Showing papers by "Simón Bolívar University published in 2019"

Pervasive human-driven decline of life on Earth points to the need for transformative change

Abstract: The human impact on life on Earth has increased sharply since the 1970s, driven by the demands of a growing population with rising average per capita income. Nature is currently supplying more materials than ever before, but this has come at the high cost of unprecedented global declines in the extent and integrity of ecosystems, distinctness of local ecological communities, abundance and number of wild species, and the number of local domesticated varieties. Such changes reduce vital benefits that people receive from nature and threaten the quality of life of future generations. Both the benefits of an expanding economy and the costs of reducing nature's benefits are unequally distributed. The fabric of life on which we all depend-nature and its contributions to people-is unravelling rapidly. Despite the severity of the threats and lack of enough progress in tackling them to date, opportunities exist to change future trajectories through transformative action. Such action must begin immediately, however, and address the root economic, social, and technological causes of nature's deterioration.

Globally consistent quantitative observations of planktonic ecosystems

Abstract: In this paper we review on the technologies available to make globally quantitative observations of particles, in general, and plankton, in particular, in the world oceans, and for sizes varying from sub-micron to centimeters. Some of these technologies have been available for years while others have only recently emerged. Use of these technologies is critical to improve understanding of the processes that control abundances, distributions and composition of plankton, provide data necessary to constrain and improve ecosystem and biogeochemical models, and forecast changes in marine ecosystems in light of climate change. In this paper we begin by providing the motivation for plankton observations, quantification and diversity qualification on a global scale. We then expand on the state-of-the-art, detailing a variety of relevant and (mostly) mature technologies and measurements, including bulk measurements of plankton, pigment composition, uses of genomic, optical, acoustical methods and analysis using particles counters, flow cytometers and quantitative imaging devices. We follow by highlighting the requirements necessary for a plankton observing system, the approach to achieve it and associated challenges. We conclude with ranked action-item recommendations for the next ten years to move towards our vision of a holistic ocean-wide plankton observing system. Particularly, we suggest to begin with a demonstration project on a GO-SHIP line and/or a long-term observation site and expand from there ensuring that issues associated with methods, observation tools, data analysis, quality assessment and curation are addressed early in the implementation. Global coordination is key for the success of this vision and will bring new insights on processes associated with nutrient regeneration, ocean production, fisheries, and carbon sequestration.

Toward a Coordinated Global Observing System for Seagrasses and Marine Macroalgae

Abstract: In coastal waters around the world, the dominant primary producers are benthic macrophytes, including seagrasses and macroalgae, that provide habitat structure and food for diverse and abundant biological communities and drive ecosystem processes. Seagrass meadows and macroalgal forests play key roles for coastal societies, contributing to fishery yields, storm protection, biogeochemical cycling and storage, and important cultural values. These socio-economically valuable services are threatened worldwide by human activities, with substantial areas of seagrass and macroalgal forests lost over the last half-century. Tracking the status and trends in marine macrophyte cover and quality is an emerging priority for ocean and coastal management, but doing so has been challenged by limited coordination across the numerous efforts to monitor macrophytes, which vary widely in goals, methodologies, scales, capacity, governance approaches, and data availability. Here, we present a consensus assessment and recommendations on the current state of and opportunities for advancing global marine macrophyte observations, integrating contributions from a community of researchers with broad geographic and disciplinary expertise. With the increasing scale of human impacts, the time is ripe to harmonize marine macrophyte observations by building on existing networks and identifying a core set of common metrics and approaches in sampling design, field measurements, governance, capacity building, and data management. We recommend a tiered observation system, with improvement of remote sensing and remote underwater imaging to expand capacity to capture broad-scale extent at intervals of several years, coordinated with stratified in situ sampling annually to characterize the key variables of cover and taxonomic or functional group composition, and to provide ground-truth. A robust networked system of macrophyte observations will be facilitated by establishing best practices, including standard protocols, documentation, and sharing of resources at all stages of workflow, and secure archiving of open-access data. Because such a network is necessarily distributed, sustaining it depends on close engagement of local stakeholders and focusing on building and long-term maintenance of local capacity, particularly in the developing world. Realizing these recommendations will produce more effective, efficient, and responsive observing, a more accurate global picture of change in vegetated coastal systems, and stronger international capacity for sustaining observations.

The uncertain future of protected lands and waters.

