Uneven frequency of Vibrio alginolyticus-group isolates among different populations of Galápagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

The presence of Vibrio isolates was investigated in cloacal swabs from the Galápagos marine iguana (Amblyrhyncus cristatus). Such unique iguana is endemic to the Galápagos Archipelago, it is listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List (2009), and is strictly protected by CITES and Ecuador laws. Our results revealed an uneven isolation frequency of vibrios from animals living in different settings: maximal among the Santa Fe population, scarce at Bahía Tortuga but practically absent in the samples from Puerto Ayora and Plaza Sur. A 16S sequencing confirmed that the isolates belonged to the genus Vibrio, placing them within the V. alginolyticus group; the biochemical identification was, indeed, consistent with V. alginolyticus features. The reason of the observed discrepancy is not clear, but could be either linked to a higher pollution in the inhabited or more touristic places or to differential influence of chemical and physical parameters at a local scale. As V. alginolyticus is an opportunistic pathogen for man and it is known to cause disease in sea-living animals, the ability of these vibrios to enter and persist to a certain extent in the marine iguana gut should be regarded as a risk for health of both the animals and the human personnel involved in monitoring activities

Análisis de información de las tesis de grado de la carrera de secretariado ejecutivo en la Universidad Técnica de Manabí, período 2013-2015

El objetivo de este trabajo está en analizar el uso de la información científica por parte de los estudiantes de la carrera de Secretariado Ejecutivo de la Universidad Técnica de Manabí en la realización de sus tesis de grado en el período 2013- 2015, las que sumaron un total de 47. Para ello se realizó un estudio métrico con el empleo de indicadores unidimensionales de la actividad científica. Para los referentes teóricos se consideró el método del análisis documental a la literatura escrita por expertos en el tema, así como el método histórico lógico en la disertación. Entre los resultados se destacan que la actualidad de los documentos utilizados es baja, acorde con el índice de Price;  hay  mayor  uso  de  documentos  que  tienen  que  ver directamente con el área del conocimiento principal objeto de estudio que los relacionales al tema que se investiga; la tipología documental que se destaca es el libro de texto como fuente fundamental dentro de las consultas bibliográficas realizadas; en relación a la visibilidad de las fuentes, aunque sugiere  el  uso  de  sitios  confiables  y  de  editoriales  de prestigio, no resulta suficiente si se tiene en cuenta que en ningún caso han sido revisadas publicaciones de la corriente principal, situación que resalta en todas las tesis realizadas en el período. Las conclusiones apuntan hacia la necesidad de capacitar a estudiantes y docentes tutores en el uso de la información para obtener trabajos científicos y académicos de mayor calidad en esta carrera. Palabras clave: Carrera de Secretariado Ejecutivo; estudio métrico, uso de la información científica, indicadores unidimensionales de la actividad científica, tesis de grado. Abstract The aim of this paper is to analyze the use of scientific information  by  students  of  the  career  of  the  Executive Secretariat of the Technical University of Manabi in carrying out their thesis in the period 2013- 2015, which totaled total of 47. This is a bibliometric study with the use of one-dimensional indicators of scientific activity was performed. For theorists concerning the method of documentary analysis written by experts in the subject literature as well as the logical historical method in the dissertation it was considered. Among the results highlighted that the documents currently used is low, according to the Price index; there is greater use of documents that have to do directly with the main knowledge area object of study that relational subject under investigation; the type of document that highlights the textbook is a fundamental source within the bibliographical consultations; in relation to the visibility of the sources, but suggests using trusted sites and publishers prestige, not enough when taking into account that in any case have been reviewed publications of the mainstream, a situation that stands out in all these made in the period. The findings point to the need to train students and mentor teachers in the use of information for scientists and academics of higher quality jobs in this race. Keywords: Career Executive Secretary; metric study, use of scientific information, one-dimensional indicators of scientific activity, thesis

Análisis de información de las tesis de grado de la carrera de secretariado ejecutivo en la Universidad Técnica de Manabí, período 2013-2015

