Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, but faces severe pressures and threats to its natural ecosystems. Numerous species have declined and require to be objectively evaluated ...and quantified, as a step towards the development of conservation strategies. Herein, we present an updated National Red List Assessment for amphibian species of Ecuador, with one of the most detailed and complete coverages for any Ecuadorian taxonomic group to date. Based on standardized methodologies that integrate taxonomic work, spatial analyses, and ecological niche modeling, we assessed the extinction risk and identified the main threats for all Ecuadorian native amphibians (635 species), using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Our evaluation reveals that 57% (363 species) are categorized as Threatened, 12% (78 species) as Near Threatened, 4% (26 species) as Data Deficient, and 27% (168 species) as Least Concern. Our assessment almost doubles the number of threatened species in comparison with previous evaluations. In addition to habitat loss, the expansion of the agricultural/cattle raising frontier and other anthropogenic threats (roads, human settlements, and mining/oil activities) amplify the incidence of other pressures as relevant predictors of ecological integrity. Potential synergic effects with climate change and emergent diseases (apparently responsible for the sudden declines), had particular importance amongst the threats sustained by Ecuadorian amphibians. Most threatened species are distributed in montane forests and paramo habitats of the Andes, with nearly 10% of them occurring outside the National System of Protected Areas of the Ecuadorian government. Based on our results, we recommend the following actions: (i) An increase of the National System of Protected Areas to include threatened species. (ii) Supporting the ex/in-situ conservation programs to protect species considered like Critically Endangered and Endangered. (iii) Focalizing research efforts towards the description of new species, as well as species currently categorized as Data Deficient (DD) that may turn out to be threatened. The implementation of the described actions is challenging, but urgent, given the current conservation crisis faced by amphibians.
Abstract
Superresolution (SR) aims to increase the resolution of images by recovering detail. Compared to standard interpolation, deep learning-based approaches learn features and their relationships ...to leverage prior knowledge of what low-resolution patterns look like in higher resolution. Deep neural networks can also perform image cross-calibration by learning the systematic properties of the target images. While SR for natural images aims to create perceptually convincing results, SR of scientific data requires careful quantitative evaluation. In this work, we demonstrate that deep learning can increase the resolution and calibrate solar imagers belonging to different instrumental generations. We convert solar magnetic field images taken by the Michelson Doppler Imager (resolution ∼2″ pixel
−1
; space based) and the Global Oscillation Network Group (resolution ∼2.″5 pixel
−1
; ground based) to the characteristics of the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (resolution ∼0.″5 pixel
−1
; space based). We also establish a set of performance measurements to benchmark deep-learning-based SR and calibration for scientific applications.
This research proposes a methodology for the optimal location and sizing of reactive compensation in an electrical transmission system through a deep neural network (DNN) by considering the smallest ...cost for compensation. An electrical power system (EPS) is subjected to unexpected increases in loads which are physically translated as an increment of users in the EPS. This phenomenon decreases voltage profiles in the whole system which also decreases the EPS’s reliability. One strategy to face this problem is reactive compensation; however, finding the optimal location and sizing of this compensation is not an easy task. Different algorithms and techniques such as genetic algorithms and non-linear programming have been used to find an optimal solution for this problem; however, these techniques generally need big processing power and the processing time is usually considerable. That being stated, this paper’s methodology aims to improve the voltage profile in the whole transmission system under scenarios in which a PQ load is randomly connected to any busbar of the system. The optimal location of sizing of reactive compensation will be found through a DNN which is capable of a relatively small processing time. The methodology is tested in three case studies, IEEE 14, 30 and 118 busbar transmission systems. In each of these systems, a brute force algorithm (BFA) is implemented by connecting a PQ load composed of 80% active power and 20% reactive power (which varies from 1 MW to 100 MW) to every busbar, for each scenario, reactive compensation (which varies from 10 Mvar to 300 Mvar) is connected to every busbar. Then power flows are generated for each case and by selecting the scenario which is closest to 90% of the original voltage profiles, the optimal scenario is selected and overcompensation (which would increase cost) is avoided. Through the BFA, the DNN is trained by selecting 70% of the generated data as training data and the other 30% is used as test data. Finally, the DNN is capable of achieving a 100% accuracy for location (in all three case studies when compared with BFA) and objective deviation has a difference of 3.18%, 7.43% and 0% for the IEEE 14, 30 and 118 busbar systems, respectively (when compared with the BFA). With this methodology, it is possible to find the optimal location and sizing of reactive compensation for any transmission system under any PQ load increment, with almost no processing time (with the DNN trained, the algorithm takes seconds to find the optimal solution).
