Search

Simple Summary: This study introduces the first proteome database for shark semen, focusing on small-spotted catsharks. It explores seminal plasma and spermatozoa proteomic profiles, uncovering protein differences between wild and aquarium populations. Key findings include 305 seminal plasma and 535 spermatozoa proteins, with significant variations in spermatozoa proteins that could influence reproductive success. This work lays the groundwork for identifying fertility biomarkers in shark conservation efforts. In the ex situ conservation of chondrichthyan species, successful reproduction in aquaria is essential. However, these species often exhibit reduced reproductive success under human care. A key aspect is that conventional sperm analyses do not provide insights into the functional competence of sperm. However, proteomics analysis enables a better understanding of male physiology, gaining relevance as a powerful tool for discovering protein biomarkers related to fertility. The present work aims to build the first proteome database for shark semen and to investigate the proteomic profiles of seminal plasma and spermatozoa from small-spotted catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula) related to the underlying adaptations to both natural and aquarium environments, thereby identifying the reproductive impact in aquarium specimens. A total of 305 seminal plasma and 535 spermatozoa proteins were identified. Among these, 89 proteins (29.2% of the seminal plasma set) were common to both spermatozoa and seminal plasma. In the seminal plasma, only adenosylhomocysteinase protein showed differential abundance (DAP) between wild and aquarium animals. With respect to the spermatozoa proteins, a total of 107 DAPs were found between groups. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis highlighted the primary functional roles of these DAPs involved in oxidoreductase activity. Additionally, KEGG analysis indicated that these DAPs were primarily associated with metabolic pathways and carbon metabolism. In conclusion, we have successfully generated an initial proteome database for S. canicula seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Furthermore, we have identified protein variations, predominantly within spermatozoa, between aquarium and wild populations of S. canicula. These findings provide a foundation for future biomarker discovery in shark reproduction studies. However, additional research is required to determine whether these protein variations correlate with reproductive declines in captive sharks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Good syndrome (GS) is a rare primary immunodeficiency in adults consisting of hypogammaglobulinemia and thymoma that affects both cellular and humoral immunity. It usually appears in patients between the 4th and 6th decade of life and affects both genders equally. Ophthalmological clinical presentation is highly variable; associations with herpetic keratitis, toxoplasmosis, and cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) have been described. GS associated with CMVR is uncommon. Ophthalmologists may be the first to diagnose systemic disease and change the outcome. Only18 cases of CMVR have been described, most of them unilateral with poor visual outcomes. We discuss the clinical features of CMVR in patients with reported GS, pathogenesis, and outline a work-up for diagnosis. CMVR in an apparently healthy patient should encourage the clinician to search for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and non-HIV–associated immunosuppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) has been an active research problem over recent decades. Many leading solutions are available that can achieve remarkable performance in environments with familiar structure, such as indoors and cities. However, our work shows that these leading systems fail in an agricultural setting, particularly in under the canopy navigation in the largest-in-acreage crops of the world: corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max). The presence of plenty of visual clutter due to leaves, varying illumination, and stark visual similarity makes these environments lose the familiar structure on which SLAM algorithms rely on. To advance SLAM in such unstructured agricultural environments, we present a comprehensive agricultural dataset. Our open dataset consists of stereo images, IMUs, wheel encoders, and GPS measurements continuously recorded from a mobile robot in corn and soybean fields across different growth stages. In addition, we present best-case benchmark results for several leading visual-inertial odometry and SLAM systems. Our data and benchmark clearly show that there is significant research promise in SLAM for agricultural settings. The dataset is available online at: https://github.com/jrcuaranv/terrasentia-dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Much evidence-based physical activity (PA) interventions have been tested and implemented in urban contexts. However, studies that adapt, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions in micropolitan rural contexts are needed. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Active Ottumwa intervention to promote PA in a micropolitan community. Methods: Between 2013 – 2019, we implemented Active Ottumwa in a micropolitan setting, and subsequently implemented and evaluated its effectiveness using a Hybrid Type I design. In this paper, we describe the intervention's effectiveness in promoting PA. We collected PA data over 24 months from a cohort of community residents using accelerometers and PA data from two cross-sectional community surveys administered in 2013 and 2018, using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: From the cohort, we found significant change in PA over 24 months (P = 0.03) corresponding to a 45-min daily decrease in sedentary activity, a daily increase of 35-min in light PA and 9 min in moderate-to-vigorous PA. There was a statistically significant (P = 0.01) increasing trend at the population-level in the moderate-to-vigorous composition of 7 min between the two cross-sectional assessments (95% CI: 0.1%—1.34%). Conclusions: The study demonstrates that the adapted evidence-based PA interventions in a micropolitan context is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powdered Ni-based catalysts exhibit good performance in the dry reforming of methane (DRM); however, they suffer from limited industrial applicability. Structured monolithic catalysts can overcome these limitations. In this sense, we present the synthesis of Ni–Ce mixed oxide-type catalysts immobilized in cordierite monoliths using a simple coprecipitation method and slurry coating without additives using hydrotalcite precursors for catalyst preparation. Our research explores the role of Ce (0–7 % w/w) as a promoter and the impact of immobilizing mixed oxides (MO) within cordierite monoliths on the physicochemical properties and catalytic performance of non-previously H 2 -reduced materials in DRM at 700 °C. Our findings reveal the favorable impact of Ce on the physicochemical properties of the catalyst in both the powder and monoliths, including smaller crystallite sizes, enhanced CO 2 adsorption, and reducibility with higher Ce loading. The immobilized mixed oxide (MO) maintained its crystalline structure and formed stable, uniform layers with thicknesses below 10 μm in the monoliths. The powders exhibited stable conversions of 70–80% for CH 4 and 66–75% for CO 2 , whereas the monoliths showed conversions of 85–90% for CH 4 and 80–90% for CO 2 at 700 °C and 94,680 mL·g cat −1·h−1. A higher catalyst loading in the monoliths did not result in detrimental catalytic conversion. On average, the monoliths had a higher H 2 /CO ratio (1.25–1.5) compared to the powders (1–1.25), which may explain the increased coke formation rate in the monoliths from methane cracking. Ce improved the stability and reduced coke formation, particularly when the space velocity was lower. This research highlights the significant advantages of immobilizing mixed oxides (MO) in monolithic structures, making them highly promising for potential industrial scale-up. Their stability, recoverability, elimination of high-cost H 2 reduction, and reusability in subsequent catalytic tests contributed to their favorable characteristics. [Display omitted] • Coprecipitation simplifies slurry coatings for monolith immobilization. • Monoliths were prepared without additives. • The monoliths exhibited high stability and consistent performance upon reuse. • Ce improved stability and reduced coke formation at lower space velocities. • Immobilized catalysts produced more carbon, but no pressure drops were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study shows vertical profiles and spatial distribution of upper‐air icing frequency over the tropical Americas. We estimated the in‐flight icing (IFI) over Colombia using the Current Icing Product‐sonde‐A algorithm over two data sets: (1) vertical soundings of temperature and relative humidity and surface station data taken at 12 Coordinated Universal Time or UTC (07 Local Time or LT) on five sites and (2) ERA5 at 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC (19, 01, 07 and 13 LT). In either case, icing was defined for IFI values exceeding 0.01. Results show that icing tends to occur between 550 and 300 hPa (4.5 and 8.6 km altitude), with a maximum at 500–550 hPa and monotonically decreasing to zero until reaching 300 hPa. Aeronautic reports were used to evaluate the total column IFI and a layer‐based IFI detection with a probability of detection of 87% and 71%, respectively. The annual cycle of IFI is modulated by the meridional migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) with a bimodal distribution with peaks during the rainiest seasons. Spatially, IFI hotspots are found in the Pacific, the Andes Mountains and the Amazonia regions of Colombia; the northern Colombia Caribbean region show lower IFI frequency with a relative maximum collocated over the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. The IFI exhibits a strong diurnal cycle with a high between night‐time to early morning and a low around noon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay shares a series of intuitions about certain paradoxes that artificial intelligence reveals when confronted with the Turing test. Using chess as an example, we ask about the feasibility of distinguishing intelligent behaviour from the ability to simulate, or even the impossibility of discrimination by the average human. We offer sense-making and corporeity, as opposed to mere computations, as the central attribute of living beings. And in attempting to discern the limits of these simulations, we even consult ChatGPT's own opinion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering: 1992 up to 2023 Since their discovery, lasso peptides went from peculiarities to be recognized as a major family of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) natural products that were shown to be spread throughout the bacterial kingdom. Microcin J25 was first described in 1992, making it one of the earliest known lasso peptides. No other lasso peptide has since then been studied to such an extent as microcin J25, yet, previous review articles merely skimmed over all the research done on this exceptional lasso peptide. Therefore, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of its first report, we give a comprehensive overview of all literature related to microcin J25. This review article spans the early work towards the discovery of microcin J25, its biosynthetic gene cluster, and the elucidation of its three-dimensional, threaded lasso structure. Furthermore, the current knowledge about the biosynthesis of microcin J25 and lasso peptides in general is summarized and a detailed overview is given on the biological activities associated with microcin J25, including means of