The Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO): Overview of pilot measurements on ecosystem ecology, meteorology, trace gases, and aerosols

The Amazon Basin plays key roles in the carbon and water cycles, climate change, atmospheric chemistry, and biodiversity. It has already been changed significantly by human activities, and more pervasive change is expected to occur in the coming decades. It is therefore essential to establish long-term measurement sites that provide a baseline record of present-day climatic, biogeochemical, and atmospheric conditions and that will be operated over coming decades to monitor change in the Amazon region, as human perturbations increase in the future. The Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO) has been set up in a pristine rain forest region in the central Amazon Basin, about 150 km northeast of the city of Manaus. Two 80 m towers have been operated at the site since 2012, and a 325 m tower is nearing completion in mid-2015. An ecological survey including a biodiversity assessment has been conducted in the forest region surrounding the site. Measurements of micrometeorological and atmospheric chemical variables were initiated in 2012, and their range has continued to broaden over the last few years. The meteorological and micrometeorological measurements include temperature and wind profiles, precipitation, water and energy fluxes, turbulence components, soil temperature profiles and soil heat fluxes, radiation fluxes, and visibility. A tree has been instrumented to measure stem profiles of temperature, light intensity, and water content in cryptogamic covers. The trace gas measurements comprise continuous monitoring of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and ozone at five to eight different heights, complemented by a variety of additional species measured during intensive campaigns (e.g., VOC, NO, NO2, and OH reactivity). Aerosol optical, microphysical, and chemical measurements are being made above the canopy as well as in the canopy space. They include aerosol light scattering and absorption, fluorescence, number and volume size distributions, chemical composition, cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations, and hygroscopicity. In this paper, we discuss the scientific context of the ATTO observatory and present an overview of results from ecological, meteorological, and chemical pilot studies at the ATTO site. © Author(s) 2015

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Posições discursivas sobre cidadania: tensões entre a hegemonia adultista e a participação protagonista em centros educativos no Chile

A qualitative study is presented aiming to describe the discursive positions of students, teachers and families with respect to citizenship. Sixteen conversation groups were carried out with 107 participants from educational centers in two Chilean cities. After a structural analysis, the findings show a discursive structure composed of ten discursive positions. We found two major groupings, the hegemonic group (ciudadanía escolarizada, patriótica, burguesa, tutelada, infantilizadora, des- politizante and sexista), and the counter-hegemonic group (contra-ciudadanía, cuerpo-parlante and protagónica). These positions are organized in a relational structure that arranges and proposes ways of understanding the different citizenship practices. It is concluded that the hegemonic concept of citizenship regulates social relations for the formation of future citizens who are able to coexist, integrate and reproduce an unequal society. Likewise, the spaces of enunciation of dissidence or resistance provide clues about the possible cracks in the model of citizenship imposed in schools.Se presenta un estudio cualitativo que tiene por objetivo describir las posiciones discursivas de estudiantes, docentes y familias respecto de la ciudadanía. Se realizaron 16 grupos de conversación a 107 participantes de centros educativos de dos ciudades chilenas. Tras un análisis estructural, los hallazgos dan cuenta de una estructura discursiva compuesta por diez posiciones discursivas. Encontramos dos grandes agrupaciones, la hegemónica (ciudadanía escolarizada, patriótica, burguesa, tutelada, infantilizadora, des-politizante y sexista) y la contra-hegemónica (contra-ciudadanía, cuerpo-parlante y protagónica). Estas posiciones se organizan en una estructura relacional que dispone y propone formas de comprender las distintas prácticas ciudadanas. Se concluye que el concepto hegemónico de ciudadanía regula las relaciones sociales para la formación de futuros ciudadanos y ciudadanas que logren convivir, integrar y reproducir una sociedad desigual. Asimismo, los espacios de enunciación de las disidencias o resistencias entregan pistas sobre las posibles grietas del modelo de ciudadanía que se impone en las escuelas.Este estudo qualitativo visa descrever as posições discursivas dos estudantes, professores e famílias com respeito à cidadania. Foram realizados 16 grupos focais com 107 participantes de escolas em duas cidades chilenas. Após uma análise estrutural, os resultados revelam uma estrutura discursiva composta de dez posições discursivas. Encontramos dois grandes agrupamentos, o hegemônico (ciudadanía escolarizada, patriótica, burguesa, tutelada, infantilizadora, des-politizante y sexista) e o contra-hegemônico (contra-ciudadanía, cuerpo-parlante y protagónica). Estas posições estão organizadas em uma estrutura relacional que organiza e propõe formas de entender as diferentes práticas de cidadania. Conclui-se que o conceito hegemônico de cidadania regula as relações sociais para a formação de futuros cidadãos que conseguem coexistir, integrar e reproduzir uma sociedade desigual. Da mesma forma, os espaços de enunciação de dissidência ou resistência fornecem pistas sobre as possíveis rachaduras no modelo de cidadania que é imposto nas escolas

