Características fisicoquímicas y variación del suelo en la zona de transición de bosque a pajonal en la parte alta del parque nacional – Reserva de Biosfera del Manu

En la presente investigación se estudiaron las características fisicoquímicas de muestras de suelos colectadas, en noviembre del 2018, a través de la transición de bosque a matorral y pajonal, en el sector de Tres Cruces del Parque Nacional del Manu. El objetivo principal de esta investigación, fue determinar las características fisicoquímicas tales como nutrientes (C, N, C/N. Na, K, Ca, Mg, NO - y P), pH y textura, así como comparar estas características entre las tres formaciones vegétale que conforman esta transición. Se realizó un total de 30 puntos de muestreo, 10 en cada formación vegetal, utilizando un cilindro metálico de 3 cm de diámetro y 30 de largo el cual fue introducido en el suelo y extraído junto con la muestra, tomando únicamente los 10 cm superiores correspondientes al horizonte A. estas muestras fueron llevadas al laboratorio y analizadas de acuerdo a las variables planteadas. El análisis de nutrientes dio como resultado niveles bajos en el contenido de nitratos, fosforo y calcio, así como los valores de pH que también mostraron ser ácidos y respecto al tipo textural, resultaron ser franco y franco limosos. Respecto a las diferencias entre los suelos de las tres formaciones vegetales el bosque resultó ser el mayor en contenido de nitratos, relación C/N y vinel de acidez mientras que mostraron los valores más bajos en el contenido de cationes intercambiables potasio y calcio. El resto de variables no mostro diferencias significativas entre las formaciones vegetales.Financiada por el CONCYTE

Injerencia política económica de Estados Unidos en América Latina durante la Administración Obama (2009-2016)

La presencia política, económica y militar de Estados Unidos en América Latina ha sido la principal estrategia utilizada por casi dos siglos de influencia, injerencia y dominación en la región. Primero lo hizo Monroe (1823), quien pregonó la tesis de “América para los americanos”; le siguió el Destino Manifiesto (1845) y luego otras iniciativas en el siglo XX, tan indeseables y dañinas para el desarrollo y la vida de los pueblos latinoamericanos, siempre controlando y anteponiendo sus intereses imperiales.Como consecuencia de la relación desigual entre Estados Unidos y América Latina, los países de esta región, en su devenir histórico fueron configurando una economía totalmente dependiente, abastecedora de materias primas y una industria que ha respondido predominantemente al sector externo. En lo político, las oligarquías establecieron un modelo y una relación de subordinación a los intereses y dictados de la Casa Blanca.Desde inicios del siglo XXI, varios países latinoamericanos en su legítimo derecho de elegir sus gobernantes y teniendo como referencia el fracaso neoliberal, hicieron un giro hacia la izquierda, e instalaron gobiernos de corte progresista.En ese mismo contexto, al revisar el comportamiento de la administración Obama y su injerencia en la región, se destacan los golpes de Estado, precisamente con algunos de estos países -Honduras, Brasil y Paraguay- en los que haciendo uso de los poderes legislativo y judicial de los mismos, quitaron a los presidentes electos democráticamente.Obama, guiado por un pragmatismo político, trató de reiniciar relaciones diplomáticas con Cuba, un proceso que quedó inconcluso. En el nuevo escenario sigue siendo una necesidad fortalecer la unidad de los países, así como crear estrategias que les permitan crecer en sus economías y autodeterminación frente a las nuevas amenazas de la Casa Blanca y el riesgo de perder su hegemonía

Physiological responses of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) plants to UV radiation in its high-altitude mountain ecosystem

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a small fraction of the solar spectrum, which acts as a key environmental modulator of plant function affecting metabolic regulation and growth. Plant species endemic to the Andes are well adapted to the harsh features of high-altitude climate, including high UV radiation. Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walpers) is a member of Brassicaceae family native to the central Andes of Peru, which grows between 3500 and 4500 m of altitude, where only highland grasses and few hardy bushes can survive. Even though maca has been the focus of recent researches, mainly due to its nutraceutical properties, knowledge regarding its adaptation mechanisms to these particular natural environmental conditions is scarce. In this study, we manipulated solar UV radiation by using UV-transmitting (Control) or blocking (UV-block) filters under field conditions (4138 m above the sea level) in order to understand the impact of UV on morphological and physiological parameters of maca crops over a complete growing season. Compared to the UV-blocking filter, under control condition a significant increase of hypocotyl weight was observed during the vegetative phase together with a marked leaf turnover. Although parameters conferring photosynthetic performance were not altered by UV, carbohydrate allocation between above and underground organs was affected. Control condition did not influence the content of secondary metabolites such as glucosinolates and phenolic compounds in hypocotyls, while some differences were observed in the rosettes. These differences were mainly related to leaf turnover and the protection of new young leaves in control plants. Altogether, the data suggest that maca plants respond to strong UV radiation at high altitudes by a coordinated remobilization and relocation of metabolites between source and sink organs via a possible UV signaling pathway

