Systematics of the Oswaldoi Complex (Anopheles, Nyssorhynchus) in South America

Abstract Background Effective malaria control relies on accurate identification of those Anopheles mosquitoes responsible for the transmission of Plasmodium parasites. Anopheles oswaldoi s.l. has been incriminated as a malaria vector in Colombia and some localities in Brazil, but not ubiquitously throughout its Neotropical range. This evidence together with variable morphological characters and genetic differences supports that An. oswaldoi s.l. compromises a species complex. The recent fully integrated redescription of An. oswaldoi s.s. provides a solid taxonomic foundation from which to molecularly determine other members of the complex.\ud \ud \ud \ud Methods\ud DNA sequences of the Second Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS2 - rDNA) (n = 192) and the barcoding region of the Cytochrome Oxidase I gene (COI - mtDNA) (n = 110) were generated from 255 specimens of An. oswaldoi s.l. from 33 localities: Brazil (8 localities, including the lectotype series of An. oswaldoi), Ecuador (4), Colombia (17), Trinidad and Tobago (1), and Peru (3). COI sequences were analyzed employing the Kimura-two-parameter model (K2P), Bayesian analysis (MrBayes), Mixed Yule-Coalescent model (MYC, for delimitation of clusters) and TCS genealogies. Results\ud Separate and combined analysis of the COI and ITS2 data sets unequivocally supported four separate species: two previously determined (An. oswaldoi s.s. and An. oswaldoi B) and two newly designated species in the Oswaldoi Complex (An. oswaldoi A and An. sp. nr. konderi). The COI intra- and inter-specific genetic distances for the four taxa were non-overlapping, averaging 0.012 (0.007 to 0.020) and 0.052 (0.038 to 0.064), respectively. The concurring four clusters delineated by MrBayes and MYC, and four independent TCS networks, strongly confirmed their separate species status. In addition, An. konderi of Sallum should be regarded as unique with respect to the above. Despite initially being included as an outgroup taxon, this species falls well within the examined taxa, suggesting a combined analysis of these taxa would be most appropriate. Conclusions: Through novel data and retrospective comparison of available COI and ITS2 DNA sequences, evidence is shown to support the separate species status of An. oswaldoi s.s., An. oswaldoi A and An. oswaldoi B, and at least two species in the closely related An. konderi complex (An. sp. nr. konderi, An. konderi of Sallum). Although An. oswaldoi s.s. has never been implicated in malaria transmission, An. oswaldoi B is a confirmed vector and the new species An. oswaldoi A and An. sp. nr. konderi are circumstantially implicated, most likely acting as secondary vectors.This study formed part of the PhD study of FRL conducted at the Natural History Museum, London, and awarded from Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, Kent, U.K. This investigation received financial support from the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) (grant A50252 to YML), Canterbury Christ Church University (studentship to FRL). Additional funding was obtained through the Friends of the Natural History Museum, London to further the activities of the Mosquito Barcoding Initiative (to YML); the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) (to YML and RCW) and the Sloane Foundation (to YML and RCW); the National Institute of Health (NIH), USA (grant 2R01AI054139 to Jan E. Conn) and COLCIENCIAS (grant 110134319196 to MLQ). We thank Dr. A. Papadopoulou for help with the MYC analysis and Dr. S. Mahamdallie for helpful suggestions and discussions during preparation of the manuscript.This manuscript was prepared in part whilst YML held a National Research Council Senior Research Associateship Award at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. This research was performed in part under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Smithsonian Institution, with institutional support provided by both organizations. The material to be published reflects the views of the authors and should not be construed to represent those of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Analisis comparativo de la resistencia de hormigones y morteros elaborados con agregados de Guayaquil, portoviejo y Posorja

Los agregados para este estudio fueron sometidos a ensayos granulométricos, de resistencia al desgaste, gravedad específica absorción y peso unitario. Se elaboraron probetas de hormigón y cubos de mortero. El diseño del hormigón se lo hizo siguiendo las Normas del ACI (American Concrete Institute).Se realizan análisis y pruebas de diseño de hormigón, determinando las difrencias de los agregados, asi como la inaplicabilidad de ciertas normas y métodos utilizados para su dosificación

Diseño de una interfase para sensar niveles de audio, video, y alimentación de energía en una repetidora de TV empleando el sistema de transmisión CDPD