self-immunity, uptake into target bacteria, inhibition of the Gram-negative RNA polymerase, and the effects of microcin J25 on mitochondria. The in vitro and in vivo models used to study the potential utility of microcin J25 in a (veterinary) medicine context are discussed and the efforts that went into employing the microcin J25 scaffold in bioengineering contexts are summed up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexism has implications for people's physical and mental health. Thus, understanding sexism and its prevalence is key to understanding the phenomenon. In the current study, 717 Colombian men and women completed the brief scales of Ambivalent Sexism toward women and men and the Gender Identity Scale. The assessment was conducted using a web-based method. Both scales, as expected, were two-dimensional. Reliability ranged from.83 to.88. Moderate and high correlations were observed with the Gender Identity Scale. Men showed higher levels of hostile and benevolent sexism toward women and benevolent sexism toward men. It was also found that the higher the level of education, the lower the rates of sexism toward men and women. The brief scales were valid and reliable for measuring hostile and benevolent sexism in Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in global sustainable development, enhancing the quality of life and preserving environmental, human, and social capital. However, when it comes to the energy transition, it faces numerous challenges and experiences conflicts in terms of costs, technological innovation, and public policies. This study seeks to illustrate one of the new alternative energy schemes which could replace fossil fuels in the future: hydrogen. This transformation would result in significant social impacts, leading to the question, "how should it be done?" Social entrepreneurship can integrate socio-economic actors and agents and help them to devise and implement new forms of energy innovation. Therefore, a descriptive qualitative methodology was implemented, that allows us to analyze the process of building entrepreneurship with a social vision and to propose a model that enables the transition from fossil economies to the hydrogen economies. Among the most significant results, the importance of the support of the three primary axes of each country and the role of social entrepreneurship as a key element for the transition stand out. The discussion contributes to the debate on the path that academia should lead, and the fundamental role of entrepreneurship based on social conscience as a driver of change. • Hydrogen can replace fossil fuels and reduce emissions. • Proposed model for Hydrogen transition with key role of social entrepreneurship. • Academia's role in social entrepreneurship as driver for change, redefining entrepreneurship to meet societal needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stromatinia cepivora, the causal agent of white rot, is responsible for 60–80% of economic losses in onion and garlic crops. This work aimed to select biological control agents (BCAs) to control white rot. Ten microorganisms were tested for hyperparasitic activity on S. cepivora sclerotia in garlic (Allium sativum). Bioassays consisted of pots filled with sterile soil and 50 sclerotia in a plastic tulle bag. Four microorganisms were selected to compare their capability for degrade sclerotia on garlic. Our results showed that increasing degradation happened when Th034, Th035, Th003, and Bs006 were added to the pots containing garlic. Subsequently, three application techniques (seeds, seedlings at transplant, and seeds and transplant) were evaluated. Seven BCAs applied singly and in mixtures were evaluated in semi-field experiments for their ability to reduce white rot symptoms in onion plants in soil inoculated with 300 sclerotia per kilogram. The results indicated that efficacy was dependent on microrganism, mixture, and technique of application. The synergy factor showed that only two treatments have synergistic effects. In both cases, the mixture consisted of a strain of Bacillus and two species of Trichoderma (T. koningiopsis, T. atroviride) applied twice. In most cases, antagonistic interactions among BCAs were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acquisition and expression of antibiotic resistance implies changes in bacterial cell physiology, imposing fitness costs. Many human opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, such as those causing urinary tract or bloodstream infections, colonize the gut. In this opinionated review, we will examine the various types of stress that these bacteria might suffer during their intestinal stay. These stresses, and their compensatory responses, probably have a fitness cost, which might be additive to the cost of expressing antibiotic resistance. Such an effect could result in a disadvantage relative to antibiotic susceptible populations that might replace the resistant ones. The opinion proposed in this paper is that the effect of these combinations of fitness costs should be tested in antibiotic resistant bacteria with susceptible ones as controls. This testing might provide opportunities to increase the bacterial gut stress boosting physiological biomolecules or using dietary interventions. This approach to reduce the burden of antibiotic-resistant populations certainly must be answered empirically. In the end, the battle against antibiotic resistance should be won by antibiotic-susceptible organisms. Let us help them prevail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to analyzing and projecting María Zambrano's representation of Antigone's myth within contemporary debates about the recovery of the bodies of human victims in post-violence contexts. Beyond the mythic-religious framework in which The Tomb of Antigone seems to be located, it will be unraveled the different semantic and philosophical layers underlying Zambrano's re-reading of the Theban heroine. This will pave the way towards