MOLECULAR AND MORPHOLOGICAL COMPARISON BETWEEN Magnolia mexicana “YOLOXOCHITL” SPECIMENS (MAGNOLIACEAE) FROM THE STATE OF MEXICO AND VERACRUZ.

El término “Yoloxóchitl” se ha asociado históricamente con Magnolia mexicana (Magnoliaceae), especie amenazada por la disminución en sus poblaciones y áreas donde prospera. La presencia de dos árboles únicos posiblemente de esta especie en Malinalco y Zumpahuacán, Estado de México, genera interrogantes sobre su historia y alcances de su distribución. El objetivo del presente estudio fue establecer las relaciones moleculares y morfológicas existentes entre dichos individuos, con otros de M. mexicana presentes en Zongolica, Veracruz. Se colectaron muestras de tejido vegetal, y se determinaron 18 caracteres morfológicos de árboles provenientes de los municipios del Estado de México, así como de M. mexicana, provenientes de Acontla y La Quinta en Zongolica, Veracruz. Así mismo, como referentes de contraste molecular, se utilizaron muestras de M. dealbata y M. grandiflora. Se analizaron 14 iniciadores RAPD que amplificaron 205 bandas, obteniendo valores promedio PIC de 0.30 y RP de 5.42, respectivamente. Los iniciadores OPA7, OPA8 y E18 mostraron la mayor capacidad discriminante. El análisis de agrupamiento formó tres conjuntos, dos de ellos para los referentes M. grandiflora y M. dealbata, y el tercero, agrupó a M. mexicana con los individuos de Malinalco y Zumpahuacán, compartiendo una similitud genética del 87 y 90% respectivamente. Se observó además variación morfológica en 14 de 18 caracteres entre los individuos provenientes de Veracruz y los del Estado de México. Los resultados indicaron que los árboles de Yoloxóchitl de Malinalco y Zumpahuacán pertenecen a la sección Talauma, sin embargo, muestran amplia variación morfológica respecto a M. mexicana

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Comparación molecular y morfológica entre ejemplares de Magnolia mexicana “Yoloxóchitl” (Magnoliaceae) del Estado De México y Veracruz

Abstract: The term "Yoloxochitl" has historically been associated with Magnolia Mexicana (Magnoliaceae), a threatened species due to the decrease in its populations and areas where it thrives. The presence of two trees possibly of this species in Malinalco and Zumpahuacan, State of Mexico, raises questions about its history and scope of its distribution. The objective of the present study was to establish the existing molecular and morphological relationships between these individuals, with others of M. mexicana present in Zongolica, Veracruz. Samples of plant tissue were collected, and 18 morphological characters of trees from the municipalities of the State of Mexico, as well as M. mexicana, from Acontla and La Quinta in Zongolica Vercruz were determined. Also, as references of molecular contrast, samples of M. dealbata and M. grandiflora were used. 14 RAPD primers were analyzed, that amplified 205 bands, obtaining average PIC values ​​of 0.30 and RP of 5.42, respectively. The cluster analysis formed three sets, two of them for the referents M. grandiflora and M. dealbata, and the third, grouped M. mexicana with the individuals of Malinalco and Zumpahuacan, sharing a genetic similarity of 87 and 90 % respectively. Morphological variation was also observed in 14 of 18 characters between individuals from Veracruz and those of the State of Mexico. The results indicated that the Yoloxochitl trees of Malinalco and Zumpahuacan belong to the Talauma section, however, they show a wide morphological variation with respect to M. mexicana.Resumen: El término “Yoloxóchitl” se ha asociado históricamente con Magnolia mexicana (Magnoliaceae), especie amenazada por la disminución en sus poblaciones y áreas donde prospera. La presencia de dos árboles únicos posiblemente de esta especie en Malinalco y Zumpahuacán, Estado de México, genera interrogantes sobre su historia y alcances de su distribución. El objetivo del presente estudio fue establecer las relaciones moleculares y morfológicas existentes entre dichos individuos, con otros de M. mexicana presentes en Zongolica, Veracruz. Se colectaron muestras de tejido vegetal, y se determinaron 18 caracteres morfológicos de árboles provenientes de los municipios del Estado de México, así como de M. mexicana, provenientes de Acontla y La Quinta en Zongolica, Veracruz. Así mismo, como referentes de contraste molecular, se utilizaron muestras de M. dealbata y M. grandiflora. Se analizaron 14 iniciadores RAPD que amplificaron 205 bandas, obteniendo valores promedio PIC de 0.30 y RP de 5.42, respectivamente. Los iniciadores OPA7, OPA8 y E18 mostraron la mayor capacidad discriminante. El análisis de agrupamiento formó tres conjuntos, dos de ellos para los referentes M. grandiflora y M. dealbata, y el tercero, agrupó a M. mexicana con los individuos de Malinalco y Zumpahuacán, compartiendo una similitud genética del 87 y 90% respectivamente. Se observó además variación morfológica en 14 de 18 caracteres entre los individuos provenientes de Veracruz y los del Estado de México. Los resultados indicaron que los árboles de Yoloxóchitl de Malinalco y Zumpahuacán pertenecen a la sección Talauma, sin embargo, muestran amplia variación morfológica respecto a M. mexicana