IL-17 Signaling triggers degradation of the constitutive NF-κB inhibitor ABIN-1

IL-17 activates NF-κB and induces expression of proinflammatory genes. IL-17 drives disease in autoimmune conditions, and anti–IL-17 Abs have shown impressive success in the clinic. Although produced by lymphocytes, IL-17 predominantly signals in fibroblasts and epithelial cells. IL-17–driven inflammation is kept in check by negative feedback signaling molecules, including the ubiquitin editing enzyme A20, whose gene TNFAIP3 is linked to autoimmune disease susceptibility. The A20 binding inhibitor of NF-κB activation 1 (ABIN-1) is an A20-binding protein encoded by the TNIP1 gene, which is also linked to autoimmune disease susceptibility including psoriasis. Accordingly, we hypothesized that ABIN-1 might play a role in negatively regulating IL-17 signaling activity. Indeed, ABIN-1 enhanced both tonic and IL-17–dependent NF-κB signaling in IL-17–responsive fibroblast cells. Interestingly, the inhibitory activities of ABIN-1 on IL-17 signaling were independent of A20. ABIN-1 is a known NF-κB target gene, and we found that IL-17–induced activation of NF-κB led to enhanced ABIN-1 mRNA expression and promoter activity. Surprisingly, however, the ABIN-1 protein was inducibly degraded following IL-17 signaling in a proteasome-dependent manner. Thus, ABIN-1, acting independently of A20, restricts both baseline and IL-17–induced inflammatory gene expression. We conclude that IL-17–induced signals lead to degradation of ABIN-1, thereby releasing a constitutive cellular brake on NF-κB activation

Tropical forests post-logging are a persistent net carbon source to the atmosphere

Acknowledgments This study was part of the SAFE Project, the Global Ecosystems Monitoring network (gem.tropicalforests.ox.ac.uk) and Imperial College's Grand Challenges in Ecosystems and the Environment Initiative. We acknowledge funding from the Sime Darby Foundation, the Biodiversity And Land-use Impacts on tropical ecosystem function (BALI) Project (NE/K016377/1) within the Natural Environment Research Council Human-Modified Tropical Forests Programme, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), and Centre for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) in collaboration with HSBC Climate Partnership. The 52-ha Long-Term Ecological Research Project in Lambir is a collaborative project of the Forest Department of Sarawak, Malaysia, the Center for Tropical Forest Science of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, USA (NSF awards DEB- 9107247 and DEB- 9629601), and Osaka City, Ehime & Kyoto Universities, Japan (Monbusho grants 06041094, 08NP0901 and 09NP0901). M.B.M. was supported by NERC studentship awarded through the Central England NERC Training Alliance (CENTA; grant referenceNE/S007350/1) and the University of Leicester, Y.M. was supported by the Jackson Foundation and European Research Council Advanced Investigator Grant, GEM-TRAIT (321131), Y.M., RME, and T.R. by NERC grant NE/P002218/1, and R.M.E. is supported by the NOMIS Foundation. TR also acknowledges support from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 865403). Maliau Basin and Danum Valley Management Committees, Royal Society South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP), Sabah Foundation, Benta Wawasan, the State Secretary, Sabah Chief Minister’s Departments, Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Biodiversity Council, and the Economic Planning Unit are acknowledged for their support and access to the sites in Sabah. Rostin Jantan, Rohid Kailoh, Suhaini Patik, Ampat Siliwong, Yehezekiel Jahuri, Robecca Siwaring, Jeffry Amin, Sarah Watson, Ryan Gray, Johnny Larenus, Unding Jami, Toby Marthews, Alexander Karolus, the Danum 50 ha plot team, Sylvester Tan, Xyxtus Tan, Nasir Muhi and Abilano Deres helped with the data collection. We thank Susan Page, Juan Carlos Berrio, Jörg Kaduk and Katie O’Brien for their constructive comments.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

C-Reactive Protein and Genetic Variants and Cognitive Decline in Old Age: The PROSPER Study