Derechos de agua y gestión ciudadana

The table of contents for this item can be shared with the requester. The requester may then choose one chapter, up to 10% of the item, as per the Fair Dealing provision of the Canadian Copyright Ac

Diversidad de micromamíferos en tres ambientes de la Reserva Nacional Lago Peñuelas, Región de Valparaíso, Chile Diversity of small mammals in three environments of the National Reserve Lago Peñuelas, Región de Valparaíso, Chile

Los ecosistemas mediterráneos de Chile, los únicos en Sudamérica de los cuatro presentes en el mundo, son considerados áreas prioritarias para la conservación, por su alta concentración de especies endémicas y las aceleradas tasas de destrucción del hábitat. Éstos contienen más del 39% de las especies de mamíferos, 47% de las especies endémicas y el 65% de las especies amenazadas del país. Aún así, estos ecosistemas están inadecuadamente representados en el sistema de áreas silvestres protegidas, siendo una de ellas la Reserva Nacional Lago Peñuelas (RNLP) parte de la Reserva de Biosfera La Campana-Peñuelas. La mastofauna de la RNLP esta pobremente documentada. Estudiamos la diversidad &#945; y &#946; en el ensamble de micromamíferos presentes en los tres ambientes de la RNLP (bosque esclerófilo, matorral mixto y sabana de Acacia caven). Instalamos grillas de trampas Sherman, recolectamos y analizamos egagrópilas de dos especies de aves rapaces (Tyto alba y Bubo magellanicus) y registramos huellas, signos y observación directa en las cuatro estaciones del año 2001. Determinamos la riqueza de especies (S), abundancia relativa, diversidad a considerando su riqueza y estructura (índices de Shannon y Wiener y de Pielou), diversidad &#946; (índice de Bray-Curtis) y comparamos la diversidad encontrada con lo documentado en la misma latitud de este a oeste. Registramos un total de 16 especies: Thylamys elegans, Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, Abrothrix longipilis, A. olivaceus, Chelemys megalonyx, Phyllotis darwini, Myocastor coypus, Octodon degus, O. lunatus, Spalacopus cyanus, Abrocoma bennetti, Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus, Mus musculus, Lepus capensis y Oryctolagus cuniculus. El bosque esclerófilo costero fue el más diverso con distribución homogénea de sus especies, seguido del matorral mixto y fnalmente la sabana de A caven. Por otro lado el bosque esclerófilo es similar al matorral mixto y ambos a su vez muy disímiles de la sabana de A caven. La diversidad registrada en el área de estudio es concordante con la correspondiente a otras áreas mediterráneas de Chile. Se discute la situación de estos ecosistemas y se contrasta la diversidad documentada para seis localidades a la misma latitud.<br>Chilean Mediterranean ecosystems, the only of this type present in South América of the four present in the world, are considered priority áreas for conservation due to their high concentration of endemic species that have experienced accelerated rates of habitat destruction. They contain more than 39% of the mammal species, 47% of its endemic species, and 65% of the threatened species of Chile. Yet, these ecosystems are poorly represented in the system of protected áreas, one of which is the Reserva Nacional Lago Peñuelas (RNLP) that is part of the Biosphere Reserve La Campana-Peñuelas, but whose mammal fauna is poorly documented. We studied both &#945; and &#946; diversity of the mammal assemblage in all three environments present at the RNLP (sclerophyllous forest, mixed shrub, and savanna oí Acacia caven). Sherman traps grids were installed, pellets of two raptors (Tyto alba and Bubo magellanicus) were analyzed, tracks and signs were recorded, and direct observations were performed in the four seasons of the year 2001. We determined species richness (S), relative abundance, a diversity - considering its richness and structure (Shannon-Wiener and Pielou indexes)-, &#946; diversity (Bray-Curtis index), and compared the diversity found with that documented for the same latitude from east to west. We recorded a total of 16 species: Thylamys elegans, Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, Abrothrix longipilis, A. olivaceus, Chelemys megalonyx, Phyllotis darwini, Myocastor coypus, Octodon degus, O. lunatus, Spalacopus cyanus, Abrocoma bennetti, Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus, Mus musculus, Lepus capensis, and Oryctolagus cuniculus. The coastal sclerophyllous forest was the most diverse with a species homogeneous distribution, followed by the mixed shrub, and fnally the A. caven savanna. Also, the sclerophyllous forest is similar to the mixed scrub; in turn, both are very dissimilar to the savanna of A. caven. The diversity recorded in the study área is consistent with that of other áreas of the Mediterranean áreas. We discuss the status of these ecosystems and the diversity is compared to six documented locations at the same latitude

DNA metabarcoding of passive trap collection media for forest insect biomonitoring

