Complex causes and consequences of rangeland greening in South America – multiple interacting natural and anthropogenic drivers and simultaneous ecosystem degradation and recovery trends

Land-surface greening has been reported globally over the past decades. While often seen to represent ecosystem recovery, the impacts on biodiversity and society can also be negative. Greening has been widely reported from rangelands, where drivers and processes are complex due to its high environmental heterogeneity and societal dynamics. Here, we assess the complexity behind greening and assess its links to various drivers in an iconic, heterogeneous rangeland area, the Iberá Wetlands and surroundings, in Argentina. Time-series satellite imagery over the past 19 years showed overall net greening, but also substantial local browning both in protected and unprotected areas, linking to land use, temporal changes in surface water, fire, and weather. We found substantial woody expansion mainly in the unprotected land, with 37% contributed by tree plantations and the remaining 63% by spontaneous woody expansion, along with widespread transitions from terrestrial land to seasonal surface water. Fire occurrences tended to reduce greening with unprotected areas experiencing widespread and frequent fire. However, protected areas had more browning in unburnt areas than burned areas. Temporal variation in annual precipitation and temperature tended to nonlinearly influence fire occurrences with an interplay of human fire management, further shaping the vegetation greening, pointing to high complexity behind the observed rangeland greening involving interactions among local drivers. Our findings highlight that the observed overall greening is an outcome of multiple trends with clear negative impacts on biodiversity and the local livestock-oriented culture (notably expanding tree plantations) and spontaneous vegetation dynamics, partly involving spontaneous woody expansion. The latter has positive potential for biodiversity and ecosystem services in terms of woodland recovery, but can become negative in such a natural savanna region if expansions develop on a too broad scale, highlighting the importance of ensuring recovery of natural fire and herbivory regimes in protected areas along with sustainable rangeland management elsewhere.Fil: Li, Wang. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Buitenwerf, Robert. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Nicora Chequín, Renata. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Florentín, Javier Elias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Salas, Roberto Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Mata, Julia Carolina. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Wang, Li. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Niu, Zheng. University Of Chinese Academy Of Sciences; China. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Svenning, Jens-christian. University Aarhus; Dinamarc

Nuevos registros y lectotipificaciones en Richardia (Rubiaceae) para la flora del Cono Sur de Sudamérica

Richardia is a Neotropical genus, belonging to tribe Spermacoceae, family Rubiaceae. It comprises 16 species distributed from the southeastern United States to Argentina and Uruguay. As part of the studies of the genus for the flora of the Southern Cone of South America, and particularly as a contribution to the Argentinean flora, we present here the results of the taxonomic studies obtained in this genus. The botanical collections available in both national and foreign herbaria, digitalized collections in online databases and specific literature were reviewed. As a result, two new records are presented, Richardia pedicellata for Misiones province, and R. scabra var. chacoensis for Salta, with their respective illustrations and a distribution map. In addition, lectotypes are designated for three accepted species: R. humistrata, R. pedicellata, and R. stellaris, and for the following synonyms: Richardsonia acutifolia, R. divergens, R. emetica, R. rosea, and R. sparsa. An updated key to the Richardia species of Argentina is also presented.Richardia es un género Neotropical, perteneciente a la tribu Spermacoceae, familia Rubiaceae. Cuenta con 16 especies que se distribuyen desde el sudeste de los Estados Unidos de América hasta Argentina y Uruguay. Como parte de los estudios del género para la flora del Cono Sur, y particularmente como contribución para la flora argentina, se presentan los resultados obtenidos de su estudio taxonómico. Se revisaron las colecciones disponibles tanto en herbarios nacionales como extranjeros, colecciones digitalizadas en bases de datos online y literatura específica. Como resultado se presentan dos nuevos registros, Richardia pedicellata para Misiones y R. scabra var. chacoensis para Salta, con sus respectivas ilustraciones y un mapa de distribución. Además, se designan lectotipos para tres especies aceptadas: R. humistrata, R. pedicellata, y R. stellaris, y para los siguientes sinónimos Richardsonia acutifolia, R. divergens, R. emetica, R. rosea, y R. sparsa. Se presenta una clave actualizada para las especies de Richardia de Argentina.Fil: Miguel, Laila Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Nicora Chequín, Renata. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Cabral, Elsa Leonor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Salas, Roberto Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; Argentin

Efecto de las políticas y prácticas de recursos humanos en la retención del personal clave de una empresa reguladora de energía. Estudio del caso COES (2019)

