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Urban green spaces play a fundamental role in bird conservation in cities. Although the role of urban parks in conserving bird diversity has been explored on a global scale, the analysis of the role of cemeteries has been scarcer. This study aimed to describe and compare the seasonal dynamic of different components of avian taxonomic diversity and composition in two types of urban green areas, parks and cemeteries, in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (Argentina). Birds were counted at fixed counting points of 100 m radius in three parks and three cemeteries, and rarefaction curves were used to compare their taxonomic diversity between parks and cemeteries during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. In general, bird diversity (measured as species richness and Shannon and Simpson diversity index) was higher in cemeteries than in parks and during the breeding season, showing greater variation in cemeteries. Bird composition changed between seasons, with Zenaida auriculata being the most common species during the breeding season and Myiopsitta monachus the most abundant during the non-breeding season. However, the composition of the avian community (the most common and abundant species) was similar between parks and cemeteries. Our results suggest that cemeteries are green spaces of great importance since they add heterogeneity to the urban landscape, providing a greater diversity of micro-habitats capable of housing a higher number of species than parks. The higher degree of seasonal variation in the bird community in cemeteries suggests that these habitats help maintain the natural seasonal dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avances is the property of Instituto de Informacion Cientifica y Tecnologica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The creole "poblano" chili produced in the Alto Atoyac region in Puebla is part of the population's nutrition culture, along with maize and beans. Whether fresh or dry, it is a fundamental component in many different dishes such as mole "poblano" chiles en nogada, rajas con huevo, among others. Objetive. To understand the social and cultural reasons of this and to identify the problem of the cultivation of the creole "poblano" chile and the factors that favor that they persist them in its cultivation in the region. Methodology. Structured interviews were carried out, following the method of sampling by "snowball". Results. The predominant production system in the Alto Atoyac is creole "poblano" chile intercalated in fruit trees, with sowing areas equal to or less than 100 square meters, a strategy used by producers to diversify the risk of crop diseases and thereby ensure the survival of their culinary traditions and the permanence of their seed with its own characteristics. Limitations. The research work could not cover the performance of chile poblano of the region and the profile of the producer. Conclusions. The creole "poblano" chile in the alto Atoyac is planted in small areas and temporary conditions, intercalated in fruit trees and it is affected by the disease "secadera" or dry rot. The producer continues to sow his seed of creole "poblano" chile, as a strategy to conserve his traditions in the elaboration of the food and to mitigate as possible the damages caused by the diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current and future ecological niche of Leishmaniasis (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in the Neotropical region. The leishmaniasis is a complex disease system, caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania and transmitted to humans by the vector Lutzomyia spp. Since it is listed as a neglected disease according to the World Health Organization, the aim of this study was to determine the current and future niche of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in the Neotropical region. We built the ecological niche model (ENM) of cutaneous (N= 2 910 occurrences) and visceral (N= 851 occurrences) leishmaniasis using MaxEnt algorithm. Nine bioclimatic variables (BIO1, BIO4, BIO5, BIO6, BIO7, BIO12, BIO13, BIO14, BIO15 (downloaded from the Worldclim) and disease occurrences data were used for the construction of ENM for three periods (current, 2050 and 2070) and four climate change scenarios (RCP 2.6, 4.5, 6.0 y 8.5). We analyzed the number of pixels occupied, identity niche, modified niche (stable, loss, and gain) and seasonality. Our analyses indicated the expansion for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a comparison for visceral leishmaniasis (VL). We rejected the null hypothesis of niche identity between CL and VL with Hellinger's index = 0.91 (0.92-0.98) and Schoener's Index = 0.67 (0.85-1.00) but with an overlap niche of 56.3%. The differences between the two leishmaniasis types were detected in relation to RCP scenarios and niche shifts (area gained / loss). Seasonality was more important for CL. We provided a current picture of CL and VL distributions and the predicted distributional changes associated to different climate change scenarios for the Neotropical region. We can anticipate that increasing range is likely although it will depend locally on the future trends in weather seasonality. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (3): 1237-1245. Epub 2016 September 01. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To know if there was an increase in acute appendicitis cases treated in summer and spring among 2005-2014 in Grau Emergency Hospital in Lima. Material and Methods: Observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study. Non-probabilistic sampling, sample size of 6,917 operated on for acute appendicitis during 2005-2014 in the Grau Emergency Hospital in Lima. We used a form for data collection from medical records to develop a database. Analysis of variance test was applied to appendectomies numbers and correlation between temperature and number of appendicitis. Results: The minimum and maximum age was 14 and 93 years old. 52.6% (3,639) of the cases were female. January was the highest monthly number of appendectomies, with 648; 634 in March and 616 in February. The analysis of variance obtained a p value = 0.24, there was no significant difference among the seasons of the year. There was a partial correlation between monthly temperature and number of appendectomies. Conclusions: There is a seasonal pattern with increase in the frequency of acute appendicitis during summer and spring, and a decline