High rates of antibiotic prescriptions in children with COVID-19 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome: A multinational experience in 990 cases from Latin America

Aim: This study aims to assess rates of antibiotic prescriptions and its determinants in in children with COVID-19 or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C). Methods: Children <18 years-old assessed in five Latin Americas countries with a diagnosis of COVID-19 or MIS-C were enrolled. Antibiotic prescriptions and factors associated with their use were assessed. Results: A total of 990 children were included: 921 (93%) with COVID-19, 69 (7.0%) with MIS-C. The prevalence of antibiotic use was 24.5% (n = 243). MIS-C with (OR = 45.48) or without (OR = 10.35) cardiac involvement, provision of intensive care (OR = 9.60), need for hospital care (OR = 6.87), pneumonia and/or ARDS detected through chest X-rays (OR = 4.40), administration of systemic corticosteroids (OR = 4.39), oxygen support, mechanical ventilation or CPAP (OR = 2.21), pyrexia (OR = 1.84), and female sex (OR = 1.50) were independently associated with increased use of antibiotics. There was significant variation in antibiotic use across the hospitals. Conclusion: Our study showed a high rate of antibiotic prescriptions in children with COVID-19, in particular in those with severe disease or MIS-C. Prospective studies are needed to provide better evidence on the recognition and management of bacterial infections in COVID-19 children

Design and implementation of the AMIGA embedded system for data acquisition

The Auger Muon Infill Ground Array (AMIGA) is part of the AugerPrime upgrade of the Pierre Auger Observatory. It consists of particle counters buried 2.3 m underground next to the water-Cherenkov stations that form the 23.5 km2 large infilled array. The reduced distance between detectors in this denser area allows the lowering of the energy threshold for primary cosmic ray reconstruction down to about 1017 eV. At the depth of 2.3 m the electromagnetic component of cosmic ray showers is almost entirely absorbed so that the buried scintillators provide an independent and direct measurement of the air showers muon content. This work describes the design and implementation of the AMIGA embedded system, which provides centralized control, data acquisition and environment monitoring to its detectors. The presented system was firstly tested in the engineering array phase ended in 2017, and lately selected as the final design to be installed in all new detectors of the production phase. The system was proven to be robust and reliable and has worked in a stable manner since its first deployment

BJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020 and global surgical practice was compromised. This Commission aimed to document and reflect on the changes seen in the surgical environment during the pandemic, by reviewing colleagues experiences and published evidence. Methods: In late 2020, BJS contacted colleagues across the global surgical community and asked them to describe how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had affected their practice. In addition to this, the Commission undertook a literature review on the impact of COVID-19 on surgery and perioperative care. A thematic analysis was performed to identify the issues most frequently encountered by the correspondents, as well as the solutions and ideas suggested to address them. Results: BJS received communications for this Commission from leading clinicians and academics across a variety of surgical specialties in every inhabited continent. The responses from all over the world provided insights into multiple facets of surgical practice from a governmental level to individual clinical practice and training. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered a variety of problems in healthcare systems, including negative impacts on surgical practice. Global surgical multidisciplinary teams are working collaboratively to address research questions about the future of surgery in the post-COVID-19 era. The COVID-19 pandemic is severely damaging surgical training. The establishment of a multidisciplinary ethics committee should be encouraged at all surgical oncology centres. Innovative leadership and collaboration is vital in the post-COVID-19 era

BJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020 and global surgical practice was compromised. This Commission aimed to document and reflect on the changes seen in the surgical environment during the pandemic, by reviewing colleagues' experiences and published evidence