Carbon mapping in pine-oak stands under timber management in southern Mexico.

The destructive and empirical methods commonly used to estimate carbon pools in forests managed timber are time-consuming, expensive and unfeasible at a large scale; satellite images allow evaluations at different scales, reducing time and costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the tree biomass (TB) and carbon content (CC) through satellite images derived from Sentinel 2 in underutilized stands in southern Mexico. In 2022, 12 circular sites of 400 m2 with four silvicultural treatments (STs) were established in a targeted manner: 1st thinning (T1), free thinning (FT), regeneration cut (RC) and unmanaged area (UA). A tree inventory was carried out, and samples were obtained to determine their TB based on specific gravity and CC through the Walkey and Black method. The satellite image of the study area was downloaded from Sentinel 2 to fit a simple linear model as a function of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (10 m pixel-1) showing significance (p ≤ 0.01) and a adjusted R2 = 0.92. Subsequently, the TB and CC (t ha-1) were estimated for each ST and managed area. The total managed area (3,201 ha-1) had 126 t TB ha-1 and 57 t C ha-1. Of the areas with STs, the area with FT showed the highest accumulation of TB (140 t ha-1) and C (63 t ha-1) without showing differences (p > 0.05) with respect to those of the UA, which presented 129 t TB ha-1 and 58 t C ha-1. The satellite images from Sentinel 2 provide reliable estimates of the amounts of TB and CC in the managed stands. Therefore, it can be concluded that an adequate application of STs maintains a balance in the accumulation of tree C.

Aspergillus flavus and Total Aflatoxins Occurrence in Dairy Feed and Aflatoxin M1 in Bovine Milk in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Contamination of food chains by toxigenic fungi and aflatoxins is a global problem that causes damage to human health, as well as to crop and livestock production. The objective is to evaluate Aspergillus flavus and total aflatoxins (AFs) occurrence in totally mixed rations (TMRs) for dairy cows and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk for human consumption. Ninety-nine dairy production units located in Aguascalientes, Mexico, were randomly selected, and samples were collected from TMRs, raw milk, and milk marketed in the city in two consecutive agricultural cycles. AFs were quantified in TMRs and milk by indirect enzyme immunoassay and HPLC; aflatoxigenic and molecular (PCR) capacity of monosporic A. flavus isolates in the feed was characterized. All feed, raw, and pasteurized milk samples showed aflatoxin contamination (26.0 ± 0.4 µg/kg, 32.0 ± 1.0, and 31.3 ± 0.7 ng/L, respectively), and a significant proportion (90.4, 11.3, and 10.3%) exceeded the locally applied maximum permissible limits for feed and milk (20.0 µg/kg and 50 ng/L). Aflatoxin contamination in both TMRs and milk indicated a seasonal influence, with a higher concentration in the autumn-winter cycle when conditions of higher humidity prevail. The results obtained suggest the existence of contamination by aflatoxigenic A. flavus and aflatoxins in the diet formulated for feeding dairy cows and, consequently, in the dairy food chain of this region of the Mexican Highland Plateau.

Ether Oxidation by an Evolved Fungal Heme-Peroxygenase: Insights into Substrate Recognition and Reactivity.

Ethers can be found in the environment as structural, active or even pollutant molecules, although their degradation is not efficient under environmental conditions. Fungal unspecific heme-peroxygenases (UPO were reported to degrade low-molecular-weight ethers through an H2O2-dependent oxidative cleavage mechanism. Here, we report the oxidation of a series of structurally related aromatic ethers, catalyzed by a laboratory-evolved UPO (PaDa-I) aimed at elucidating the factors influencing this unusual biochemical reaction. Although some of the studied ethers were substrates of the enzyme, they were not efficiently transformed and, as a consequence, secondary reactions (such as the dismutation of H2O2 through catalase-like activity and suicide enzyme inactivation) became significant, affecting the oxidation efficiency. The set of reactions that compete during UPO-catalyzed ether oxidation were identified and quantified, in order to find favorable conditions that promote ether oxidation over the secondary reactions.

Evaluation of Research Opportunities and Limitations for Plastic Surgery Residents: An International Survey.