Background: Plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of chronic inflammation, have been associated with cognitive impairment in old age. However, it is unknown whether CRP is causally linked to cognitive decline. Methods and Findings: Within the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER) trial, with 5680 participants with a mean age of 75 years, we examined associations of CRP levels and its genetic determinants with cognitive performance and decline over 3.2 years mean follow-up. Higher plasma CRP concentrations were associated with poorer baseline performance on the Stroop test (P = 0.001) and Letter Digit Tests (P, 0.001), but not with the immediate and delayed Picture Learning Test (PLT; both P>0.5). In the prospective analyses, higher CRP concentrations associated with increased rate of decline in the immediate PLT (P = 0.016), but not in other cognitive tests (all p>0.11). Adjustment for prevalent cardiovascular risk factors and disease did not change the baseline associations nor associations with cognitive decline during follow-up. Four haplotypes of CRP were used and, compared to the common haplotype, carrierships associated strongly with levels of CRP (all P < 0.007). In comparison to strong associations of apolipoprotein E with cognitive measures, associations of CRP haplotypes with such measures were inconsistent. Conclusion: Plasma CRP concentrations associate with cognitive performance in part through pathways independent of (risk factors for) cardiovascular disease. However, lifelong exposure to higher CRP levels does not associate with poorer cognitive performance in old age. The current data weaken the argument for a causal role of CRP in cognitive performance, but further study is warranted to draw definitive conclusions

Plant trait and vegetation data along a 1314 m elevation gradient with fire history in Puna grasslands, Perú

Alpine grassland vegetation supports globally important biodiversity and ecosystems that are increasingly threatened by climate warming and other environmental changes. Trait-based approaches can support understanding of vegetation responses to global change drivers and consequences for ecosystem functioning. In six sites along a 1314 m elevational gradient in Puna grasslands in the Peruvian Andes, we collected datasets on vascular plant composition, plant functional traits, biomass, ecosystem fluxes, and climate data over three years. The data were collected in the wet and dry season and from plots with different fire histories. We selected traits associated with plant resource use, growth, and life history strategies (leaf area, leaf dry/wet mass, leaf thickness, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf C, N, P content, C and N isotopes). The trait dataset contains 3,665 plant records from 145 taxa, 54,036 trait measurements (increasing the trait data coverage of the regional flora by 420%) covering 14 traits and 121 plant taxa (ca. 40% of which have no previous publicly available trait data) across 33 families

Basin-wide variation in tree hydraulic safety margins predicts the carbon balance of Amazon forests

Funding: Data collection was largely funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) project TREMOR (NE/N004655/1) to D.G., E.G. and O.P., with further funds from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES, finance code 001) to J.V.T. and a University of Leeds Climate Research Bursary Fund to J.V.T. D.G., E.G. and O.P. acknowledge further support from a NERC-funded consortium award (ARBOLES, NE/S011811/1). This paper is an outcome of J.V.T.’s doctoral thesis, which was sponsored by CAPES (GDE 99999.001293/2015-00). J.V.T. was previously supported by the NERC-funded ARBOLES project (NE/S011811/1) and is supported at present by the Swedish Research Council Vetenskapsrådet (grant no. 2019-03758 to R.M.). E.G., O.P. and D.G. acknowledge support from NERC-funded BIORED grant (NE/N012542/1). O.P. acknowledges support from an ERC Advanced Grant and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award. R.S.O. was supported by a CNPq productivity scholarship, the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP-Microsoft 11/52072-0) and the US Department of Energy, project GoAmazon (FAPESP 2013/50531-2). M.M. acknowledges support from MINECO FUN2FUN (CGL2013-46808-R) and DRESS (CGL2017-89149-C2-1-R). C.S.-M., F.B.V. and P.R.L.B. were financed by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES, finance code 001). C.S.-M. received a scholarship from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq 140353/2017-8) and CAPES (science without borders 88881.135316/2016-01). Y.M. acknowledges the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and ERC Advanced Investigator Grant (GEM-TRAITS, 321131) for supporting the Global Ecosystems Monitoring (GEM) network (gem.tropicalforests.ox.ac.uk), within which some of the field sites (KEN, TAM and ALP) are nested. The authors thank Brazil–USA Collaborative Research GoAmazon DOE-FAPESP-FAPEAM (FAPESP 2013/50533-5 to L.A.) and National Science Foundation (award DEB-1753973 to L. Alves). They thank Serrapilheira Serra-1709-18983 (to M.H.) and CNPq-PELD/POPA-441443/2016-8 (to L.G.) (P.I. Albertina Lima). They thank all the colleagues and grants mentioned elsewhere [8,36] that established, identified and measured the Amazon forest plots in the RAINFOR network analysed here. The authors particularly thank J. Lyod, S. Almeida, F. Brown, B. Vicenti, N. Silva and L. Alves. This work is an outcome approved Research Project no. 19 from ForestPlots.net, a collaborative initiative developed at the University of Leeds that unites researchers and the monitoring of their permanent plots from the world’s tropical forests [61]. The authros thank A. Levesley, K. Melgaço Ladvocat and G. Pickavance for ForestPlots.net management. They thank Y. Wang and J. Baker, respectively, for their help with the map and with the climatic data. The authors acknowledge the invaluable help of M. Brum for kindly providing the comparison of vulnerability curves based on PAD and on PLC shown in this manuscript. They thank J. Martinez-Vilalta for his comments on an early version of this manuscript. The authors also thank V. Hilares and the Asociación para la Investigación y Desarrollo Integral (AIDER, Puerto Maldonado, Peru); V. Saldaña and Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP) for local field campaign support in Peru; E. Chavez and Noel Kempff Natural History Museum for local field campaign support in Bolivia; ICMBio, INPA/NAPPA/LBA COOMFLONA (Cooperativa mista da Flona Tapajós) and T. I. Bragança-Marituba for the research support.Tropical forests face increasing climate risk1,2, yet our ability to predict their response to climate change is limited by poor understanding of their resistance to water stress. Although xylem embolism resistance thresholds (for example, Ψ50) and hydraulic safety margins (for example, HSM50) are important predictors of drought-induced mortality risk3-5, little is known about how these vary across Earth's largest tropical forest. Here, we present a pan-Amazon, fully standardized hydraulic traits dataset and use it to assess regional variation in drought sensitivity and hydraulic trait ability to predict species distributions and long-term forest biomass accumulation. Parameters Ψ50 and HSM50 vary markedly across the Amazon and are related to average long-term rainfall characteristics. Both Ψ50 and HSM50 influence the biogeographical distribution of Amazon tree species. However, HSM50 was the only significant predictor of observed decadal-scale changes in forest biomass. Old-growth forests with wide HSM50 are gaining more biomass than are low HSM50 forests. We propose that this may be associated with a growth-mortality trade-off whereby trees in forests consisting of fast-growing species take greater hydraulic risks and face greater mortality risk. Moreover, in regions of more pronounced climatic change, we find evidence that forests are losing biomass, suggesting that species in these regions may be operating beyond their hydraulic limits. Continued climate change is likely to further reduce HSM50 in the Amazon6,7, with strong implications for the Amazon carbon sink.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Effects of FUNEDF/B on school achievement and child labor: an analysis using microdata from the 2000 and 2010 censuses