International audienceInsect decline has been increasingly reported in the past years due to global change. Large-scale biomonitoring has thus become necessary to better understand the dynamics of insect communities and to preserve their essential role in ecosystem functioning. In that sense, coupling high-throughput sequencing and DNA metabarcoding has exponentially increased our potentiality to monitor insect communities over wider geographic regions and time scales. However, biomonitoring of entomofauna using molecular tools often results in destructive DNA extraction through voucher grinding, impeding primordial morphological backup. Here, we filter unprocessed collection medium to assess insect communities through environmental DNA metabarcoding. We demonstrate that recovered communities are different yet complementary and that insect response to environmental changes remains similar to homogenate bulk metabarcoding. We also show that insect orders-by their contrasting sclerotization ratio-, and collection medium type, are unequal in yielding metabarcoding results. Overall, we believe it as an efficient alternative for biomonitoring insect response to ecological changes while preserving insect vouchers for identification and description, especially in tropical regions were singletons or undescribed species can be very common in trap samples

Stress, Depression and/or Anxiety According to the Death by COVID-19 of a Family Member or Friend in Health Sciences Students in Latin America during the First Wave

The COVID-19 pandemic generated high mortality in various countries, which may have had an impact on the mental health of young people. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether the death of a family member or close friend due to COVID-19 generated a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, or moderate/severe stress in university health sciences students in Latin America. This is an analytical cross-sectional study, with secondary data; depression, anxiety, and stress were measured with a validated survey. In addition, data were obtained on the deaths by COVID-19 of family members or close friends, illness and other socio-economic variables. Descriptive and analytical statistics were obtained. It was found that, of the 3304 students, 5.9% (190) had a close relative who had died, 11.2% (363) a distant relative, and 19.8% (641) a friend. According to the multivariate analysis, those students who had a close family member who had died had greater depression (RPa: 1.48; CI 95%: 1.20–1.84; value p < 0.001) and stress (RPa: 1.41; CI 95%: 1.11–1.79; p value = 0.005), in addition, those who had a friend who died had higher levels of anxiety (RPa: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.06–1.36; p value =0.005); also, the respondents who suffered from COVID-19 had greater depression (RPa: 1.49; CI 95%: 1.05–2.11; value p = 0.024) and stress (RPa: 1.55; CI 95%: 1.05–2.28, p-value = 0.028). An association was found between suffering from depression, anxiety, or stress, and having suffered the death of a family member or close friend from COVID-19. This finding is an important one for places of education to consider, suggesting a need to generate psychological support programs for students who have lost a loved one during the pandemic, since this could have academic and social repercussions. An association was found between the three mental illnesses studied and the death of a family member or close friend from COVID-19

Non-destructive DNA metabarcoding of arthropods using collection medium from passive traps

Broad-scale monitoring of arthropods is often carried out with passive traps ( e.g . Malaise traps) that can collect thousands of specimens per sample. The identification of individual specimens requires time and taxonomic expertise, limiting the geographical and temporal scale of research and monitoring studies. DNA metabarcoding of bulk-sample homogenates is faster and has been found to be efficient and reliable, but is destructive and prevents a posteriori validation of species occurrences and/or relative abundances. Non-destructive DNA metabarcoding from the collection medium has been applied in a limited number of studies, but further tests of efficiency are required in a broader range of circumstances to assess the consistency of the method. Methods We quantified the detection rate of arthropod species when applying non-destructive DNA metabarcoding with a short (127-bp) fragment of mitochondrial COI on two types of passive traps and collection media: 1) water with monopropylene glycol (H 2 O–MPG) used in window-flight traps (WFT, 53 in total); 2) ethanol with monopropylene glycol (EtOH–MPG) used in Malaise traps (MT, 27 in total). We then compared our results with those obtained for the same samples using morphological identification (for WFTs) or destructive metabarcoding of bulk homogenate (for MTs). This comparison was applied as part of a larger study of arthropod species richness in silver fir ( Abies alba ) stands across a range of climate-induced tree dieback levels and forest management strategies. Results Of the 53 H 2 O-MPG samples from WFTs, 16 produced no metabarcoding results, while the remaining 37 samples yielded 77 arthropod MOTUs in total. None of those MOTUs were shared species with the 389 morphological taxa (343 of which were Coleoptera) obtained from the same traps. Metabarcoding of 26 EtOH–MPG samples from MTs detected more arthropod MOTUs (233) and insect orders (11) than destructive metabarcoding of homogenate (146 MOTUs, 8 orders). Arachnida and Collembola were more diverse in EtOH-MPG samples, but Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera were less represented than in homogenate. Overall, MOTU richness per trap similar for EtOH–MPG (21.81 MOTUs) than for homogenate (32.4 MOTUs). Arthropod communities from EtOH–MPG and homogenate metabarcoding were relatively distinct, with 162 MOTUs (53%) unique to the collection medium and only 71 MOTUs (23%) present in both treatments. Finally, collection medium did not reveal any significant changes in arthropod richness along a disturbance gradient in silver fir forests. We conclude that DNA metabarcoding of collection medium can be used to complement homogenate metabarcoding in inventories to favour the detection of soft-bodied arthropods like spiders