BACKGROUND: Conducting research during specialty training provides an opportunity to develop critical thinking and leadership skills along with a better understanding of the scientific literature. However, trainees often find it difficult to undertake research, in the context of labor-intensive surgical training. The aim of this study is to evaluate the research output and limitations of plastic surgery residents in different countries. METHODS: An international cross-sectional study involving plastic surgery trainees and recent postgraduates from Brazil, Chile, Germany, and the United Kingdom was conducted. A survey inquiring into academic productivity, limitations to conducting research, and working-hours patterns was distributed among eligible participants. RESULTS: From September to December 2019, 106 surveys were retrieved. Most respondents declared having participated in at least 1 project that resulted in a presentation or publication during their training (90.6% in national presentations, 68% international presentations, 67% in national publications, and 66% international publications). Having completed a previous research fellowship was associated with a statistically higher academic output (P < 0.05). Seventy-nine percent of respondents felt that their participation in research activities would have been greater if limiting factors had been addressed, including lack of time (72.5%) and insufficient supervision and mentoring (55%). CONCLUSIONS: Optimizing plastic surgery trainees' participation in scientific research is beneficial both for residents and their mentors. Research fellowships can provide an opportunity for academically oriented trainees to further develop their research skills. Protected time and adequate mentoring can help not only to increase residents' research output, but also to recruit the next generation of academic plastic surgeons.

Uso del mindfulness sobre indicadores de estrés en deportistas durante la etapa competitiva: revisión sistemática / Use of mindfulness on indicators of stress in athletes during the competitive stage: systematic review

El mindfulness es una práctica meditativa que ha probado disminuir el estrés psicofisiológico. Propósito: analizar, si el mindfulness es efectivo para disminuir el estrés psicofisiológico, en deportistas de alto rendimiento en temporada competitiva. Se realizó una búsqueda de estudios clínicos que incluyeran diferentes técnicas meditativas para la reducción del estrés en deportistas durante la fase competitiva. En PubMed, Scopus y Web of Science (1985 al 10 de agosto del 2019), se buscaron las combinaciones de palabras mindfulness, meditation, yoga, sport, athlete, intervention, stress, cortisol. Se localizaron sólo siete trabajos, tres de ellos con información cuantitativa, un cuantitativo y tres de metodología mixta. En los siete estudios encontrados (153 sujetos; 134 hombres y 19 mujeres) sus autores mencionan que el mindfulness fue efectivo para la reducción del estrés en los atletas durante la etapa competitiva.

Mindfulness is a meditative practice that has proven to reduce psycho-physiological stress. Purpose: Analyze if mindfulness is effective to reduce psycho-physiological stress in athletes during their competitive season. Clinical studies that included different meditative techniques for stress reduction in athletes during the competitive phase was searched for in databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (1985 to August 10, 2019), using the combinations of the words mindfulness, meditation, yoga, sport, athlete, intervention, stress, and cortisol. Only seven papers were located, three of them with a quantitative design, one as quantitative and three with mixed methodology. In the seven studies found (153 subjects; 134 men and 19 women) their authors mention that mindfulness was effective for reducing stress in athletes during the competitive season.

Exploring the Role of Phenylalanine Residues in Modulating the Flexibility and Topography of the Active Site in the Peroxygenase Variant PaDa-I.

Unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) are fungal heme-thiolate enzymes able to catalyze a wide range of oxidation reactions, such as peroxidase-like, catalase-like, haloperoxidase-like, and, most interestingly, cytochrome P450-like. One of the most outstanding properties of these enzymes is the ability to catalyze the oxidation a wide range of organic substrates (both aromatic and aliphatic) through cytochrome P450-like reactions (the so-called peroxygenase activity), which involves the insertion of an oxygen atom from hydrogen peroxide. To catalyze this reaction, the substrate must access a channel connecting the bulk solution to the heme group. The composition, shape, and flexibility of this channel surely modulate the catalytic ability of the enzymes in this family. In order to gain an understanding of the role of the residues comprising the channel, mutants derived from PaDa-I, a laboratory-evolved UPO variant from Agrocybe aegerita, were obtained. The two phenylalanine residues at the surface of the channel, which regulate the traffic towards the heme active site, were mutated by less bulky residues (alanine and leucine). The mutants were experimentally characterized, and computational studies (i.e., molecular dynamics (MD)) were performed. The results suggest that these residues are necessary to reduce the flexibility of the region and maintain the topography of the channel.

Endozoochorous dispersal of forest seeds by carnivorous mammals in Sierra Fría, Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Some carnivorous mammals ingest fruit and disperse seeds of forest plant species capable of colonizing disturbed areas in ecosystems. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the dissemination of Arctostaphylos pungens and Juniperus deppeana seeds by the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), coyote (Canis latrans), and other carnivores in the Protected Natural Area Sierra Fría, in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Scat collection was undertaken via transects using the direct search method, while the seasonal phenology of A. pungens and J. deppeana was evaluated by recording flower and fruit abundance on both the plant and the surrounding forest floor ground. Seed viability was assessed by optical densitometry via X-ray and a germination test. It was found that the gray fox, coyote, ringtail (Bassariscus astutus), and bobcat (Lynx rufus) disseminated seeds of A. pungens (212 ± 48.9 seeds/scat) and J. deppeana (23.6 ± 4.9 seeds/scat), since a large proportion of the collected scat of these species contained seeds (28/30 = 93.33%, 12/43 = 27.9%, 6/12 = 50% and 7/25 = 28% respectively). The gray fox, coyote, ringtail, and bobcat presented an average of seed dispersion of both plant species of 185.4 ± 228.7, 4.0 ± 20.0, 12.1 ± 30.4, and 0.8 ± 1.5 per scat; the seed proportions in the gray fox, coyote, ringtail, and bobcat were 89.6/10.4%, 82.3/17.7%, 90.4/9.6%, and 38.1/61.9% for A. pungens and J. deppeana, respectively. The phenology indicated a finding related to the greater abundance of ripe fruit in autumn and winter (p < .01). This coincided with the greater abundance of seeds found in scats during these seasons. Endozoochory and diploendozoochory enhanced the viability and germination of the seeds (p > .05), except in those of A. pungens dispersed by coyote. These results suggest that carnivores, particularly the gray fox, the coyote, and the bobcat, play an important role in forest seed dissemination, and thus forest regeneration, by making both a quantitative and qualitative contribution to the dispersal of the two pioneer species under study.

Ascitis quilosa tras colecistectomía: presentación de un caso / Chylous ascites after cholecystectomy: case report and literatura review

INTRODUCCIÓN: La ascitis quilosa es la presencia de líquido linfático en la cavidad peritoneal. Como consecuencia de una cirugía abdominal es muy infrecuente, encontrando 5 casos previos en la literatura revisada tras colecistectomía. OBJETIVO: Presentar un caso clínico de ascitis quilosa poscolecistectomía, su manejo y una revisión de la literatura. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Varón de 77 años, quiloperitoneo 21 días después de realización de colecistectomía programada por colecistitis aguda. Resultados: Se realiza drenaje percutáneo con débito de 5 L en 24 horas, se inicia octreótido subcutáneo y nutrición parenteral total. Al tercer día disminuye el débito por el drenaje, por lo que se inicia dieta rica en triglicéridos de cadena media con buena evolución posterior. De los 5 casos previos tras colecistectomía, el 60% se resolvió con tratamiento conservador, un paciente precisó reintervención y otro colocación de un shunt portosistémico intrahepático trasnyugular (TIPSS). CONCLUSIÓN: La ascitis quilosa es una complicación postquirúrgica infrecuente, encontrando solo 5 casos previos tras colecistectomía. Inicialmente el manejo debe ser conservador, en caso de persistencia se deben valorar otras medidas.

INTRODUCTION: Chylous ascites is defined as the presence of lymph fluid in the peritoneal cavity. It is a rare complication after abdominal surgery; only 5 previously reported cases were found after cholecystectomy. Aim: Present a case report and a literature review. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Case report of a 77 year old male who underwent an elective cholecystectomy due to acute cholecystitis. Chyloperitoneum showed up 21 days after surgery. RESULTS: We performed a percutaneous drainage and 5 L of fluid were removed in 24 hours. We started treatment with subcutaneous Octreotide and total parenteral nutrition. After 3 days drain output decreased and we started a medium-chain triglycerides diet with good progress. The outcome of 60% of the 5 previous case reports of chyloperitoneum after cholecystitis, were successful with conservative management, surgical intervention was needed in one patient and a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) was placed in another patient. CONCLUSION: Chylous ascites is a rare complication after surgery, there are only 5 previously case reports after cholecystectomy. Conservative management has to be the first option and in case of persistence another therapy has to be considered.

Assessing and reinitializing wildland fire simulations through satellite active fire data.

Large wildfires can cover millions of hectares of forest every year worldwide, causing losses in ecosystems and assets. Fire simulation and modeling provides an analytical scheme to characterize and predict fire behavior and spread in several and complex environments. Spatial dynamics of large wildfires can be analyzed using satellite active fire data, a cost-effective way to acquire information systematically worldwide. The simulated growth of three large wildland fires from the USA, Chile and Spain with different fire spread pattern, duration and size has been compared to satellite active fire data. Additionally, a new approach to reinitialize fire simulations in near real-time and predict a more accurate fire spread is shown in this work. Discrepancies between the simulated fire growth and satellite active data were measured spatially and temporally in the three fires, increasing along the fire duration. The reinitialization approach meaningfully improved the accuracy of fire simulations in all case studies. Satellite active fire data showed a high potential to be used in real fire incidents, improving fire monitoring and simulation and, therefore, supporting the decision-making process of the fire analyst. The reinitialization approach could be applied by using the current satellite active fire data such as MODIS or VIIRS as well as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or GPS locations from suppression resources.

Replacement of oxidizable residues predicted by QM-MM simulation of a fungal laccase generates variants with higher operational stability.

In this work, we sought to obtain a more stable laccase with higher operational stability for the oxidation of phenols. During this reaction, phenoxy free radicals are produced that gradually inactivate the enzyme; the inactivation rate depends on the phenol chemical nature. In order to predict residues prone to oxidize within the active site, we simulated activated states of the catalytic region of a fungal laccase using QM-MM tools (Quantum Mechanics-Molecular Mechanics). After simulating the electron distribution in both the basal and activated state (plus or minus one electron) of several conformations of Coriolopsis gallica laccase, residues that could be susceptible to oxidation were identified, according to the values of spin density obtained from calculations. Three targets were selected (F357, F413, and F475) to be replaced by site-directed mutagenesis with less oxidizable residues such as leucine, alanine, and isoleucine. The resulting variants displayed a higher specific activity (from 1.5-to 4-fold) than the parental enzyme. Catalyst depletion during phenol oxidation was 2.5-fold lower for the variants, reflecting a higher operational stability.

Efectos terapéuticos del vendaje neuromuscular en parálisis cerebral infantil: una revisión sistemática / Therapeutic effects of kinesio taping in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review

La parálisis cerebral infantil es una enfermedad neurológica no progresiva. Es una de las causas más comunes de discapacidad en niños. Son numerosas las técnicas de terapia física que se emplean en la actualidad para su tratamiento; el vendaje neuromuscular es una de ellas. El objetivo principal es revisar los resultados logrados por el vendaje neuromuscular en los estudios científicos publicados en pacientes pediátricos con parálisis cerebral y determinar la calidad metodológica de ellos. Se revisaron las principales bases de datos científicas, al igual que los estudios publicados en la página oficial de la Asociación Española de Vendaje Neuromuscular. Se admitieron nueve estudios, que han aportado resultados importantes. Estos estudios muestran la efectividad para recuperar funcionalidad en el miembro superior, problemas de deglución y funcionalidad motora que estos pacientes pudieran presentar, aunque la evidencia científica que mostraron puede incrementarse con mejoras en su metodología.

Pediatric cerebral palsy is a non-progressive neurological disorder. It is one of the most common causes of disability among children. Numerous physical therapy techniques are currently used for treatment, and kinesio taping is one of them. The main objective of this study was to review the outcomes of using kinesio taping in published scientific studies conducted in pediatric patients with cerebral palsy and determine their methodological quality. The main scientific databases and the studies published in the official site of the Asociación Española de Vendaje Neuromuscular (Spanish Association for Neuromuscular Taping) were reviewed. Nine studies were included, which provided important outcomes. These studies show the effectiveness of recovering upper limb and motor function and solving dysphagia, which could be present in these patients, although scientific evidence may expand due to improvements in methodology.

Therapeutic effects of kinesio taping in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review. / Efectos terapéuticos del vendaje neuromuscular en parálisis cerebral infantil: una revisión sistemática.

Pediatric cerebral palsy is a non-progressive neurological disorder. It is one of the most common causes of disability among children. Numerous physical therapy techniques are currently used for treatment, and kinesio taping is one of them. The main objective of this study was to review the outcomes of using kinesio taping in published scientific studies conducted in pediatric patients with cerebral palsy and determine their methodological quality. The main scientific databases and the studies published in the official site of the Asociación Española de Vendaje Neuromuscular (Spanish Association for Neuromuscular Taping) were reviewed. Nine studies were included, which provided important outcomes. These studies show the effectiveness of recovering upper limb and motor function and solving dysphagia, which could be present in these patients, although scientific evidence may expand due to improvements in methodology.

La parálisis cerebral infantil es una enfermedad neurológica no progresiva. Es una de las causas más comunes de discapacidad en niños. Son numerosas las técnicas de terapia física que se emplean en la actualidad para su tratamiento; el vendaje neuromuscular es una de ellas. El objetivo principal es revisar los resultados logrados por el vendaje neuromuscular en los estudios científicos publicados en pacientes pediátricos con parálisis cerebral y determinar la calidad metodológica de ellos. Se revisaron las principales bases de datos científicas, al igual que los estudios publicados en la página oficial de la Asociación Española de Vendaje Neuromuscular. Se admitieron nueve estudios, que han aportado resultados importantes. Estos estudios muestran la efectividad para recuperar funcionalidad en el miembro superior, problemas de deglución y funcionalidad motora que estos pacientes pudieran presentar, aunque la evidencia científica que mostraron puede incrementarse con mejoras en su metodología.

Evolución histórica del tratamiento de la litiasis urinaria a propósito de una experiencia de 33 años del Servicio de Urología del Hospital Militar de Santiago / Historical evolution of urinary lithiasis treatment after a 33-year experience at the Urology Department of the Santiago Military Hospital

Introducción: La litiasis urinaria es una patología que acompaña al ser humano desde sus inicios. Para el tratamiento de esta enfermedad se han desarrollado diversas técnicas que han evolucionado con la tecnología de cada época. Así hemos visto que el método de elección ha variado cíclicamente, según la efectividad y cuan invasivo sea éste. Método: Se revisaron los libros de pabellón y la base de datos de litotricias extracorpóreas (LEC) del Servicio de Urología del Hospital Militar de Santiago considerando todos los procedimientos urológicos destinados al tratamiento de la urolitiasis, durante el periodo comprendido entre julio de 1978 y diciembre de 2011.Resultados: Se obtuvo un total de 5.762 pacientes tratados por urolitiasis, marcándose en la década de 1970 una preferencia por las técnicas abiertas y posteriormente, en 1986 con la llegada de un ureteroscópio rígido 11 Fr., una preferencia por las técnicas endoscópicas. Con la llegada del primer litotritor en 1990, la litotricia extracorpórea se convierte en el tratamiento más utilizado hasta la fecha. Conclusión: Los recursos son siempre escasos, especialmente en el contexto nacional. La Litotricia extracorpórea (LEC) es un método efectivo para la gran mayoría de los cálculos urinarios, esta disponible prácticamente en cualquier lado y requiere de pocos recursos en comparación a los otros métodos. Si se dispone de todos los medios, el tratamiento más adecuado es el que el médico tratante maneja mejor, el de más fácil acceso y aquél con el cual el paciente se siente mejor servido.

Introduction: Urolithiasis is a disease that has afected humans since the beginning of time. Diferent methods have been developed to treat this a iction, which have evolved depending on the technology of the time. Thus, it has been noticed that the preferred technique has changed in a cyclic manner depending on the e¬ ectiveness and invasiveness of the procedure. Methods: Surgery records as well as the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy data were analyzed at the Urology department at the Santiago Military Hospital. These included all urological procedures for the treatment of urolithiasis from July 1978 through December 2011.Results: A total of 5,762 patients were treated for urolithiasis. In the 1970s open techniques were the most practiced. Later, in 1986 an 11-Fr. rigid ureteroscope arrived at the urology department, and the endoscopic methods became the most practiced for this pathology. Along with the arrival of the first lithotripter in 1990, the extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy becomes the most popular treatment for urinary calculi up to date. Conclusion: Economic resources are always limited, especially in Chile. Ergo, the extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is an efective therapy for most urinary calculi, it is easily available and is less expensive compared to other therapies. If all means are available, then the best treatment for urolithiasis will always be the one that the urologist has more experience, the best access, and the one which the patient feels more comfortable.

Incidencia, diagnóstico y tratamiento de enfermedades biliares extrahepáticas en el Hospital Billini, 1984-1987

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de los casos de colecistopatías extrahepáticas manejadas por el servicio de cirugía del Hospital Padre Billini desde enero de 1984 hasta diciembre de 1987 y se encontró una casuística de 63 casos, de ellos, 59 correspondían al sexo femenino y 4 al masculino para una población de casi 50 años. La edad más afectada en el hombre fue de 21-30 años y en la mujer por encima de 50 años