highlighting the subversive political potential of Antigone's gesture by embracing historical subjects traditionally marginalized from the public space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population ageing, extreme weather, and high energy costs are the current and future global scenarios. The present study analyses the factors affecting the thermal comfort of older adults and evaluates their thermal perceptions and preferences in nursing homes in a Continental Mediterranean climate during winter, through environmental measurements and surveys on site. The sample consists of 1065 occupants. Results of this study revealed that the neutral temperature of older adults in nursing homes in cold winter climates is 24.9°C, 2.3°C higher than what PMV predicts. Results also highlight that older adults feel more comfortable in those spaces with higher CO2 concentrations than recommended by regulation. The analysis of factors affecting thermal comfort revealed that the most relevant factors affecting the thermal comfort of older adults in cold winter climates are (i) the type of room, which indirectly implies the metabolic rate of the occupants, the type of ventilation, and the CO2 level; (ii) the occupancy density; and (iii) the relative humidity of the room. These results will help to develop more accurate thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality regulations for older people that improve their health and quality of life. The modification of temperature setpoints in nursing homes based on the results of this study could influence energy use and should be carefully considered by policy makers and facility managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union's (EU) environmental legislation establishes common measures to prevent the entry and spread of invasive non‐native species and to minimize their impacts. However, species that are native to at least one member state but non‐native and potentially invasive in others (NPIS) are in limbo because they are neither legally regulated at the EU level nor in most member states. We used the Communication and Information Resource Centre for Administrations, Businesses and Citizens (CIRCABC) raw data on NPIS (317 taxa) to analyze their distribution across the EU and identify which biogeographical regions are the main sources of invasions. We additionally evaluated the conservation challenge posed by NPIS that are threatened within their native ranges. We performed a pairwise analysis summarizing the number of species that are native to a given member state but non‐native to another and vice versa. Although distribution patterns of NPIS varied across taxa groups, overall, southern and central EU countries were both donors and recipients of NPIS. Eastern countries were mainly a source, and western and northern countries mostly received NPIS. Around 27% of NPIS were threatened in some of their EU native ranges, which is a challenge for conservation and management because some of them have serious negative effects on European biodiversity, but hitherto remain outside the scope of the EU regulation of invasive non‐native species. This highlights an unresolved paradox because efforts to manage species as invasive conflict with efforts to protect them as threatened within the same territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As recognized by several international agencies, antibiotic resistance is nowadays one of the most relevant problems for human health. While this problem was alleviated with the introduction of new antibiotics into the market in the golden age of antimicrobial discovery, nowadays few antibiotics are in the pipeline. Under these circumstances, a deep understanding on the mechanisms of emergence, evolution and transmission of antibiotic resistance, as well as on the consequences for the bacterial physiology of acquiring resistance is needed to implement novel strategies, beyond the development of new antibiotics or the restriction in the use of current ones, to more efficiently treat infections. There are still several aspects in the field of antibiotic resistance that are not fully understood. In the current article, we make a non‐exhaustive critical review of some of them that we consider of special relevance, in the aim of presenting a snapshot of the studies that still need to be done to tackle antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glanders is an infectious disease of equids caused by Burkholderia mallei, a facultative intracellular non-mobile Gram-negative bacterium that can be transmitted to other animals and humans. This study described glanders cases reported in the state of Maranhão, located within an Amazon-Cerrado transition region in northeastern Brazil, from 2007 to 2017. A database in an electronic spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel 2010) was developed containing information on the number of positive animals according to age, sex, purpose, year and month, municipality and mesoregion of origin of the animal. The descriptive analyzis was performed on data provided by the State Agency for Agricultural and Livestock Protection of the state of Maranhão (AGED), and by the official private laboratory. As the database did not have information data about negative animals, possible risk factors could not be evaluated. Among the total of 62,555 equids were evaluated by means of the complement fixation test (CFT), 59,036 were horses, 2,981 mules and 538 donkeys. Thirty-five samples (0.06%) reacted in the CFT. Five additional samples were by the western blot technique and three of them were positive. All the reactive horses (Equus caballus) were from rural areas. Results presented here indicate that glanders may be endemic in the state of Maranhão and is a public health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Strategies for supporting evidence-informed health policy are a recognized but understudied area of policy dissemination and implementation science. Codesign