in autumn and winter. The increase in cases of acute appendicitis is 3.32% and 3.75% in summer compared to autumn and winter, with no significant statistical difference among the four seasons of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru is the property of Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common condition in clinical practice, the prevalence is 1 to 10% of the population. SAD is defined as the presence of recurrent major depressive episodes at a particular time of the year with total remission when that season has passed. Different mechanisms are involved in the pathophysiology such as alteration of the circadian rhythm, changes in retinal sensitivity to light, abnormal metabolism of melatonin and decreased secretion of neurotransmitters, especially serotonin. The treatment is based on phototherapy or pharmacotherapy, selection depending on the characteristics of the patient. The aim of this article is to review on this disorder clinic for better recognition and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk and uncertainty are variables limiting the development of agriculture, as an activity relying on natural and socio-economic conditions. In semi-arid regions, rainfall is the most critical meteorological factor due to its scarcity and high level of temporal and spatial variability. The study of long-term rainfall involves the analysis of its occurrence pattern over time and space, with the objective to predict its values for a certain site considering probability levels under an economic scope. Annual, seasonal or monthly rainfall may occur concentrated in few events over short periods of time, with distribution and expected levels of rain as essential information to be considered. Studying rainfall in terms of probability becomes important because its occurrence is subjected to risks of great impact for farming management. This work was aimed to calculate the probabilities of seasonal and by decade rainfall for the area of Santa Rosa, La Pampa in order to get a better characterization of it and estimate its aptitude for crop implantation and management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allergic conjunctivitis is an inflammatory disease which involves the conjunctiva, its physiopathology is a type I hypersensitivity (IgE mediated). It is related to the sensitization to indoors and outdoors aeroallergens. Clinically it is classified as seasonal or perennial. It presents as ocular pruritus, conjunctival hyperemia, epiphora and photophobia. Objective: To determine the frequency of sensitization to aeroallergens in patients with allergic conjunctivitis, seasonal and perennial, who attend the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department at Mexican General Hospital Dr. Eduardo Liceaga. Material and method: A transversal and descriptive study was made in patients with seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis. After informed consent, we obtained a complete clinical evaluation, laboratory studies and skin tests for aeroallergens. We determined the frequency of sensitization to those aeroallergens. Results: We found sensitization most frequently to pollens such as Quercus, Alnus and Fraxinus, followed by Dermatophagoides spp. We had predominantly female patients of the second and fourth decades of life. Conclusions: Allergic conjunctivitis is a pathology frequently associated with allergic rhinitis. The most frequently involved allergens in this study were pollens and house dust mite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The primary objective of this study was to establish the clinic equivalence of a new Fluticasone Propionate Aqueous Nasal Spray (FANS) compared to two commercially available active treatments of fluticasone propionate nasal spray (Flonase® and Flixonase®) during the mountain cedar (Juniperus ashei) pollen season in Texas. Material and methods. This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled and placebo-controlled, parallel group study designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of FANS (200 mcg QD), Flonase® and Flixonase® (200 mcg QD) compared to placebo administered for 13 to 15 days. Patients recorded the total nasal symptoms dcores (TNSS) in a diary in the morning and evening every day. The primary endpoint was the patient-rated am and pm TNSS +1. Other key efficacy endpoints were patient-rated AM TNSS+1, patient-rated PM TNSS+1, and safety. Results. Mean TNSS values for Flonase® and Flixonase® were not statistically significantly different from FANS during any study day, over the entire treatment period, or at endpoint. Bioequivalence between FANS and Flonase® (ratio= 0.98, 90% CI 0.91 to 1.06) as well as FANS and Flixonase® (ratio=1.02, 90% CI 0.94 to 1.10) was demonstrated for the primary endpoint [Patient-Rated am and pm TNSS +1] as well as for the other key efficacy endpoints. Conclusions. The findings from this study support that FANS 200 mcg QD is therapeutically bioequivalent to both Flonase® and Flixonase® in the control of the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To assess the prevalence of allergic rhinitis symptoms among school-children in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, and determine what impact a rural environment might have on this condition. Methods. A population-based, cross-sectional study using a standardized questionnaire administered to a random sample of 2 087 schoolchildren 6-7 years of age (1 078 girls and 1 009 boys) living in the city of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. The study analyzed associations between exposure variables and personal and family health history, and two dependent variables--nasal symptoms and nasal and ocular symptoms, in the absence of a cold or flu--using odd ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (95%CI). The study took place in February--July 2004 and followed the methodology of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Results. The general prevalence of nasal symptoms and nasal and ocular symptoms was 25.0% and 10.5%, respectively. The boys and girls who had ever lived on a farm or in a rural area had a lower probability, adjusted for confounding variables, of presenting nasal symptoms (OR = 0.43; 95%CI: 0.24-0.77), or nasal and ocular symptoms (OR = 0.39; 95%CI: 0.16-0.93). Conclusions. In the study population, exposure to a rural environment in early childhood decreased the risk of developing allergic rhinitis, regardless of a family history of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]