Con el presente artículo se muestran los resultados de una investigación enmarcada en describir la apropiación del proceso de evaluación que tienen los docentes de las Instituciones Educativas ...Damasco, Anzá y Eduardo Aguilar del departamento de Antioquia de Colombia. Metodológicamente, responde a un enfoque cuantitativo; asimismo, siendo un estudio descriptivo, desplegado en dos fases: la primera fase mediante un diseño documental, con el uso de técnicas de análisis de contenidos y, la segunda fase, con un diseño no experimental, de campo, y de corte transversal, aplicándose una encuesta a una población finita de 42 docentes pertenecientes a dichas instituciones. Finalmente, se puede expresar que los docentes, en su mayoría, manifiestan tener apropiación con cierto nivel de profundidad conceptual del proceso de evaluación, ya que aplican diversos tipos de evaluación sometiéndolos a procesos de comprensión crítica y con ello a entender y generan los cambios necesarios en la dinámica del aprendizaje.
La evaluación formativa es un instrumento que posibilita la oportuna intervención educativa ya que permite readaptar la labor realizada de aprendizaje y evaluar constantemente los avances en relación ...con los objetivos formativos. Considerando lo planteado, se desarrolló este articulo el cual tuvo como objetivo caracterizar la evaluación formativa en el contexto educativo colombiano. Metodológicamente, el artículo se desarrolló desde un enfoque documental con diseño bibliográfico. Finalmente, se puede enunciar que el Sistema Educativo colombiano caracteriza a la evaluación formativa como un proceso centrado en como el estudiante aprende y que ha de ser eminentemente motivadora, orientadora, comprensiva, sin embargo, es una práctica aplicada en el quehacer educativo que requiere de una sistematización más afanosa y correspondida con la realidad.
The aim was to determine the effects of dulaglutide, a synthetic once‐weekly, injectable human glucagon‐like peptide 1 analogue that lowers blood glucose, body weight, appetite and blood pressure, on ...cardiovascular outcomes. People with type 2 diabetes, aged ≥50 years, with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≤9.5%, and either a previous cardiovascular event, evidence of cardiovascular disease or ≥2 cardiovascular risk factors were randomly allocated to a weekly subcutaneous injection of either dulaglutide (1.5 mg) or placebo and followed within the ongoing Researching cardiovascular Events with a Weekly INcretin in Diabetes (REWIND) trial every 3 to 6 months. The primary cardiovascular outcome is the first occurrence of the composite of cardiovascular death or non‐fatal myocardial infarction or non‐fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes include each component of the primary composite cardiovascular outcome, a composite clinical microvascular outcome comprising retinal or renal disease, hospitalization for unstable angina, heart failure requiring hospitalization or an urgent heart failure visit, and all‐cause mortality. Follow‐up will continue until the accrual of 1200 confirmed primary outcomes. Recruitment of 9901 participants (mean age 66 years, 46% women) occurred in 370 sites located in 24 countries over a period of 2 years. The mean duration of diabetes was 10 years, mean baseline HbA1c was 7.3%, and 31% had prior cardiovascular disease. The REWIND trial's international scope, high proportion of women, high proportion of people without prior cardiovascular disease and inclusion of participants whose mean baseline HbA1c was 7.3% suggests that its cardiovascular and safety findings will be directly relevant to the typical middle‐aged patient seen in general practice throughout the world.
