicability to the other fish groups as a way to control illegal capture and retail around the world, especially in cases in which filleting and other forms of de-characterization cause a lack of morpho-anatomical key characters.Las estrategias de pesca cambian constantemente para satisfacer las necesidades de fuentes de alimento nuevas o alternativas. En consecuencia, a medida que los recursos alcanzan situaciones de sobreexplotación, resulta esencial establecer procedimientos de inspección de las actividades relacionadas con las tasas de explotación pesquera. El objetivo de este estudio es proponer el uso de la técnica de DNA barcoding para establecer la verificación de la identidad del mero Goliat y otros epinefélidos, a fin de utilizarlo como evidencia para combatir la pesca ilegal cuando se sospeche su ocurrencia. Las especies aquí estudiadas fueron Alphestes afer, Cephalopholis fulva, Dermatolepis inermis, Epinephelus adscensionis, E. itajara, E. morio, E. mystacinus, Mycteroperca acutirostris, M. bonaci, M. interstitialis, M. marginata, M. venenosa y Rypticus saponaceus de las cuales cuatro constituyen las más pescadas en el Océano Atlántico. Fueron encontrados patrones diferenciables de PCR-RFLPs para todas las especies y, además, fue posible detectar SNPs adicionales entre las cuatro especies más explotadas. Los procedimientos aquí empleados fueron muy eficaces por lo que sugerimos su aplicabilidad a otros grupos de peces como medida de control de la captura y comercialización ilegal a nivel mundial, particularmente en aquellos casos en los que el fileteado y otras formas de procesamiento que alteran las características anatómicas y morfológicas impiden su identificación

Prevalence of Depressive Disorder in the Adult population of Latin America: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Depressive disorder is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide; however its prevalence and association with inequality and crime is poorly characterised in Latin America. This study aimed to: i. systematically review population-based studies of prevalence of ICD/DSM depressive disorder in Latin America, ii. report pooled regional, country, and sex-specific prevalence estimates, and iii. test its association with four country-level development indicators: human development (HDI), income (Gini) and gender inequality (GII), and intentional homicide rate (IHR). Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies reporting primary data on the prevalence of ICD/DSM depressive disorder in Latin America from 1990 to 2023, irrespective of language. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, SciELO (regional database), LILAC (regional database), and available grey literature. Study quality was assessed using JBI’s critical appraisal tools. We generated pooled estimates using random-effects meta-analysis; heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Meta-regression analyses were used to test associations of depression prevalence with indicators of inequality and human development. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019143054). Findings: Using data from 40 studies in Latin America, lifetime, 12-month, and current prevalence of ICD/DSM depressive disorder were calculated at 12.58% (95% CI 11.00%–14.16%); 5.30% (4.55–6.06%), and 3.12% (2.22–4.03), respectively. Heterogeneity was high across lifetime, 12-month, and current prevalence, sex, and countries. 12-month and current prevalence was associated with higher Gini and GII, 12-month prevalence with lower HDI, and current prevalence with higher IHR. Interpretation We found a high prevalence of ICD/DSM depressive disorders in Latin America, and a statistically significant association with inequality and development indicators. The high heterogeneity found across prevalence periods and the major gaps in country representation underscore the need to escalate efforts to improve mental health access and research capabilities in Latin America. Systematic, comparable prevalence estimates would inform more effective decision-making in the region

Producciones intensivas como vínculo entre la universidad, la comunidad educativa y el desarrollo local

Los docentes pertenecientes a Escuelas Agropecuarias y Especiales con inserción en el ámbito urbano, periurbano y rural, se diferencian en “profesores”, que dictan materias “teóricas” de los “maestros de área” encargados de la “práctica”. Los primeros generalmente con formación disciplinar universitaria y pedagógica. Los segundos a cargo de la enseñanza práctica, no tienen por lo general formación universitaria, siendo en muchos casos egresados de las mismas escuelas sin especialización en su área. Las actividades intensivas de producción vegetal se modifican tecnológicamente en forma periódica lo que permite el desarrollo rural, por lo cual los docentes requieren actualización continua. A partir de un “Proyecto de innovación y transferencia en áreas prioritarias” que combina teoría y práctica, se propone construir un marco conceptual relativo a la producción de plantas frutales, aromáticas y su manejo, que invite a realizar una producción grupal donde el conocimiento se genere. Se han iniciado con profesores, maestros de sección y alumnos de organismos educativos, viveros productivos de frutales y aromáticas, construcción de invernáculos, capacitación en laboratorios de suelos y preparación de destiladores didácticos para extracción de esencias. A partir de esta intervención en una escala de experiencias descendente, se revalorizarán los cuerpos de conocimientos de las Instituciones.Eje temático 5: La articulación con la comunidad b - Programas y experiencias: Voluntariado, cooperación, proyectos de extensión y vinculación con el medioFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Monte carlo simulation strategies for predicting CO 2/CH 4 adsorption onto activated carbons from pure gas isotherms