El presente trabajo de investigación tiene como objetivo analizar el efecto de las políticas y prácticas de recursos humanos del Comité de Operación Económica del Sistema Interconectado Nacional (COES), sobre la decisión de los ingenieros eléctricos de las áreas de operación y planificación de transmisión, de permanecer en la organización. Este grupo de profesionales es considerado como personal clave y ocupa posiciones críticas en la organización. Para el análisis se han considerado los siguientes aspectos que influyen en esta decisión: retribución y recompensas, desarrollo en la organización, crecimiento y línea de carrera, compromiso organizacional, soporte organizacional e interacción con superiores. La investigación tiene un alcance descriptivo correlacional y sigue una metodología cuantitativa basada en los resultados de la aplicación de un cuestionario elaborado con la finalidad de conocer las percepciones de los ingenieros eléctricos, sobre las políticas y prácticas desarrolladas por el COES y el impacto de éstas en la decisión de mantenerse en la organización.Tesi

Association of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life with the Longevity of ART-Restorations in Children

Objective: To evaluate the association of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) with the longevity of ART-restorations in children after 18 months. Material and Methods: A longitudinal clinical study with 62 six- to seven-year-old children, both genders, 31 of whom underwent four weeks of oral health education strategy (OHES) followed by ART (GOHES+ART) and the others only ART (GART). The Brazilian short-version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (16-CPQ8-10) was used to evaluate the OHRQoL and the perception of change in oral health was assessed by a single question. Data was analyzed using Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and Friedman\u27s tests. Results: After 18 months, GOHES+ART reported a greater impairment on OHRQoL, mainly in oral symptoms domain (p<0.05). In this period, greater impairment of oral symptoms was reported in children with failed restorations and with treatment considered to have a minor failure (p<0.05). In inter-group analysis, the GOHES+ART, with 2 to 4 restorations, Class I, of small size, located in the upper arch and with a smaller failure, reported more oral symptoms than the GART. Conclusion: In the long-term, children submitted to OHES followed by ART reported more oral symptoms. Factors such as number, class, size and location of the restorations need to be considered for the implementation of an efficient and effective oral health program, as well as for greater longevity of ART-restorations

Association of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life with the Longevity of ART-Restorations in Children

Objective: To evaluate the association of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) with the longevity of ART-restorations in children after 18 months. Material and Methods: A longitudinal clinical study with 62 six- to seven-year-old children, both genders, 31 of whom underwent four weeks of oral health education strategy (OHES) followed by ART (GOHES+ART) and the others only ART (GART). The Brazilian short-version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (16-CPQ8-10) was used to evaluate the OHRQoL and the perception of change in oral health was assessed by a single question. Data was analyzed using Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and Friedman's tests. Results: After 18 months, GOHES+ART reported a greater impairment on OHRQoL, mainly in oral symptoms domain (p<0.05). In this period, greater impairment of oral symptoms was reported in children with failed restorations and with treatment considered to have a minor failure (p<0.05). In inter-group analysis, the GOHES+ART, with 2 to 4 restorations, Class I, of small size, located in the upper arch and with a smaller failure, reported more oral symptoms than the GART. Conclusion: In the long-term, children submitted to OHES followed by ART reported more oral symptoms. Factors such as number, class, size and location of the restorations need to be considered for the implementation of an efficient and effective oral health program, as well as for greater longevity of ART-restorations

The 10/66 Dementia Research Group's fully operationalised DSM-IV dementia computerized diagnostic algorithm, compared with the 10/66 dementia algorithm and a clinician diagnosis: a population validation study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The criterion for dementia implicit in DSM-IV is widely used in research but not fully operationalised. The 10/66 Dementia Research Group sought to do this using assessments from their one phase dementia diagnostic research interview, and to validate the resulting algorithm in a population-based study in Cuba.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The criterion was operationalised as a computerised algorithm, applying clinical principles, based upon the 10/66 cognitive tests, clinical interview and informant reports; the Community Screening Instrument for Dementia, the CERAD 10 word list learning and animal naming tests, the Geriatric Mental State, and the History and Aetiology Schedule – Dementia Diagnosis and Subtype. This was validated in Cuba against a local clinician DSM-IV diagnosis and the 10/66 dementia diagnosis (originally calibrated probabilistically against clinician DSM-IV diagnoses in the 10/66 pilot study).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The DSM-IV sub-criteria were plausibly distributed among clinically diagnosed dementia cases and controls. The clinician diagnoses agreed better with 10/66 dementia diagnosis than with the more conservative computerized DSM-IV algorithm. The DSM-IV algorithm was particularly likely to miss less severe dementia cases. Those with a 10/66 dementia diagnosis who did not meet the DSM-IV criterion were less cognitively and functionally impaired compared with the DSMIV confirmed cases, but still grossly impaired compared with those free of dementia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The DSM-IV criterion, strictly applied, defines a narrow category of unambiguous dementia characterized by marked impairment. It may be specific but incompletely sensitive to clinically relevant cases. The 10/66 dementia diagnosis defines a broader category that may be more sensitive, identifying genuine cases beyond those defined by our DSM-IV algorithm, with relevance to the estimation of the population burden of this disorder.</p