Abstract: Protected areas are intended to safeguard biodiversity in perpetuity, yet evidence suggests that widespread legal changes undermine protected area durability and efficacy. We documented these legal changes-protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) events-in the United States and Amazonian countries and compiled available data globally. Governments of the United States and Amazonian countries enacted 269 and 440 PADDD events, respectively. Between 1892 and 2018, 73 countries enacted 3749 PADDD events, removing 519,857 square kilometers from protection and tempering regulations in an additional 1,659,972 square kilometers; 78% of events were enacted since 2000. Most PADDD events (62%) are associated with industrial-scale resource extraction and development, suggesting that PADDD may compromise biodiversity conservation objectives. Strategic policy responses are needed to address PADDD and sustain effective protected areas.

Isotropization and change of complexity by gravitational decoupling

Abstract: We employ the gravitational decoupling approach for static and spherically symmetric systems to develop a simple and powerful method in order to (a) continuously isotropize any anisotropic solution of the Einstein field equations, and (b) generate new solutions for self-gravitating distributions with the same or vanishing complexity factor. A few working examples are given for illustrative purposes.

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Phase 4 (2018): Change management in allergic rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity using mobile technology

Abstract: Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) has evolved from a guideline by using the best approach to integrated care pathways using mobile technology in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma multimorbidity. The proposed next phase of ARIA is change management, with the aim of providing an active and healthy life to patients with rhinitis and to those with asthma multimorbidity across the lifecycle irrespective of their sex or socioeconomic status to reduce health and social inequities incurred by the disease. ARIA has followed the 8-step model of Kotter to assess and implement the effect of rhinitis on asthma multimorbidity and to propose multimorbid guidelines. A second change management strategy is proposed by ARIA Phase 4 to increase self-medication and shared decision making in rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity. An innovation of ARIA has been the development and validation of information technology evidence-based tools (Mobile Airways Sentinel Network [MASK]) that can inform patient decisions on the basis of a self-care plan proposed by the health care professional.

A causal Schwarzschild-de Sitter interior solution by gravitational decoupling

Abstract: We employ the minimal geometric deformation approach to gravitational decoupling (MGD-decoupling) in order to build an exact anisotropic version of the Schwarzschild interior solution in a space-time with cosmological constant. Contrary to the well-known Schwarzschild interior, the matter density in the new solution is not uniform and possesses subluminal sound speed. It therefore satisfies all standard physical requirements for a candidate astrophysical object.

Global Observational Needs and Resources for Marine Biodiversity

Abstract: Living resources in the sea are essential to the economic, nutritional, recreational, and health needs of billions of people. Variation in the biodiversity that characterizes marine systems, and which underlies numerous ecosystem services provided to humans, is being rapidly altered by changing environmental factors and human activity. Understanding the underlying causes of these patterns, and forecasting where future changes are likely to occur, requires monitoring of patterns of organism abundance, diversity, distribution and health; productivity and ecosystem function; and allelic diversity and genetic expression. To achieve this goal it is necessary that these observations are accompanied by metrics of environmental and socio-economic drivers. However, existing global ocean observing activities often do not explicitly consider observations of marine biodiversity and associated processes. Implementing operational programs to observe life in the sea is increasingly critical to understanding responses of species and ecosystems to stressors, and overall impacts on critical natural capital, ecosystem services, and human welfare. Here we describe efforts in the global community to advance broad partnerships, shared approaches and best practices toward a standardized yet flexible, integrated observing system that serves information needs of resource managers and decision-makers, scientists and educators, from local to global scales.

Coral Reef Monitoring, Reef Assessment Technologies, and Ecosystem-Based Management

