The importance of Indigenous Territories for conserving bat diversity across the Amazon biome

Indigenous Peoples have shaped and managed vast tracts of the Amazon rainforest for millennia. However, evaluations of how much biodiversity is governed under Indigenous stewardship are scarce. Here, we integrate geospatial data of officially recognized ITs across the Amazon biogeographic boundaries with the distribution range of >200 Amazonian bat species, to: (i) assess the potential contribution of ITs for the conservation of this species -rich mammalian group across the Amazon; (ii) investigate which ITs host the greatest number of bat species; and (iii) analyse how threatened and Data Deficient bat species are distributed within the ITs of the nine Amazonian countries. Twenty-two bat species were found to have >25% of their global distribution range within Amazonian ITs, including many forest-dependent species with restricted distribution ranges and a highly threatened or Data Deficient conservation status. Some particularly diverse ITs were found to harbour over half of the known Amazonian bat species, particularly in transboundary areas in the North-western Amazon. At the national level, the highest number of species with over 25% of their national Amazonian distribution within ITs was found in Peru (145), followed by Brazil (136), Colombia and Ecuador (both with 134). This study reveals the potential role of Indigenous Peoples in Amazonian bat conservation and emphasizes the contribution of their stewardship for maintaining the ecosystems in which some of the most rare and unique bat species are found. (C) 2020 Associacao Brasileira de Ciencia Ecologica e Conservacao. Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Optimización de indicadores de producción de obras, para mejorar la productividad, con la implementación de herramientas BIM, en proyectos de construcción, en el sector universitario, de Lima, Perú

Uno de los principales problemas de las obras de construcción, es la productividad, al respecto se han planteado diversas metodologías, por lo cual planteamos el trabajo de investigación en Obras de construcción de universidades, para poder comparar obras similares. El presente trabajo de investigación sobre “Optimización de indicadores de producción de obra para mejorar la Productividad, con la implementación de herramientas BIM, en Proyectos de construcción, en el Sector Universitario, de Lima, Perú”, tuvo como objetivo principal el mejorar la productividad en la construcción de universidades, para lo cual se plantea implementar la metodología BIM. Para lograr este objetivo principal se plantean los siguientes objetivos específicos: disminuir la variabilidad de Obras de construcción de Universidades utilizando Modelamiento BIM, disminuir desperdicio de acero de Obras de construcción de Universidades utilizando Modelamiento BIM y disminuir desperdicio de concreto, utilizando Modelamiento BIM. La metodología usada es la obtención de información de RFIs, desperdicios de acero y concreto de 3 Obras de Construcción de Universidades (Datos secundarios), la observación de RFIs, desperdicios de acero y concreto de 2 Obras de Construcción de Universidades, aplicando BIM. De acuerdo a cuadros comparativos de los ratios e indicadores reales (RFIs, desperdicio de concreto y acero,) con lo cual se identifica el grado de correlación entre la productividad y la implementación de BIM. Posteriormente se plantea una propuesta de mejora en una obra que se está ejecutando en la actualidad, haciendo una observación de los valores de RFIs, desperdicio de acero y concreto, para evaluar la mejora de la Productividad utilizando BIM. El nivel del BIM utilizado en un nivel intermedio y se consigue mejorar el desperdicio de acero, obteniéndose un porcentaje de ahorro en acero entre 8% a 14%. Con el uso del BIM se consigue mejorar el desperdicio de concreto, planteándose meta de tener desperdicios entre 10% y 16%. Con el uso del BIM se consigue disminuir la variabilidad en la construcción, al mejorar la respuesta de los RFIs (consultas) al plantearse conseguir 90 m2 por cada RFI. Por lo expuesto se concluye que, en Obras de universidades, aplicando BIM se mejora la productividad, consiguiendo reducir costos en desperdicios de acero y concreto, así mismo de disminuir la variabilidad de la obra, al compatibilizar de mejor manera el proyecto.One of the main problems of the construction works is productivity, in this respect several methodologies have been proposed, for which reason we propose the research work in construction works of universities, in order to compare similar works. The present work of investigation on "Optimize of indicators of production of work to improve the Productivity with the implementation of tools BIM, in Projects of construction, in the University Sector, of Lima, Peru", had like main objective the improve the productivity in the construction of universities, for which it is proposed to implement the BIM methodology. To achieve this main objective, the following specific objectives are proposed: decrease the variability of Construction Works of Universities using BIM Modeling, decrease steel waste from University Construction Works using BIM Modeling and reduce concrete waste, using BIM Modeling. The methodology used is obtaining information on RFIs, steel and concrete waste from 3 University Construction Works (secondary data), the observation of RFIs, steel and concrete waste from 2 University Construction Works, applying BIM. According to comparative tables of the ratios and real indicators (RFIs, waste of concrete and steel), which identifies the degree of correlation between productivity and the implementation of BIM. Subsequently, a proposal for improvement is proposed in a work that is currently being executed, making an observation of the values of RFIs, waste of steel and concrete, to evaluate the improvement of Productivity using BIM. The level of BIM used at an intermediate level and steel waste is improved, obtaining a percentage of savings in steel between 8% to 14%. With the use of the BIM it is possible to improve the waste of concrete, considering the goal of having waste between 10% and 16%. With the use of the BIM it is possible to reduce the variability in the construction, by improving the response of the RFIs (queries) when considering getting 90 m2 for each RFI. Therefore, it is concluded that, in Works of universities, applying BIM improves productivity, reducing costs in steel and concrete waste, as well as reducing the variability of the work, by making the project more compatible.Trabajo de investigaciónEscuela de Postgrad