Se establece una opción para solucionar el complejo problema de la pérdida de la señal de transmisión de televisión debido a la falla en alguno de los equipos que se encuentran en las estaciones repetidoras y que no se pueden detectar enseguida en la estación central y de acuerdo a dicha necesidad esta fundamentado en ser un trabajo base para la optimización de servicios en transmisión de señales de televisión. Se divide en dos secciones: el diseño de la interfase via moden nulo y a su vez la simulación via moden en el sistema de comunicación inalambrico CDPD. Se diseña una interfase que permita receptar la señal de los sensores y luego transmitirla en el sistema de comunicación inalambrica CDPD. Se emplea el lenguaje de programación para el funcionamiento y operabilidad de la primera, y establecer un método base que permita crear una base de datos con la información de cada una de las estaciones repetidoras que posee una empresa Televisa.GuayaquilIngeniero en Electricidad Especialización Electrónic

Nuevas prácticas de laboratorio en la formación del docente de física en la Universidad de Cuenca

En la presente investigación se describe el proceso seguido en la revisión, construcción y análisis del impacto de la implementación de nuevas prácticas de laboratorio de Física mediante la V epistemológica de Gowin, en la asignatura de Estática y Cinemática, que se imparte en la “Carrera de Pedagogía de las Ciencias Experimentales: Matemáticas y Física” de la Facultad de Filosofía, Letras y Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad de Cuenca Ecuador. Estás prácticas de laboratorio servirán como medio De formación para los futuros Docentes de Física de bachillerato. Las mismas que están fundamentadas en la teoría constructivista del aprendizaje significativo, donde se considera al estudiante el responsable de construir su propio conocimiento. El método que se siguió durante la investigación es el de investigación-acción (IA), se optó por está metodología debido a que se requirió la participación real y continua de la población involucrada, es decir docentes y estudiantes. Se pretendió conocer su contexto para generar conocimiento colectivo y crítico, a más de evaluar constantemente el proceso de transición de las nuevas guías de prácticas de laboratorio, para finalmente explicar lo que ocurrió durante la aplicación de estas nuevas prácticas, es una metodología orientada al cambio educativo, como instrumentos para la recolección de la información se utilizó test de conocimientos, entrevistas a grupos focales y diarios de campo. Se concluyó que el estudiante es capaz de construir profundamente el fundamento teórico mediante la experimentación, conoce los materiales con los que se realiza las prácticas, se familiariza con ellos de modo que puede replicarlos en su futuro ejercicio profesional, ya sea en los laboratorios existentes en las instituciones educativas y/o en la fabricación propia de material experimental como su recurso de enseñanza, este nuevo enfoque de prácticas de laboratorio genera una participación activa del estudiante, siendo responsable de su propio conocimiento.Manab

Requirements for resource networks compared to the state of the art. Deliverable D4.2

The primary aim of work package 4 is the development of methods supporting the concept of “Energy Efficiency 2.0”. This is a term coined for an approach which goes beyond the current effort to energy efficiency: introduction of technically efficient equipment, reduction of energy waste and mitigation of environmental pollution according to legislative requirements. “Energy Efficiency 2.0” is meant for companies which take a proactive approach in their management towards ecology and sustainability in general. A special concern in the matter is the integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) immediately in the production environment of manufacturing companies. For this purpose, a Resource Networks Methodology (RNM) is developed which is aimed to provide an approach which integrates all the different resources (as in requirements for a production operation) into factory planning and control methods. This deliverable details the theoretical background for the RNM and details the exact need for action as well as the requirements for development of the methodology. It discusses the motivation behind the push towards “Energy Efficiency 2.0” from a point of view of the European legislative, European standardisation bodies and the European markets. As RES and energy storages will be a major enabler or even requirement of the RNM, the available technologies and there characteristics are discussed. Furthermore, the state of the art on smart grids and micro grids is presented to give some background on other approaches which are being researched. The deliverable further summarises the state of the art in both science and practice on energy efficiency in production as one of the aspects to be integrated in the RNM. As flexibilities and volatilities are a prime concern of the RNM, a review of these in production systems has been made and is complemented with an overview of other projects considering the issue in relation with the integration of RES. Lastly, the need for action and the requirements for the further developments in Tasks 4.2 and 4.3 of the REEMAIN project are introduced. One example for such requirements is the placement of the RNM in the production system planning process (see Figure 1)

Systematics of the Oswaldoi Complex (Anopheles, Nyssorhynchus) in South America

Abstract Background Effective malaria control relies on accurate identification of those Anopheles mosquitoes responsible for the transmission of Plasmodium parasites. Anopheles oswaldoi s.l. has been incriminated as a malaria vector in Colombia and some localities in Brazil, but not ubiquitously throughout its Neotropical range. This evidence together with variable morphological characters and genetic differences supports that An. oswaldoi s.l. compromises a species complex. The recent fully integrated redescription of An. oswaldoi s.s. provides a solid taxonomic foundation from which to molecularly determine other members of the complex. Methods DNA sequences of the Second Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS2 - rDNA) (n = 192) and the barcoding region of the Cytochrome Oxidase I gene (COI - mtDNA) (n = 110) were generated from 255 specimens of An. oswaldoi s.l. from 33 localities: Brazil (8 localities, including the lectotype series of An. oswaldoi), Ecuador (4), Colombia (17), Trinidad and Tobago (1), and Peru (3). COI sequences were analyzed employing the Kimura-two-parameter model (K2P), Bayesian analysis (MrBayes), Mixed Yule-Coalescent model (MYC, for delimitation of clusters) and TCS genealogies. Results Separate and combined analysis of the COI and ITS2 data sets unequivocally supported four separate species: two previously determined (An. oswaldoi s.s. and An. oswaldoi B) and two newly designated species in the Oswaldoi Complex (An. oswaldoi A and An. sp. nr. konderi). The COI intra- and inter-specific genetic distances for the four taxa were non-overlapping, averaging 0.012 (0.007 to 0.020) and 0.052 (0.038 to 0.064), respectively. The concurring four clusters delineated by MrBayes and MYC, and four independent TCS networks, strongly confirmed their separate species status. In addition, An. konderi of Sallum should be regarded as unique with respect to the above. Despite initially being included as an outgroup taxon, this species falls well within the examined taxa, suggesting a combined analysis of these taxa would be most appropriate. Conclusions Through novel data and retrospective comparison of available COI and ITS2 DNA sequences, evidence is shown to support the separate species status of An. oswaldoi s.s., An. oswaldoi A and An. oswaldoi B, and at least two species in the closely related An. konderi complex (An. sp. nr. konderi, An. konderi of Sallum). Although An. oswaldoi s.s. has never been implicated in malaria transmission, An. oswaldoi B is a confirmed vector and the new species An. oswaldoi A and An. sp. nr. konderi are circumstantially implicated, most likely acting as secondary vectors

Global variations in heart failure etiology, management, and outcomes

Importance: Most epidemiological studies of heart failure (HF) have been conducted in high-income countries with limited comparable data from middle- or low-income countries. Objective: To examine differences in HF etiology, treatment, and outcomes between groups of countries at different levels of economic development. Design, Setting, and Participants: Multinational HF registry of 23 341 participants in 40 high-income, upper–middle-income, lower–middle-income, and low-income countries, followed up for a median period of 2.0 years. Main Outcomes and Measures: HF cause, HF medication use, hospitalization, and death. Results: Mean (SD) age of participants was 63.1 (14.9) years, and 9119 (39.1%) were female. The most common cause of HF was ischemic heart disease (38.1%) followed by hypertension (20.2%). The proportion of participants with HF with reduced ejection fraction taking the combination of a β-blocker, renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist was highest in upper–middle-income (61.9%) and high-income countries (51.1%), and it was lowest in low-income (45.7%) and lower–middle-income countries (39.5%) (P < .001). The age- and sex- standardized mortality rate per 100 person-years was lowest in high-income countries (7.8 [95% CI, 7.5-8.2]), 9.3 (95% CI, 8.8-9.9) in upper–middle-income countries, 15.7 (95% CI, 15.0-16.4) in lower–middle-income countries, and it was highest in low-income countries (19.1 [95% CI, 17.6-20.7]). Hospitalization rates were more frequent than death rates in high-income countries (ratio = 3.8) and in upper–middle-income countries (ratio = 2.4), similar in lower–middle-income countries (ratio = 1.1), and less frequent in low-income countries (ratio = 0.6). The 30-day case-fatality rate after first hospital admission was lowest in high-income countries (6.7%), followed by upper–middle-income countries (9.7%), then lower–middle-income countries (21.1%), and highest in low-income countries (31.6%). The proportional risk of death within 30 days of a first hospital admission was 3- to 5-fold higher in lower–middle-income countries and low-income countries compared with high-income countries after adjusting for patient characteristics and use of long-term HF therapies. Conclusions and Relevance: This study of HF patients from 40 different countries and derived from 4 different economic levels demonstrated differences in HF etiologies, management, and outcomes. These data may be useful in planning approaches to improve HF prevention and treatment globally