Abstract: Coral reefs are exceptionally biodiverse and human dependence on their ecosystem services is high. Reefs experience significant direct and indirect anthropogenic pressures, and provide a sensitive indicator of coastal ocean health, climate change, and ocean acidification, with associated implications for society. Monitoring coral reef status and trends is essential to better inform science, management and policy, but the projected collapse of reef systems within a few decades makes the provision of accurate and actionable monitoring data urgent. The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network has been the foundation for global reporting on coral reefs for two decades, and is entering into a new phase with improved operational and data standards incorporating the Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) (www.goosocean.org/eov) and Framework for Ocean Observing developed by the Global Ocean Observing System. Three EOVs provide a robust description of reef health: hard coral cover and composition, macro-algal canopy cover, and fish diversity and abundance. A data quality model based on comprehensive metadata has been designed to facilitate maximum global coverage of coral reef data, and tangible steps to track capacity building. Improved monitoring of events such as mass bleaching and disease outbreaks, citizen science, and socio-economic monitoring have the potential to greatly improve the relevance of monitoring to managers and stakeholders, and to address the complex and multi-dimensional interactions between reefs and people. A new generation of autonomous vehicles (underwater, surface, and aerial) and satellites are set to revolutionize and vastly expand our understanding of coral reefs. Promising approaches include Structure from Motion image processing, and acoustic techniques. Across all systems, curation of data in linked and open online databases, with an open data culture to maximize benefits from data integration, and empowering users to take action, are priorities. Action in the next decade will be essential to mitigate the impacts on coral reefs from warming temperatures, through local management and informing national and international obligations, particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, climate action, and the role of coral reefs as a global indicator. Mobilizing data to help drive the needed behavior change is a top priority for coral reef observing systems.

Delivering Sustained, Coordinated, and Integrated Observations of the Southern Ocean for Global Impact

Abstract: The Southern Ocean is disproportionately important in its effect on the Earth system, impacting climatic, biogeochemical and ecological systems, which makes recent observed changes to this system cause for global concern. The enhanced understanding and improvements in predictive skill needed for understanding and projecting future states of the Southern Ocean require sustained observations. Over the last decade, the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) has established networks for enhancing regional coordination and research community groups to advance development of observing system capabilities. These networks support delivery of the SOOS 20-year vision, which is to develop a circumpolar system that ensures time series of key variables, and deliver the greatest impact from data to all key end-users. Although the Southern Ocean remains one of the least-observed ocean regions, enhanced international coordination and advances in autonomous platforms have resulted in progress towards addressing the need for sustained observations of this region. Since 2009, the Southern Ocean community has deployed over 5700 observational platforms south of 40°S. Large-scale, multi-year or sustained, multidisciplinary efforts have been supported and are now delivering observations of essential variables at space and time scales that enable assessment of changes being observed in Southern Ocean systems. The improved observational coverage, however, is predominantly for the open ocean, encompasses the summer, consists of primarily physical oceanographic variables and covers surface to 2000 m. Significant gaps remain in observations of the ice-impacted ocean, the sea ice, depths more than 2000 m, the air-sea-ice interface, biogeochemical and biological variables, and for seasons other than summer. Addressing these data gaps in a sustained way requires parallel advances in coordination networks, cyberinfrastructure and data management tools, observational platform and sensor technology, platform interrogation and data-transmission technologies, modeling frameworks, and internationally agreed sampling requirements of key variables. This paper presents a community statement on the major scientific and observational progress of the last decade, and importantly, an assessment of key priorities for the coming decade, towards achieving the SOOS vision and delivering essential data to all end users.

Next-generation ARIA care pathways for rhinitis and asthma: a model for multimorbid chronic diseases

Abstract: In all societies, the burden and cost of allergic and chronic respiratory diseases are increasing rapidly. Most economies are struggling to deliver modern health care effectively. There is a need to support the transformation of the health care system into integrated care with organizational health literacy. As an example for chronic disease care, MASK (Mobile Airways Sentinel NetworK), a new project of the ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) initiative, and POLLAR (Impact of Air POLLution on Asthma and Rhinitis, EIT Health), in collaboration with professional and patient organizations in the field of allergy and airway diseases, are proposing real-life ICPs centred around the patient with rhinitis, and using mHealth to monitor environmental exposure. Three aspects of care pathways are being developed: (i) Patient participation, health literacy and self-care through technology-assisted “patient activation”, (ii) Implementation of care pathways by pharmacists and (iii) Next-generation guidelines assessing the recommendations of GRADE guidelines in rhinitis and asthma using real-world evidence (RWE) obtained through mobile technology. The EU and global political agendas are of great importance in supporting the digital transformation of health and care, and MASK has been recognized by DG Sante as a Good Practice in the field of digitally-enabled, integrated, person-centred care. In 20 years, ARIA has considerably evolved from the first multimorbidity guideline in respiratory diseases to the digital transformation of health and care with a strong political involvement.

