Patrones de distribución de la cotorra argentina (Myiopsitta monachus) en un hábitat urbano

Varias especies invasoras han demostrado tener una marcada preferencia por los hábitats urbanos. El estudio de las variables responsables de la distribución de estas especies dentro de hábitats urbanos debe permitir predecir cuáles son las variables ambientales indicativas de su hábitat preferido, y diseñar las características del paisaje que hacen a estas áreas ser menos favorables para estas especies. La cotorra argentina Myiopsitta monachus es una especie invasora en muchos países de América y de Europa, siendo las ciudades uno de los hábitats más comunes para esta especie en las áreas invadidas. El propósito de este estudio fue identificar los factores principales que determinan la distribución de la cotorra argentina en Barcelona, una de las ciudades en el mundo con una de las densidades más grande de cotorras. Hemos definido nuestro modelo basado en ocho variables preseleccionadas mediante un modelo lineal generalizado (GLZ) y evaluamos el poder de cada modelo a través de un análisis de inferencia multimodelo basado en el valor AIC. Utilizamos la densidad de cotorra argentina como variable dependiente y restringimos el análisis a aquellos barrios de la ciudad ocupados por la especie, obteniendo un modelo con dos variables clave que explicaban la distribución de la especie. Las cotorras argentinas eran más abundantes en aquellos barrios con alta densidad de árboles y con un alto porcentaje de personas mayores de 65 años. Esto se interpreta por el hecho de que las cotorras utilizan los árboles como fuente de alimento y como lugar de nidificación, y porque las personas mayores a menudo alimentan a la especie. Los datos apoyan la hipótesis de ‘la actividad humana’ para explicar cómo las especies invasoras pueden exitosamente establecerse en un hábitat no nativo, y subraya cómo la limitación de las fuentes de alimento, especialmente la comida suministrada por los seres humanos, puede ser la forma más sencilla de ejercer cierto control sobre las poblaciones de cotorra argentina.Several invasive species have been shown to have a marked preference for urban habitats. The study of the variables responsible for the distribution of these species within urban habitats should allow to predict which environmental variables are indicative of preferred habitat, and to design landscape characteristics that make these areas less conducive to these species. The Monk parakeet Myiopsitta monachus is an invasive species in many American and European countries, and cities are one of its most usual habitats in invaded areas. The aim of this paper was to identify the main factors that determine distribution of the Monk parakeet in Barcelona, one of the cities in the world with the highest parakeet density. We defined our model based on eight preselected variables using a generalized linear model (GLZ) and evaluated the strength of support for each model using the AIC–based multi–model inference approach. We used parakeet density as a dependent variable, and an analysis restricted to occupied neighbourhoods provided a model with two key variables to explain the distribution of the species. Monk parakeets were more abundant in neighbourhoods with a high density of trees and a high percentage of people over 65 years. This is interpreted by the fact that parakeets use trees as food sources and support for the nests, and that older people often feed the species. Data support the ‘human–activity’ hypothesis to explain how invasive species can successfully establish in a non–native habitat, and stress how limiting food resources, especially food supplied by humans, may be the easiest way to exert some control on Monk parakeet populations.Varias especies invasoras han demostrado tener una marcada preferencia por los hábitats urbanos. El estudio de las variables responsables de la distribución de estas especies dentro de hábitats urbanos debe permitir predecir cuáles son las variables ambientales indicativas de su hábitat preferido, y diseñar las características del paisaje que hacen a estas áreas ser menos favorables para estas especies. La cotorra argentina Myiopsitta monachus es una especie invasora en muchos países de América y de Europa, siendo las ciudades uno de los hábitats más comunes para esta especie en las áreas invadidas. El propósito de este estudio fue identificar los factores principales que determinan la distribución de la cotorra argentina en Barcelona, una de las ciudades en el mundo con una de las densidades más grande de cotorras. Hemos definido nuestro modelo basado en ocho variables preseleccionadas mediante un modelo lineal generalizado (GLZ) y evaluamos el poder de cada modelo a través de un análisis de inferencia multimodelo basado en el valor AIC. Utilizamos la densidad de cotorra argentina como variable dependiente y restringimos el análisis a aquellos barrios de la ciudad ocupados por la especie, obteniendo un modelo con dos variables clave que explicaban la distribución de la especie. Las cotorras argentinas eran más abundantes en aquellos barrios con alta densidad de árboles y con un alto porcentaje de personas mayores de 65 años. Esto se interpreta por el hecho de que las cotorras utilizan los árboles como fuente de alimento y como lugar de nidificación, y porque las personas mayores a menudo alimentan a la especie. Los datos apoyan la hipótesis de ‘la actividad humana’ para explicar cómo las especies invasoras pueden exitosamente establecerse en un hábitat no nativo, y subraya cómo la limitación de las fuentes de alimento, especialmente la comida suministrada por los seres humanos, puede ser la forma más sencilla de ejercer cierto control sobre las poblaciones de cotorra argentina