Realidad Virtual y Aumentada para la mejora del aprendizaje en ingeniería. Aplicación a la aeromecánica de alas rotatorias

Presentamos una experiencia piloto de aprendizaje sobre el uso de Realidad Virtual Inmersiva (VR) y Realidad Aumentada (AR), con el objetivo de facilitar la comprensión de la dinámica compleja de rotores, a estudiantes de Grados en Ingeniería Aeroespacial. Las experiencias en VR/AR permiten visualizar los movimientos de las palas de los rotores (hélices, aerogeneradores y helicópteros) así como los campos vectoriales de las acciones externas (aerodinámicas, inerciales y gravitatorias) que originan esos movimientos. Se consulta a los estudiantes sobre los pros y los contras de la experiencia piloto en comparación con los métodos tradicionales basados en representaciones estáticas de los resultados de la dinámica. La conclusión principal es que las experiencias VR/AR son herramientas valiosas para complementar los métodos tradicionales

Are sacred caves still safe havens for the endemic bats of Madagascar?

Despite conservation discourses in Madagascar increasingly emphasizing the role of customary institutions for wildlife management, we know relatively little about their effectiveness. Here, we used semi-structured interviews with 54 adults in eight villages to investigate whether sacred caves and taboos offer conservation benefits for cave-dwelling bats in and around Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, south-west Madagascar. Although some caves were described as sites of spiritual significance for the local communities, most interviewees (c. 76%) did not recognize their present-day sacred status. Similarly, only 22% of the interviewees recognized taboos inhibiting bat hunting and consumption. Legal protection of bats and caves through protected areas was often more widely acknowledged than customary regulations, although up to 30% of the interviewees reported consumption of bats within their communities. Guano extraction was often tolerated in sacred caves in exchange for economic compensation. This may benefit bat conservation by creating incentives for bat protection, although extraction is often performed through destructive and exploitative practices with little benefit for local communities. In view of these results our study questions the extent to which sacred sites, taboos and protected areas offer protection for bats in Madagascar. These results support previous studies documenting the erosion of customary institutions in Madagascar, including the loss of the spiritual values underpinning sacred sites. Given that many Malagasy bats are cave-dwelling species and that most depend on the customary protection of these sites, it is important to obtain a better understanding of the complex interactions between spiritual practices, taboos and protected areas in sustaining bat diversity.Peer reviewe