New perspectives in fire management in South American savannas: The importance of intercultural governance

Abstract: Wildfires continue to cause damage to property, livelihoods and environments around the world. Acknowledging that dealing with wildfires has to go beyond fire-fighting, governments in countries with fire-prone ecosystems have begun to recognize the multiple perspectives of landscape burning and the need to engage with local communities and their practices. In this perspective, we outline the experiences of Brazil and Venezuela, two countries where fire management has been highly contested, but where there have been recent advances in fire management approaches. Success of these new initiatives have been measured by the reduction in wildfire extent through prescribed burning, and the opening of a dialogue on fire management between government agencies and local communities. Yet, it is clear that further developments in community participation need to take place in order to avoid the appropriation of local knowledge systems by institutions, and to better reflect more equitable fire governance.

Isotropization and change of complexity by gravitational decoupling

Abstract: We employ the gravitational decoupling approach for static and spherically symmetric systems to develop a simple and powerful method in order to a) continuously isotropize any anisotropic solution of the Einstein field equations, and b) generate new solutions for self-gravitating distributions with the same or vanishing complexity factor. A few working examples are given for illustrative purposes.

From fire suppression to fire management: Advances and resistances to changes in fire policy in the savannas of Brazil and Venezuela

Abstract: Anthropogenic fire has long shaped landscapes and livelihoods in South American savanna environments. With the growing recognition of the failures of fire suppression policies and the relevance of local peoples’ practices, the Brazilian and Venezuelan governments have begun to shift to fire management policies in savanna ecosystems. Using case studies from protected areas in Cerrado and Gran Sabana, and results from two multi-stakeholder meetings held in Parupa (Venezuela) and Brasilia (Brazil), we identify advances, resistances and challenges to intercultural fire management in both countries. We show that the two regions host pioneer experiences in collaborative research based on improved dialogue and knowledge exchanges between scientists, institutions, Indigenous and local communities as well as fire management implementation including \"controlled\" and \"prescribed\" burnings. However, in some places, narrow understanding of the complexity and historical dynamics of local fire practices and the strong resistance to recognize the value of traditional fire knowledge might restrain effective participation of local communities. We argue that more collaborative research is necessary to support community owned solutions for intercultural and participative fire management in changing environmental and sociocultural contexts. Key-words: fire-prone ecosystems; Cerrado; Gran Sabana; South America; traditional ecological knowledge; intercultural Introduction The incidence and severity of wildfireshave increased globally in recent decades, with serious impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and human populations (Hardesty et al. 2005). Six of the 12 South American countries have \"Very high\" or “High” wildfire incidence (with 1 hot spot detected per year for each 75 km or less), including Brazil and Venezuela (White 2017). In the savanna ecosystems of South America, these wildfires are particularly damaging because of the co-existence of fire-resistant vegetation (grasslands and woodlands), where several species are dependent on or benefited by fires, with fire-sensitive vegetation (riparian forest, peat wetlands) (Bilbao et al. 2009; Walter and Ribeiro 2010). Such environments, that include the Cerrado of Central Brazil, the llanos of Colombia and Venezuela, and the white sand savannas of Amazonia (de Carvalho and Mustin 2017; Simon et al. 2009), are in countries known for their tropical rainforests. As such, savannas are scarcely protected and not valued for conservation, seen primarily as potential areas for agribusiness expansion (de Carvalho and Mustin 2017; Oliveira and Hecht 2016). Anthropogenic fire has long shaped landscapes and livelihoods in savanna environments (Bond and Keeley 2005). Fire is used for multiple purposes by Indigenous, traditional and peasant farmer communities in such environments, for swidden cultivation (Eloy et al. In press), livestock raising (Lucio et al. 2014; Mistry 1998), hunting (Bilbao et al. 2010; Melo and Saito 2011; Welch et al. 2013), and managing non-timber product species (Mistry et al. 2005; Schmidt et al. 2007). Many local communities apply complex cooperative systems of burning in small savanna patches, producing seasonal mosaic landscapes (Bilbao et al. 2010; Eloy et al. 2016b; Welch et al. 2013), as also described in tropical savannas of Australia (Bird et al. 2008; Russell-Smith et al. 1997), South Africa (Parr and Brockett 1999) and Western Africa (Laris 2002). Such seasonal mosaic burning is recommended for its 1 We are defining wildfires as uncontrolled fires, from both anthropogenic and natural origins, considering that the first tend to be increasingly more common than the latter in most ecosystems. positive impacts on biodiversity, wildfire prevention and mitigation of carbon emissions (Bilbao et al. 2009; Russell-Smith et al. 2013; Welch et al. 2013). But traditional fire management systems in savanna environments are still poorly understood by western science standards that focus on quantitative fire ecology (Kull and Laris 2009; Mistry et al. 2016). Despite fire-prone characteristics and