The aim of this paper is to analyze the use of scientific information by students of the career of the Executive Secretariat of the Technical University of Manabi in carrying out their thesis in the period 2013 - 2015, which totaled total of 47. This is a bibliometric study with the use of one - dimensional indicators of scientific activity was performed. For theorists concerning the method of documentary analysis written by experts in the subject literature as well as the logical historical method in the dissertation it was considered. Among the results highlighted that the documents currently used is low, according to the Price index; there is greater use of documents that have to do directly with the main knowledge area object of study that relational subject under investigation; the type of document that highlights the text book is a fundamental source within the bibliographical consultations; in relation to the visibility of the sources, but suggests using trusted sites and publishers prestige, not enough when taking into account that in any case have been reviewed publicati ons of the mainstream, a situation that stands out in all these made in the period. The findings point to the need to train students and mentor teachers in the use of information for scientists and academics of higher quality jobs in this race.El objetivo de este trabajo está en analizar el uso de la información científica por parte de los estudiantes de la carrera de Secretariado Ejecutivo de la Universidad Técnica de Manabí en la realización de sus tesis de grado en el período 2013- 2015, las que sumaron un total de 47. Para ello se realizó un estudio métrico con el empleo de indicadores unidimensionales de la actividad científica. Para los referentes teóricos se consideró el método del análisis documental a la literatura escrita por expertos en el tema, así como el método histórico lógico en la disertación. Entre los resultados se destacan que la actualidad de los documentos utilizados es baja, acorde con el índice de Price;  hay  mayor  uso  de  documentos  que  tienen  que  ver directamente con el área del conocimiento principal objeto de estudio que los relacionales al tema que se investiga; la tipología documental que se destaca es el libro de texto como fuente fundamental dentro de las consultas bibliográficas realizadas; en relación a la visibilidad de las fuentes, aunque sugiere  el  uso  de  sitios  confiables  y  de  editoriales  de prestigio, no resulta suficiente si se tiene en cuenta que en ningún caso han sido revisadas publicaciones de la corriente principal, situación que resalta en todas las tesis realizadas en el período. Las conclusiones apuntan hacia la necesidad de capacitar a estudiantes y docentes tutores en el uso de la información para obtener trabajos científicos y académicos de mayor calidad en esta carrera

Responding to Natural and industrial Disasters: Partnerships and Lessons Learned

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to provide insights learned from disaster research response (DR2) efforts following Hurricane Harvey in 2017 to launch DR2 activities following the Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) fire in Deer Park, Texas, in 2019. METHODS: A multidisciplinary group of academic, community, and government partners launched a myriad of DR2 activities. RESULTS: The DR2 response to Hurricane Harvey focused on enhancing environmental health literacy around clean-up efforts, measuring environmental contaminants in soil and water in impacted neighborhoods, and launching studies to evaluate the health impact of the disaster. The lessons learned after Harvey enabled rapid DR2 activities following the ITC fire, including air monitoring and administering surveys and in-depth interviews with affected residents. CONCLUSIONS: Embedding DR2 activities at academic institutions can enable rapid deployment of lessons learned from one disaster to enhance the response to subsequent disasters, even when those disasters are different. Our experience demonstrates the importance of academic institutions working with governmental and community partners to support timely disaster response efforts. Efforts enabled by such experience include providing health and safety training and consistent and reliable messaging, collecting time-sensitive and critical data in the wake of the event, and launching research to understand health impacts and improve resiliency

The Size, Shape, Albedo, Density, and Atmospheric Limit of Transneptunian Object (50000) Quaoar from Multi-chord Stellar Occultations

We present results derived from the first multi-chord stellar occultations by the transneptunian object (50000) Quaoar, observed on 2011 May 4 and 2012 February 17, and from a single-chord occultation observed on 2012 October 15. If the timing of the five chords obtained in 2011 were correct, then Quaoar would possess topographic features (crater or mountain) that would be too large for a body of this mass. An alternative model consists in applying time shifts to some chords to account for possible timing errors. Satisfactory elliptical fits to the chords are then possible, yielding an equivalent radius R [SUB]equiv[/SUB] = 555 ± 2.5 km and geometric visual albedo p[SUB]V[/SUB] = 0.109 ± 0.007. Assuming that Quaoar is a Maclaurin spheroid with an indeterminate polar aspect angle, we derive a true oblateness of \epsilon = 0.087^{+0.0268}_{-0.0175}, an equatorial radius of 569^{+24}_{-17} km, and a density of 1.99 ± 0.46 g cm[SUP]–3[/SUP]. The orientation of our preferred solution in the plane of the sky implies that Quaoar's satellite Weywot cannot have an equatorial orbit. Finally, we detect no global atmosphere around Quaoar, considering a pressure upper limit of about 20 nbar for a pure methane atmosphere.Peer reviewe

A highly resolved food web for insect seed predators in a species-rich tropical forest

The top-down and indirect effects of insects on plant communities depend on patterns of host use, which are often poorly documented, particularly in species-rich tropical forests. At Barro Colorado Island, Panama, we compiled the first food web quantifying trophic interactions between the majority of co-occurring woody plant species and their internally feeding insect seed predators. Our study is based on more than 200 000 fruits representing 478 plant species, associated with 369 insect species. Insect host-specificity was remarkably high: only 20% of seed predator species were associated with more than one plant species, while each tree species experienced seed predation from a median of two insect species. Phylogeny, but not plant traits, explained patterns of seed predator attack. These data suggest that seed predators are unlikely to mediate indirect interactions such as apparent competition between plant species, but are consistent with their proposed contribution to maintaining plant diversity via the Janzen-Connell mechanism

Sequencing three crocodilian genomes to illuminate the evolution of archosaurs and amniotes

The International Crocodilian Genomes Working Group (ICGWG) will sequence and assemble the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) and Indian gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) genomes. The status of these projects and our planned analyses are described