A video related to the article is available on the journal's YouTube site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg_XhSPKxww&feature=youtu.be
Like nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been recognized as a new gasotransmitter which plays an important role as a signaling molecule in many physiological processes in higher plants. ...Although fruit ripening is a complex process associated with the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen oxygen species (RNS), little is known about the potential involvement of endogenous H2S. Using sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) as a model non-climacteric fruit during the green and red ripening stages, we studied endogenous H2S content and cytosolic l-cysteine desulfhydrase (L-DES) activity which increased by 14% and 28%, respectively, in red pepper fruits. NADPH is a redox compound and key cofactor required for cell growth, proliferation and detoxification. We studied the NADPH-regenerating enzyme, NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-ICDH), whose activity decreased by 34% during ripening. To gain a better understanding of its potential regulation by H2S, we obtained a 50–75% ammonium sulfate-enriched protein fraction containing the NADP-ICDH protein; with the aid of in vitro assays in the presence of H2S, we observed that 2 and 10 mM NaHS used as H2S donors resulted in a decrease of up to 36% and 45%, respectively, in NADP-ICDH activity, which was unaffected by reduced glutathione (GSH). On the other hand, peroxynitrite (ONOO−), S-nitrosocyteine (CysNO) and DETA-NONOate, with the last two acting as NO donors, also inhibited NADP-ICDH activity. In silico analysis of the tertiary structure of sweet pepper NADP-ICDH activity (UniProtKB ID A0A2G2Y555) suggests that residues Cys133 and Tyr450 are the most likely potential targets for S-nitrosation and nitration, respectively. Taken together, the data reveal that the increase in the H2S production capacity of red fruits is due to higher L-DES activity during non-climacteric pepper fruit ripening. In vitro assays appear to show that H2S inhibits NADP-ICDH activity, thus suggesting that this enzyme may be regulated by persulfidation, as well as by S-nitrosation and nitration. NO and H2S may therefore regulate NADPH production and consequently cellular redox status during pepper fruit ripening.
Outline of endogenous H2S and NO during pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruit ripening. Display omitted
•Hydrogen sulfide is up-regulated during sweet pepper fruit ripening.•The NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) activity is down regulated during ripening.•The NADP-ICDH is regulated by persulfidation, as well as by S-nitrosation and nitration.
Diagnostic and therapeutic caveats in Griscelli syndrome Castaño‐Jaramillo, Lina‐Maria; Lugo‐Reyes, Saul O.; Cruz Muñoz, Mario E. ...
Scandinavian journal of immunology,
June 2021, 2021-Jun, 2021-06-00, 20210601, Letnik:
93, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Griscelli syndrome (GS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease with characteristic pigment distribution, and there are currently 3 types according to the underlying genetic defect and clinical ...features. We present the case of a girl born from consanguineous parents who presented with predominant neurologic symptoms, silvery hair and granulomatous skin lesions. Cerebral magnetic resonance revealed diffuse white matter lesions, and central nervous system (CNS) lymphocytic infiltration was suspected. The patient underwent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation with graft failure and autologous reconstitution. She developed elevated liver enzyme with a cholestatic pattern. Multiple liver biopsies revealed centrilobular cholestasis and unspecific portal inflammation that improved with immunomodulatory treatment. She was revealed to have an impaired cytotoxicity in NK cells and a decreased expression of RAB27A. However, no variants were found in the gene. All types of GS present with pigment dilution and irregular pigment clumps that can be seen through light microscopy in hair and skin biopsy. Dermic granulomas and immunodeficiency with infectious and HLH predisposition have been described in GS type 2 (GS2). Neurologic alterations might be seen in GS type 1 (GS1) and GS type 2 (GS2), due to different mechanisms. GS1 presents with neurologic impairment secondary to myosin Va role in neuronal development and synapsis. Meanwhile, GS2 can present with neurologic impairment secondary to SNC HLH. Clinical features and cytotoxicity might aid in differentiating GS1 and GS2, especially since treatment differs.
Abstract
To understand its evolution and the effects of its eruptive events, the Sun is permanently monitored by multiple satellite missions. The optically thin emission of the solar plasma and the ...limited number of viewpoints make it challenging to reconstruct the geometry and structure of the solar atmosphere; however, this information is the missing link to understand the Sun as it is: a 3D evolving star. We present a method that enables a complete 3D representation of the uppermost solar layer (corona) observed in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light. We use a deep-learning approach for 3D scene representation that accounts for radiative transfer to map the entire solar atmosphere from three simultaneous observations. We demonstrate that our approach provides unprecedented reconstructions of the solar poles and directly enables height estimates of coronal structures, solar filaments, coronal hole profiles, and coronal mass ejections. We validate the approach using model-generated synthetic EUV images, finding that our method accurately captures the 3D geometry of the Sun even from a limited number of 32 ecliptic viewpoints (∣latitude∣ ≤ 7°). We quantify the uncertainties of our model using an ensemble approach that allows us to estimate the model performance in the absence of a ground truth. Our method enables a novel view of our closest star and is a breakthrough technology for the efficient use of multi-instrument data sets, which paves the way for future cluster missions.
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