traditional communities’ practices, public policies in savanna ecosystems focus on prevention and firefighting (Durigan and Ratter 2016; Mathews 2005; Sletto 2008). Fire suppression policies and technologies have gained new importance in South America, in an emergent context of climate change mitigation (Eloy et al. 2012; Pollini 2009; Welch et al. 2013). In Brazil, fire prohibition and the criminalization of traditional communities is also used to legitimate the expansion of agribusiness that do not rely on fire use (Eloy et al. 2016a; Welch et al. 2013). At the same time, the paradigm of \"zero fire\" in savannas is being questioned due to the growing recognition that fire should be managed for conservation in fire-prone ecosystems (Durigan and Ratter 2016). Fire suppression policies in South America are not only expensive but also ineffective because excluding fire leads to dry fuel accumulation and large wildfires, as described in the Brazilian Cerrado (França 2010), the Gran Sabana in Venezuela (Bilbao et al. 2010) and the eastern lowlands of Bolivia (McDaniel et al. 2005). Such policies contribute to the loss of traditional knowledge related to fire use and landscape management, and encourage conflicts over land and resources (Carmenta et al. 2013; McDaniel et al. 2005; Mistry et al. 2016; Sletto 2008; Sorrensen 2009). Since the 1980s and 90s, fire has been reintroduced as a management tool in fire-prone ecosystems to (re)create seasonal mosaic landscapes in protected areas through early-dry season burning, and therefore avoid late-dry season wildfires. Based on geospatial technologies and modern ignition techniques, such models of \"prescribed-burning\" or \"integrated fire management\" (Myers 2006) are used in Australia (Russell-Smith et al. 2013), Mediterranean ecosystems (Lambert 2010), and African savannas (Brockett et al. 2001; Goldammer et al. 2004). These policies commonly aim to build participatory decision-making models based on the incorporation of local knowledge related to fire use (FAO 2011). Indeed, the ecological rehabilitation of fire is, in some places such as Australia, based on new valuation and reinterpretation of Indigenous burning practices (Bird et al. 2008; McGregor et al. 2010; Russell-Smith et al. 1997; Russell-Smith et al. 2013). But the successful integration of local and scientific knowledge into fire management policies remains controversial. In fact, \"scientific rehabilitation\" of fire does not guarantee the participation of local communities in decision-making, or a better dialogue with their knowledge (Ribet 2007). The institutionalization of joint Indigenous-government land management in Australia reveals many contradictions, which result from the subordination of Indigenous perceptions to those of external experts (Petty et al. 2015). Moreover, some dominant ecological ideas upon which fire management has been based in the past are being questioned at the present, such as, for instance, the idea that late-dry season fires must be banned (Laris et al. 2016), or that savannas are degraded forest caused by fire (Dezzeo et al. 2004). In this context, instead of \"integrated fire management\", some scholars argue for \"intercultural fire management\" (Rodríguez et al. 2013b) and, more recently, for \"Intercultural and participatory management (MIPAFU)\". This concept advocates the assurance of equitable participation of different stakeholders in the process of planning and decision making, based on the promotion of respect and mutual understanding amongst diverse stakeholders, with different knowledge, needs and worldviews (Millán et al. 2013). In fact, many Indigenous and other local communities shape and respond to resource and environmental governance drawing on their own cultural, political and philosophical traditions, and intercultural resource management means to \"take those traditions seriously as a starting point for understanding the nature of the problems and challenges\" (Howitt et al. 2013, 124). In the context of the history of these debates, we aim here to understand the advances, resistances and challenges to intercultural fire management in Venezuela and Brazil. Both countries have since 2014 started to consider and implement fire management policies, through networks of research, expertise and international cooperation. In Brazil, this has involved the conception and implementation of the Cerrado-Jalapão project. Coordinated by the Ministry of Environment (MMA), co-funded by the German Cooperation Agency and piloted in three large (>150,000 ha) Protected Areas (PAs) located in the northern Cerrado , the objectives of this program are to: (i) change the predominant burning season in PAs, especially reducing the areas hit by late-dry season wildfires; (ii) protect fire-sensitive vegetation, such as riparian forests, from wildfires; (iii) enhance PA staff decision-making and fire management abilities and (iv) decrease conflicts between PA and local communities. The project also includes the fire expertise of an Australian specialist, research to analyze fire behaviour and practices in the PAs, and exchange visits between Australian and Brazilian park managers (Schmidt et al. 2016). In Venezuela, since 1998, an intercultural and participative fire management experience in Gran Sabana, Canaima National Park (CNP), a region of 18,000 km inhabited by Pemón Indigenous people, in Venezuela’s south-east,, -, has evolved as a result of a series of participative action-research projects funded by the national science-financing institution (FONACIT), and supported by national and regional government development institutions (CVG, CORPOELEC-EDELCA, and INPARQUES). The inclusion of Indigenous communities, fire-fighters, institutional and academic stakeholders in field research and experimentation, ancestral Pemón Indigenous fire knowledge, a