Biomimicry: natural systems in situ analysis aimed to rain water harvesting

Population growth has put a considerable pressure upon Mexico’s water supply, diminishing it in some regions of the country. The study of Biomimicry has less than 15 years of study, as a discipline aimed to analyses and study natural systems to emulate its characteristics and translate them into designs that can solve needs in a sustainable way. Using the latter to solve the former, it can be said that a possible way to harvest water from the environment to help the water supply; is using as inspiration of the way in which some plants native from Mexico’s dry regions obtain water from the environment in an efficient manner. This is possible since these plants have evolved to extract water micro particles and keep them in their inner reservoirs.Water is a valuable natural resource for life, but the poor management is making it scarce. This lack of care has created a series of social and technical problems, including the difficulties to distribute it to individual homes, particularly in Mexico. In order to solve such problems, it is necessary to find alternatives for its harvesting, care, distribution and use; allowing to reduce social stress, as well as allowing for a better water stewardship. One option is using Biomimicry and design as tools to find innovative, sustainable solutions. The conclusions of this current research project show how two different Mexican plants of notable importance, in economic and even gastronomical terms, had been analyzed through the eyes of the Biomimicry in order to extrapolate possible solutions of water harvesting and distribution. The aim of this paper is to discuss the results of such analyses

Moving towards public policy-ready science: philosophical insights on the social-ecological systems perspective for conservation science

The social-ecological systems (SES) perspective stems from the need to rethink the ways humans relate to the environment, given the evidence that conventional conservation and management approaches are often ineffective in dealing with complex socio-environmental problems. The SES approach conceives non-scientific and scientific knowledge as equally necessary in the process of management and public policy formation. Thus, the adoption of the SES approach must also serve to make better decisions about what kind of science and technology would be ‘public policy-ready’ (as well as also ‘policy-relevant’); that is, a science oriented and conceived to provide concrete solutions to societal needs and demands. Here we review and reinterpret the SES perspective as a real paradigm change for conservation science. Under the lenses of philosophy, we try to untangle some weak points of the SES approach in order to advance to a conservation science closer to the process of science-based public policy creation and to enhance the intertwining with other types of knowledge. In this sense, we discuss how co-production of knowledge and decision-making process under the SES perspective are a huge step forward towards fulfilling the need to bring increasingly closer the spheres of science and policy, narrowing its interface.Fil: Sala, Juan Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; ArgentinaFil: Torchio, Gabriela María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos; Argentin

Improved functionalization of oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can providemultiple benefits for biomedical applications in aqueous environments such asmagnetic separation or magnetic resonance imaging. To increase the colloidal stability and allow subsequent reactions, the introduction of hydrophilic functional groups onto the particles’ surface is essential. During this process, the original coating is exchanged by preferably covalently bonded ligands such as trialkoxysilanes. The duration of the silane exchange reaction, which commonly takes more than 24 h, is an important drawback for this approach. In this paper, we present a novel method, which introduces ultrasonication as an energy source to dramatically accelerate this process, resulting in high-quality waterdispersible nanoparticles around 10 nmin size. To prove the generic character, different functional groups were introduced on the surface including polyethylene glycol chains, carboxylic acid, amine, and thiol groups. Their colloidal stability in various aqueous buffer solutions as well as human plasma and serum was investigated to allow implementation in biomedical and sensing applications.status: publishe

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised