Stable isotopes reveal seasonal dietary responses to agroforestry in a venomous mammal, the Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus).

While trends in tropical deforestation are alarming, conservation biologists are increasingly recognizing the potential for species survival in human-modified landscapes. Identifying the factors underlying such persistence, however, requires basic ecological knowledge of a species' resource use. Here, we generate such data to guide conservation of an understudied venomous mammal, the Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus), that occupies a mosaic landscape of agriculture and forest fragments in the western Dominican Republic. Using feces collected in both wet and dry seasons, we found significant differences in the stable isotope values of carbon (δ13C) between pasture (-24.63 ± 2.31‰, Las Mercedes) and agroforestry (-28.07 ± 2.10‰, Mencia). Solenodon populations in agricultural areas occupied wider isotopic niche spaces, which may be explained by more diverse resource within these patches or individuals combining resources across habitats. We detected elevated δ15N values in the dry season of pasture areas (8.22 ± 2.30‰) as compared to the wet season (5.26 ± 2.44‰) and overall narrower isotopic niche widths in the dry season, suggestive of the impacts of aridity on foraging behavior. Our work highlights the importance of considering a more nuanced view of variations in 'modified' or "agricultural" landscapes as compared with strictly protected national parks. We suggest that seasonal differences in foraging should be considered as they intersect with landscape modification by landowners for maintaining resources for focal consumers. This work adds to a growing body of literature highlighting that fecal stable isotopes are a non-invasive and cost-effective monitoring tool that is particularly well-suited for cryptic small mammal species, ensuring actionable and evidenced-based conservation practices in the tropic's rapidly changing landscapes.

Bullying Victimization Among Peruvian Children: The Predictive Role of Parental Maltreatment.

Bullying among schoolchildren is increasingly being recognized as a major problem. Although previous studies have examined parental maltreatment as a risk factor for bullying, the evidence on this topic remains limited in Latin America. The aim of this study was then to measure the prevalence of bullying victimization among a nationally representative sample of Peruvian children and to test the association between bullying victimization and parental maltreatment in Peru. This study used a pooled data set from the 2013 and 2015 Peru National Surveys on social relations. Participants were Peruvian children aged from 9 years to 11 years in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade of primary in both public and private schools nationwide. The results indicated that almost one third of Peruvian children have experienced physical bullying and nearly half of them psychological bullying. However, only a small percentage reported experiencing bullying very frequently. Furthermore, it was found that parental maltreatment in any form-physical or psychological-was strongly and positively associated with physical and psychological bullying victimization. The results also showed that the probabilities of being physically or psychologically bullied were higher among children who experienced physical or psychological parental maltreatment than among children who have not experienced such violence. The probabilities of being bullied were even higher among children who experienced both types of parental maltreatment. Consistent with previous research, these findings suggest that the relationship that children establish with their parents will largely determine how they interact with their peers.

An Entirely Atypical Presentation of Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer with Pancreatic and Bone Metastases.

Few cases of solitary pancreatic metastases from esophageal cancer have been reported; however, these previous cases all describe a solid pancreatic mass. We present a unique case of a 67-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma detected within a pancreatic cystic lesion that was sampled with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy identified a friable and fungating partially obstructing mass in the distal esophagus with features of fistulization into the lung. Pathology showed esophageal squamous cell cancer. An isolated bone lesion was also biopsied and revealed squamous cell cancer. The patient tolerated oral intake and a multidisciplinary decision was made for palliative care with home hospices given his comorbidities portending poor operative candidacy and overall poor prognosis secondary to multiple sites of metastases from his esophageal squamous cell cancer.

[Psychiatric sick leave]. / Licencia médica psiquiátrica: revisión de los efectos positivos y negativos del reposo.

There is no consensus amongst physicians, social security representatives and researchers about optimum sick leaves. This is an indication that should maximize positive outcomes and minimize potential side effects, both for the patient and society. The use of sick leaves during the last decade rose steadily, particularly in the psychiatric field. The most important causes of this increase are: changes in public policies, overuse of psychiatric diagnosis to cover up unmet social needs, and modifications to labour structure. It is analysed the impact that this situation has implied for physician patient relationship as well as for health budget. Even though sick leave diminishes presentism associated to a psychiatric disorder, published evidence about the effect of prolonged sick leave shows that damage overruns potential benefits: augmented morbidity and mortality, workplace phobia, economic loss, among others.

Licencia médica psiquiátrica: revisión de los efectos positivos y negativos del reposo / Psychiatric sick leave

There is no consensus amongst physicians, social security representatives and researchers about optimum sick leaves. This is an indication that should maximize positive outcomes and minimize potential side effects, both for the patient and society. The use of sick leaves during the last decade rose steadily, particularly in the psychiatric field. The most important causes of this increase are: changes in public policies, overuse of psychiatric diagnosis to cover up unmet social needs, and modifications to labour structure. It is analysed the impact that this situation has implied for physician patient relationship as well as for health budget. Even though sick leave diminishes presentism associated to a psychiatric disorder, published evidence about the effect of prolonged sick leave shows that damage overruns potential benefits: augmented morbidity and mortality, workplace phobia, economic loss, among others.

A new species of extinct Late Quaternary giant tortoise from Hispaniola.

Insular giant tortoise diversity has been depleted by Late Quaternary extinctions, but the taxonomic status of many extinct populations remains poorly understood due to limited available fossil or subfossil material, hindering our ability to reconstruct Quaternary island biotas and environments. Giant tortoises are absent from current-day insular Caribbean ecosystems, but tortoise remains from Quaternary deposits indicate the former widespread occurrence of these animals across the northern Caribbean. We report new Quaternary giant tortoise material from several cave sites in Pedernales Province, southern Dominican Republic, Hispaniola, representing at least seven individuals, which we describe as Chelonoidis marcanoi sp. nov. Although giant tortoise material was first reported from the Quaternary record of Hispaniola almost 35 years ago, tortoises are absent from most Quaternary deposits on the island, which has been studied extensively over the past century. The surprising abundance of giant tortoise remains in both vertical and horizontal caves in Hispaniola's semi-arid ecoregion may indicate that this species was adapted to open dry habitats and became restricted to a habitat refugium in southeastern Hispaniola following climatic-driven environmental change at the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary. Hispaniola's dry forest ecosystem may therefore have been shaped by giant tortoises for much of its evolutionary history.

Psiquiatría y Ley de Enfermedades Profesionales en Chile: revisión histórica y crítica de una relación compleja / Psychiatry and occupational diseases act in Chile: historical and critical review of a complex relationship

The Work Accidents and Occupational Diseases Act exists in Chile since 1968. It uses a single model for the understanding and management of both somatic diseases like silicosis and psychiatric disorders. During the last decade in Chile, the consultation rates due to psychiatric conditions of probable labor origin has rose over 1,000%, a factor that underscored the deficiencies of this model. The aim of this paper is to analyze the consequences of the application of this act in the psychiatric field for almost 50 years after its promulgation. This article contains an historical overview and an epistemological debate based on the authors’ experience dealing with clinical and administrative work both in occupational psychiatry departments and in regulatory entities. The development of occupational mental health in Chile is examined as part of an historical process that initially did not consider the relationship between work and mental suffering as relevant. The application of a single causality model in psychiatry, as well as the effects of building a psychiatric nosology upon legal rather than medical criteria is contested.

[Psychiatry and occupational diseases act in Chile: historical and critical review of a complex relationship]. / Psiquiatría y Ley de Enfermedades Profesionales en Chile: revisión histórica y crítica de una relación compleja.

The Work Accidents and Occupational Diseases Act exists in Chile since 1968. It uses a single model for the understanding and management of both somatic diseases like silicosis and psychiatric disorders. During the last decade in Chile, the consultation rates due to psychiatric conditions of probable labor origin has rose over 1,000%, a factor that underscored the deficiencies of this model. The aim of this paper is to analyze the consequences of the application of this act in the psychiatric field for almost 50 years after its promulgation. This article contains an historical overview and an epistemological debate based on the authors’ experience dealing with clinical and administrative work both in occupational psychiatry departments and in regulatory entities. The development of occupational mental health in Chile is examined as part of an historical process that initially did not consider the relationship between work and mental suffering as relevant. The application of a single causality model in psychiatry, as well as the effects of building a psychiatric nosology upon legal rather than medical criteria is contested.