What we have learned from the framework for ocean observing: evolution of the global ocean observing system

Abstract: The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and its partners have worked together over the past decade to break down barriers between open-ocean and coastal observing, between scientific disciplines, and between operational and research institutions. Here we discuss some GOOS successes and challenges from the past decade, and present ideas for moving forward, including highlights of the GOOS 2030 Strategy, published in 2019. The OceanObs' 09 meeting in Venice in 2009 resulted in a remarkable consensus on the need for a common set of guidelines for the global ocean observing community. Work following the meeting led to development of the Framework for Ocean Observing (FOO) published in 2012 and adopted by GOOS as a foundational document that same year. The FOO provides guidelines for the setting of requirements, assessing technology readiness, and assessing the usefulness of data and products for users. Here we evaluate successes and challenges in FOO implementation and consider ways to ensure broader use of the FOO principles. The proliferation of ocean observing activities around the world is extremely diverse and not managed, or even overseen by, any one entity. The lack of coherent governance has resulted in duplication and varying degrees of clarity, responsibility, coordination and data sharing. GOOS has had considerable success over the past decade in encouraging voluntary collaboration across much of this broad community, including increased use of the FOO guidelines and partly effective governance, but much remains to be done. Here we outline and discuss several approaches for GOOS to deliver more effective governance to achieve our collective vision of fully meeting society's needs. What would a more effective and well-structured governance arrangement look like? Can the existing system be modified? Do we need to rebuild it from scratch? We consider the case for evolution versus revolution. Community-wide consideration of these governance issues will be timely and important before, during and following the OceanObs' 19 meeting in September 2019.

Necessity entrepreneurship in Latin America: it´s not that simple

Abstract: Entrepreneurship literature takes for granted the motivation dichotomy; however, this simplistic view have been criticised for several studies because it likely does an injustice to entrepr...

Anisotropic ultracompact Schwarzschild star by gravitational decoupling

Abstract: We employ the minimal geometric deformation approach to gravitational decoupling (MGD-decoupling) in order to generate an exact anisotropic and non-uniform version of the ultracompact Schwarzschild star, or 'gravastar', proposed by Mazur and Mottola. This new system represents an ultracompact configuration of radius $R_{S}=2\cal{M}$ whose interior metric can be matched smoothly to a conformally deformed Schwarzschild exterior. Remarkably, the model satisfies some of the basic requirements to describe a stable stellar model, such as a positive density everywhere and decreasing monotonously from the centre, as well as a non-uniform and monotonic pressure.

Equine trypanosomosis: enigmas and diagnostic challenges.

Abstract: Equine trypanosomosis is a complex of infectious diseases called dourine, nagana and surra. It is caused by several species of the genus Trypanosoma that are transmitted cyclically by tsetse flies, mechanically by other haematophagous flies, or sexually. Trypanosoma congolense (subgenus Nannomonas) and T. vivax (subgenus Dutonella) are genetically and morphologically distinct from T. brucei, T. equiperdum and T. evansi (subgenus Trypanozoon). It remains controversial whether the three latter taxa should be considered distinct species. Recent outbreaks of surra and dourine in Europe illustrate the risk and consequences of importation of equine trypanosomosis with infected animals into non-endemic countries. Knowledge on the epidemiological situation is fragmentary since many endemic countries do not report the diseases to the World Organisation for Animal Health, OIE. Other major obstacles to the control of equine trypanosomosis are the lack of vaccines, the inability of drugs to cure the neurological stage of the disease, the inconsistent case definition and the limitations of current diagnostics. Especially in view of the ever-increasing movement of horses around the globe, there is not only the obvious need for reliable curative and prophylactic drugs but also for accurate diagnostic tests and algorithms. Unfortunately, clinical signs are not pathognomonic, parasitological tests are not sufficiently sensitive, serological tests miss sensitivity or specificity, and molecular tests cannot distinguish the taxa within the Trypanozoon subgenus. To address the limitations of the current diagnostics for equine trypanosomosis, we recommend studies into improved molecular and serological tests with the highest possible sensitivity and specificity. We realise that this is an ambitious goal, but it is dictated by needs at the point of care. However, depending on available treatment options, it may not always be necessary to identify which trypanosome taxon is responsible for a given infection.

Dynamic Effects of CYP2D6 Genetic Variants in a Set of Poor Metaboliser Patients with Infiltrating Ductal Cancer Under Treatment with Tamoxifen.

Abstract: Breast cancer is a group of multigenic diseases. It is the most common cancer diagnosed among women worldwide and is often treated with tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is catalysed by cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6), and inter-individual variations in the enzyme due to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could alter enzyme activity. We evaluated SNPs in patients from Colombia in South America who were receiving tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer. Allelic diversity in the CYP2D6 gene was found in the studied population, with two patients displaying the poor-metaboliser phenotype. Molecular dynamics and trajectory analyses were performed for CYP2D6 from these two patients, comparing it with the common allelic form (CYP2D6*1). Although we found no significant structural change in the protein, its dynamics differ significantly from those of CYP2D6*1, the effect of such differential dynamics resulting in an inefficient enzyme with serious implications for tamoxifen-treated patients, increasing the risk of disease relapse and ineffective treatment.

Transcendence and Sublime Experience in Nature: Awe and Inspiring Energy.

Abstract: The wilderness is one of the most widely recognized sources of transcendent emotion. Various recent studies have demonstrated nature's power to induce intense emotions. The study at hand will generate conceptual and operational definitions of sublime emotion toward nature. Taking into consideration the recent research on feelings of awe, an instrument is devised to measure sublime emotion toward nature. The proposed scale's reliability and validity is tested in a sample of 280 participants from the general population of Madrid. Results show that sublime emotion was defined by two conceptual components: awe, and inspiring energy, both obtained using the computer program FACTOR. After reliability and validity analysis, the Sublime Emotion toward Nature (SEN) scale included 18 items, distributed into awe (6 items, α = 0.881) and inspiring energy (12 items, α = 0.933). Awe was defined by feelings of fear, threat, vulnerability, fragility, and respect for nature, which is perceived as vast, powerful, and mysterious. Inspiring energy was defined by feelings of vitality, joy, energy, oneness, freedom, eternity, and harmony with the universe. The SEN is an adequate instrument to measure transcendent emotions provoked by direct wilderness exposure or memory thereof.

Challenges for global ocean observation: the need for increased human capacity

Abstract: Sustained global ocean observations are needed to recognise, understand, and manage changes in marine biodiversity, resources and habitats, and to implement wise conservation and sustainable develo...

Preparation and Characterization of Bio-Based PLA/PBAT and Cinnamon Essential Oil Polymer Fibers and Life-Cycle Assessment from Hydrolytic Degradation.

Abstract: Nowadays, the need to reduce the dependence on fuel products and to achieve a sustainable development is of special importance due to environmental concerns. Therefore, new alternatives must be sought. In this work, extruded fibers from poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) added with cinnamon essential oil (CEO) were prepared and characterized, and the hydrolytic degradation was assessed. A two-phase system was observed with spherical particles of PBAT embedded in the PLA matrix. The thermal analysis showed partial miscibility between PLA and PBAT. Mechanically, Young’s modulus decreased and the elongation at break increased with the incorporation of PBAT and CEO into the blends. The variation in weight loss for the fibers was below 5% during the period of hydrolytic degradation studied with the most important changes at 37 °C and pH 8.50. From microscopy, the formation of cracks in the fiber surface was evidenced, especially for PLA fibers in alkaline medium at 37 °C. This study shows the importance of the variables that influence the performance of polyester-cinnamon essential oil-based fibers in agro-industrial applications for horticultural product preservation.