A Primer on Resonances in Quantum Mechanics

After a pedagogical introduction to the concept of resonance in classical and quantum mechanics, some interesting applications are discussed. The subject includes resonances occurring as one of the effects of radiative reaction, the resonances involved in the refraction of electromagnetic waves by a medium with a complex refractive index, and quantum decaying systems described in terms of resonant states of the energy. Some useful mathematical approaches like the Fourier transform, the complex scaling method and the Darboux transformation are also reviewed.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, lectures presented at the Advanced Summer School in Physics 2008, Cinvestav, Mexic

Estradiol regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via hypothalamic AMPK

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Catching the Butterfly and the Homunculus of n Carinae with ALMA

The nature and origin of the molecular gas component located in the circumstellar vicinity of n Carinae are still far from being completely understood. Here, we present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array CO(3-2) observations with a high angular resolution (∼0.″15) and a great sensitivity that are employed to reveal the origin of this component in n Carinae. These observations reveal much higher velocity (-300 to +270 km s-1) blue- and redshifted molecular thermal emission than previously reported, which we associate with the lobes of the Homunculus Nebula, and which delineates very well the innermost contours of the red- and blueshifted lobes likely due to limb brightening. The inner contour of the redshifted emission was proposed to be a disrupted torus, but here we reveal that it is at least part of the molecular emission originating from the lobes and/or the expanding equatorial skirt. On the other hand, closer to systemic velocities (±100 km s-1), the CO molecular gas traces an inner butterfly-shaped structure that is also revealed at near-IR and mid-IR wavelengths as the region in which the shielded dust resides. The location and kinematics of the molecular component indicate that this material has formed after the different eruptions of n Carinae.Fil: Zapata, Luis A.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Loinard, Laurent. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Fernandez Lopez, Manuel. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomía; ArgentinaFil: Toalá, Jesús A.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: González, Ricardo F.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Rodríguez, Luis F.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Gull, Theodore R.. No especifíca;Fil: Morris, Patrick W.. No especifíca;Fil: Menten, Karl M.. Max Planck Institute For Radio Astronomy; AlemaniaFil: Kamiński, Tomasz. Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences; Poloni

Improving air quality in metropolitan Mexico City : an economic valuation

Mexico City has for years experienced high levels of ozone and particulate air pollution. In 1995-99 the entire population of the Mexico City metropolitan area was exposed to annual average concentrations of fine particulate pollution (particulates with a diameter of less than 10micrometers, or PM10) exceeding 50 micrograms per cubic meter, the annual average standard in both Mexico and the United States. Two million people were exposed to annual average PM10 levels of more than 75 micrograms per cubic meter. The daily maximum one-hour ozone standard was exceeded at least 300 days a year. The Mexico Air Quality Management Team documents population-weighted exposures to ozone and PM10 between 1995 and 1999, project exposures in 2010, and computes the value of four scenarios for 2010: A 10 percent reduction in PM10 and ozone. A 20 percent reduction in PM10 and ozone. Achievement of ambient air quality standards across the metropolitan area. A 68 percent reduction in ozone and a 47 percent reduction in PM10 across the metropolitan area. The authors calculate the health benefits of reducing ozone and PM10 for each scenario using dose-response functions from the peer-reviewed literature. They value cases of morbidity and premature mortality avoided using three approaches: Cost of illness and forgone earnings only (low estimate). Cost of illness, forgone earnings, and willingness to pay for avoided morbidity (central case estimate). Cost of illness, forgone earnings, willingness to pay for avoided morbidity, and willingness to pay for avoided mortality (high estimate). The results suggest that the benefits of a 10 percent reduction in ozone and PM10 in 2010 are about $760 million (in 1999 U.S. dollars) annually in the central case. The benefits of a 20 percent reduction in ozone and PM10 are about$1.49 billion annually. In each case the benefits of reducing ozone amount to about 15 percent of the total benefits. By estimating the magnitude of the benefits from air pollution control, the authors provide motivation for examining specific policies that could achieve the air pollution reductions that they value. They also provide unit values for the benefits from reductions in ambient air pollution (for example, per microgram of PM10) that could be used as inputs into a full cost-benefit analysisof air pollution control strategies.Montreal Protocol,Public Health Promotion,Global Environment Facility,Air Quality&Clean Air,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Montreal Protocol,Air Quality&Clean Air,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Global Environment Facility,Transport and Environment