Este artigo avalia os impactos do FUNDEF e FUNDEB sobre frequência escolar, distorção idade-série e trabalho infantil das crianças expostas a esses recursos durante idade escolar. Estimamos regressões com efeitos-fixos de municípios e coortes com base nos microdados dos Censos de 2000 e 2010, e nos gastos municipais do FINBRA de 1993 a 2010. Considerando municípios com proporção de matrículas na rede municipal igual à mediana, encontramos que um aumento de R$100 per capita nas transferências destes fundos está relacionado a um aumento da probabilidade de uma criança frequentar escola de 0,05 pontos percentuais, e a uma diminuição da distorção idade-série em 0,02 anos. Esses resultados equivalem a efeitos de, respectivamente, 1$385 per capita). Identificamos ainda que os efeitos são maiores para crianças com perfil socioeconômico mais baixo. Os efeitos sobre trabalho infantil são geralmente próximos de zero. This paper evaluates the impact of FUNDEF and FUNDEB on school enrolment, age to grade distortion and child labor of children exposed to financial resources during their school age. We estimate regressions with fixed effects for municipalities and cohorts using microdata from the 2000 and 2010 Censuses and data on local government spending from FINBRA between 1993 and 2010. For municipalities where the share of students attending local schools is equal to the median, an increase of R$100 per capita in transfers is related to an increase in 0.05 percentage points in school attendance, and to a reduction on age to grade distortion of 0.02 years. These effects are equivalent to 1$385 per capita). We also identify stronger effects for children of low socioeconomic status. Effects on child labour are generally null

Efeitos do FUNDEF/B sobre Frequência Escolar, Fluxo Escolar e Trabalho Infantil: Uma Análise com Base nos Censos de 2000 e 2010

Resumo Este artigo avalia os impactos do FUNDEF e FUNDEB sobre frequência escolar, distorção idade-série e trabalho infantil das crianças expostas a esses recursos durante idade escolar. Estimamos regressões com efeitos-fixos de municípios e coortes com base nos microdados dos Censos de 2000 e 2010, e nos gastos municipais do FINBRA de 1993 a 2010. Considerando municípios com proporção de matrículas na rede municipal igual à mediana, encontramos que um aumento de R$100 per capita nas transferências destes fundos está relacionado a um aumento da probabilidade de uma criança frequentar escola de 0,05 pontos percentuais, e a uma diminuição da distorção idade-série em 0,02 anos. Esses resultados equivalem a efeitos de, respectivamente, 1$385 per capita). Identificamos ainda que os efeitos são maiores para crianças com perfil socioeconômico mais baixo. Os efeitos sobre trabalho infantil são geralmente próximos de zero