The problem of predicting the adsorptive properties of activated carbon (AC) towards a mixture of gases from the simple knowledge of the adsorption properties of the pure components is addressed, with special reference to the CO2/CH4 mixture. The adsorption process for the pure gases and their mixtures was simulated using the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) method and the calculations were then used to analyze experimental isotherms for the pure gases and for mixtures with different molar fractions in the gaseous phase. It was shown that the pore-size distributions (PSDs) “sensed” by each of the pure probe gases was different one from the other and also from the PSDs “seen” by the mixture. A mixing rule for combining the PSDs corresponding to the pure gases is proposed for obtaining predictions regarding the adsorption of the corresponding mixtures, which are then compared with those arising from the classical IAST approximation. For this purpose, selectivity curves for CO2 relative to CH4 have been calculated and compared with experimental values. It was concluded that, for the adsorbate/adsorbent system under study, the proposed GCMC mixed model was capable of predicting the binary adsorption equilibrium, and especially the selectivity, more accurately than the IAST.Fil: de Oliveira, José C. A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Rios, Rafael B.. Universidade Federal do Ceará; BrasilFil: López, Raúl Horacio. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Peixoto, Hugo R.. Universidade Federal do Ceará; BrasilFil: Cornette, Valeria Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Torres, A. Eurico B.. Universidade Federal do Ceará; BrasilFil: Calvalcante Jr., Célio L.. Universidade Federal do Ceará; BrasilFil: Zgrablich, Jorge Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentin

Galacto-oligosaccharides production during lactose hydrolysis by free Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase and immobilized on magnetic polysiloxane-polyvinyl alcohol

The synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) by the action of Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase free and immobilized on magnetic polysiloxane-polyvinyl alcohol (mPOS-PVA) was studied. A maximum GOS concentration of 26% (w/v) of total sugars was achieved at near 55% lactose conversion from 50%, w/v lactose solution at pH 4.5 and 40 °C. Trisaccharides accounted for more than 81% of the total GOS produced. GOS formation was not considerably affected by pH and temperature. The concentrations of glucose and galactose encountered near maximum GOS concentration greatly inhibited the reactions and reduced GOS yield. GOS formation was not affected by enzyme immobilization in the mPOS-PVA matrix, indicating the absence of diffusional limitations in the enzyme carrier. Furthermore, this water insoluble magnetic derivative was reutilized 10-times and retained about 84% of the initial activity. In addition, the kinetic parameters for various initial lactose concentrations were determined and compared for the free and immobilized enzyme.David F. M. Neri gratefully acknowledges support by the Programme Alpan, the European Union Programme of High Level Scholarships for Latin America (Scholarship No. E05D057787BR). Luiz B. Carvalho Jr. is recipient of a scholarship of the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq)

Effects of the microtubule nucleator Mto1 on chromosomal movement, DNA repair, and sister chromatid cohesion in fission yeast.

Although the function of microtubules (MTs) in chromosomal segregation during mitosis is well characterized, much less is known about the role of MTs in chromosomal functions during interphase. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, dynamic cytoplasmic MT bundles move chromosomes in an oscillatory manner during interphase via linkages through the nuclear envelope (NE) at the spindle pole body (SPB) and other sites. Mto1 is a cytoplasmic factor that mediates the nucleation and attachment of cytoplasmic MTs to the nucleus. Here, we test the function of these cytoplasmic MTs and Mto1 on DNA repair and recombination during interphase. We find that mto1Δ cells exhibit defects in DNA repair and homologous recombination (HR) and abnormal DNA repair factory dynamics. In these cells, sister chromatids are not properly paired, and binding of Rad21 cohesin subunit along chromosomal arms is reduced. Our findings suggest a model in which cytoplasmic MTs and Mto1 facilitate efficient DNA repair and HR by promoting dynamic chromosomal organization and cohesion in the nucleus.This work was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness BFU2011-15216-E, P09-CTS-4697, and PGC2018-099849-B-100 to R.R.D.; National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01, GM067690, and GM115185 to F.C.; and NIH grants R01-GM085145 and R35-GM126910 to S.J

OMWS: A Web Service Interface for Ecological Niche Modelling

[EN] Ecological niche modelling (ENM) experiments often involve a high number of tasks to be performed. Such tasks may consume a significant amount of computing resources and take a long time to complete, especially when using personal computers. OMWS is a Web service interface that allows more powerful computing back-ends to be remotely exploited by other applications to carry out ENM tasks. Its latest version includes a new operation that can be used to specify complex workflows in a single request, adding the possibility of using workflow management systems on parallel computing back-end. In this paper we describe the OMWS protocol and compare its most recent version with the previous one by running the same ENM experiment using two functionally equivalent clients, each designed for one of the OMWS interface versions. Different back-end configurations were used to investigate how the performance scales for each protocol version when more processing power is made available. Results show that the new version outperforms (in a factor of 2) the previous one when more computing resources are used.The latest version of OMWS contains improvements coming from different sets of requirements originated from two projects that funded their corresponding implementation: EUBrazilOpenBio14, with grants from the European Commission and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development of Brazil (CNPq) of the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT), and BioVeL, with grants from the European Commission. Server infrastructure was operated through a provisioning system developed in the frame of the Spanish project CLUVIEM (TIN2013-44390-R) funded by the "Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad".Giovanni, RD.; Torres Serrano, E.; Amaral, RB.; Blanquer Espert, I.; Rebello, V.; Canhos, VP. (2015). OMWS: A Web Service Interface for Ecological Niche Modelling. Biodiversity Informatics. 10:35-44. https://doi.org/10.17161/bi.v10i0.4853S35441

Exploiting ConvNet Diversity for Flooding Identification

Flooding is the world's most costly type of natural disaster in terms of both economic losses and human causalities. A first and essential procedure toward flood monitoring is based on identifying the area most vulnerable to flooding, which gives authorities relevant regions to focus. In this letter, we propose several methods to perform flooding identification in high-resolution remote sensing images using deep learning. Specifically, some proposed techniques are based upon unique networks, such as dilated and deconvolutional ones, whereas others were conceived to exploit diversity of distinct networks in order to extract the maximum performance of each classifier. The evaluation of the proposed methods was conducted in a high-resolution remote sensing data set. Results show that the proposed algorithms outperformed the state-of-the-art baselines, providing improvements ranging from 1% to 4% in terms of the Jaccard Index