Estrategias Pedagógicas en Procesos de Enseñanza y Aprendizaje en la Educación Superior incluyendo Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones

Abstract: espanolEl objetivo del presente articulo es analizar como se han transformado las estrategias pedagogicas en la educacion superior con la insercion de las Tecnologias de la Informacion y las Comunicaciones (TICs) en los ultimos anos. Mediante un enfoque cualitativo y una revision documental exhaustiva se realizo un detallado analisis de publicaciones desde el ano 2000 en adelante. Los hallazgos sugieren que en los ultimos anos se ha visto un importante avance de la tecnologia en todos los aspectos cotidianos. Adicionalmente, se evidenciaron aportes significativos que muestran como en Colombia y otros paises, los escenarios educativos han cambiado sustancialmente gracias a las tecnologias que hoy dia se aplican para apoyar el proceso de ensenanza y aprendizaje. Las conclusiones se orientan a que la difusion de estrategias pedagogicas en procesos de ensenanza-aprendizaje mediados por las TIC, fortalece significativamente la labor docente. EnglishThe objective of this article is to analyze how pedagogical strategies in higher education have been transformed by the inclusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in recent years. By means of a qualitative approach and an exhaustive documentary review, a detailed analysis of publications since the year 2000 was carried out. The findings and analyses suggest that in recent years there has been an important advance of technology in all aspects of daily life. Additionally, significant contributions were found that show how in Colombia and other countries, the educational scenarios have changed substantially thanks to the technologies that are nowadays applied to support teaching and learning processes. The main conclusion is that the dissemination of pedagogical strategies in teaching-learning processes using ICTs significantly strengthens the teaching work.

A response to scientific and societal needs for marine biological observations

Abstract: Development of global ocean observing capacity for the biological EOVs is on the cusp of a step-change. Current capacity to automate data collection and processing and to integrate the resulting data streams with complementary data, openly available as FAIR data, is certain to dramatically increase the amount and quality of information and knowledge available to scientists and decision makers into the future. There is little doubt that scientists will continue to expand their understanding of what lives in the ocean, where it lives and how it is changing. However, whether this expanding information stream will inform policy and management or be incorporated into indicators for national reporting is more uncertain. Coordinated data collection including open sharing of data will help produce the consistent evidence-based messages that are valued by managers. The GOOS Biology and Ecosystems Panel is working with other global initiatives to assist this coordination by defining and implementing Essential Ocean Variables. The biological EOVs have been defined, are being updated following community feedback, and their implementation is underway. In 2019, the coverage and precision of a global ocean observing system capable of addressing key questions for the next decade will be quantified, and its potential to support the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development identified. Developing a global ocean observing system for biology and ecosystems requires parallel efforts in improving evidence-based monitoring of progress against international agreements and the open data, reporting and governance structures that would facilitate the uptake of improved information by decision makers.

Depression as a Neuroendocrine Disorder: Emerging Neuropsychopharmacological Approaches beyond Monoamines

Abstract: Depression is currently recognized as a crucial problem in everyday clinical practice, in light of ever-increasing rates of prevalence, as well as disability, morbidity, and mortality related to this disorder. Currently available antidepressant drugs are notoriously problematic, with suboptimal remission rates and troubling side-effect profiles. Their mechanisms of action focus on the monoamine hypothesis for depression, which centers on the disruption of serotonergic, noradrenergic, and dopaminergic neurotransmission in the brain. Nevertheless, views on the pathophysiology of depression have evolved notably, and the comprehension of depression as a complex neuroendocrine disorder with important systemic implications has sparked interest in a myriad of novel neuropsychopharmacological approaches. Innovative pharmacological targets beyond monoamines include glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, various endocrine axes, as well as several neurosteroids, neuropeptides, opioids, endocannabinoids and endovanilloids. This review summarizes current knowledge on these pharmacological targets and their potential utility in the clinical management of depression.

A causal Schwarzschild-de Sitter interior solution by gravitational decoupling

Abstract: We employ the minimal geometric deformation approach to gravitational decoupling (MGD- decoupling) in order to build an exact anisotropic version of the Schwarzschild interior solution in a space-time with cosmological constant. Contrary to the well-known Schwarzschild interior, the matter density in the new solution is not uniform and possesses subluminal sound speed. It therefore satisfies all standard physical requirements for a candidate astrophysical object.