describes a set of strategies potentially well suited to address the complexity presented by policy formation and implementation. We examine the health policy literature describing the use of codesign in initiatives intended to combine diverse sources of knowledge and evidence in policymaking. Methods: The search included PubMed, MEDLINE, PsychInfo, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar in November 2022 and included papers published between 1996 and 2022. Terms included codesign, health, policy, and system terminology. Title and abstracts were reviewed in duplicate and included if efforts informed policy or system-level decision-making. Extracted data followed scoping review guidelines for location, evaluation method, health focus, codesign definition, description, level of health system user input, sectors involved, and reported benefits and challenges. Results: From 550 titles, 23 citations describing 32 policy codesign studies were included from multiple continents (Australia/New Zealand, 32%; UK/Europe, 32%; South America, 14%; Africa, 9%; USA/Canada 23%). Document type was primarily case study (77%). The area of health focus was widely distributed. Policy type was more commonly little p policy (47%), followed by big p policy (25%), and service innovations that included policy-enabled funding (25%). Models and frameworks originated from formal design (e.g., human-centered or participatory design (44%), political science (38%), or health service research (16%). Reported outcomes included community mobilization (50%), policy feasibility (41%), improved multisector alignment (31%), and introduction of novel ideas and critical thinking (47%). Studies engaging policy users in full decision-making roles self-reported higher levels of community mobilization and community needs than other types of engagement. Discussion: Policy codesign is theoretically promising and is gaining interest among diverse health sectors for addressing the complexity of policy formation and implementation. The maturity of the science is just emerging. We observed trends in the association of codesign strategies and outcomes that suggests a research agenda in this area could provide practical insights for tailoring policy codesign to respond to local contextual factors including values, needs, and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for many nosocomial infections. This bacterium uses Quorum Sensing (QS) to generate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) so its disruption is considered a novel approach. The current study describes the antibiofilm and QS inhibitory potential of extract and chemical components from Piper pertomentellum. The methodo- logy included the phytochemical study on the aerial part of the species, the determination of QS inhibition efficacy on Chromobacterium violaceum and the evaluation of the effect on biofilm formation and virulence factors on P. aeruginosa. The phytochemical study led to the isolation and identification of a new piperamide (ethyltembamide 1), together with four known amides (tembamide acetate 2, cepharadione B 3, benzamide 4 and tembamide 5). The results indicated that the ethanolic extract and some fractions reduced violacein production in C. violaceum, however, only the ethanolic extract caused inhibition of biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa on polystyrene microtiter plates. Finally, the investigation determined that molecules (1–5) inhibited the formation of biofilms (50% approximately), while compounds 2–4 can inhibit pyocyanin and elastase production (30–50% approximately). In this way, the study contributes to the determination of the potential of extract and chemical constituents from P pertomentellum to regulate the QS system in P. aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SALURBAL (Urban Health in Latin America) Project is an interdisciplinary multinational network aimed at generating and disseminating actionable evidence on the drivers of health in cities of Latin America. We conducted a temporal multilayer network analysis where we measured cohesion over time using network structural properties and assessed diversity within and between different project activities according to participant attributes. Between 2017 and 2020 the SALURBAL network comprised 395 participants across 26 countries, 23 disciplines, and 181 institutions. While the cohesion of the SALURBAL network fluctuated over time, overall, an increase was observed from the first to the last time point of our analysis (clustering coefficient increased [0.83–0.91] and shortest path decreased [1.70–1.68]). SALURBAL also exhibited balanced overall diversity within project activities (0.5–0.6) by designing activities for different purposes such as capacity building, team-building, research, and dissemination. The network's growth was facilitated by the creation of new diverse collaborations across a range of activities over time, while maintaining the diversity of existing collaborations (0.69–0.75 between activity diversity depending on the attribute). The SALURBAL experience can serve as an example for multinational research projects aiming to build cohesive networks while leveraging heterogeneity in countries, disciplines, career stage, and across sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reservoirs are important sites for nitrogen processing, especially those located in agricultural and urban watersheds. Nitrogen inputs promote N2O production and emission, but the microbial pathways controlling N2O have been seldom studied in reservoir water columns. We determined N2O concentration in the water column of 12 reservoirs during the summer stratification and winter mixing. We explored the potential microbial sources and sinks of N2O by quantifying key genes involved in ammonia oxidation (bacterial and archaeal amoA) and denitrification (nirS and nosZ). Dissolved N2O varied up to three orders of magnitude (4.7–2441.2 nmol L−1) across systems, from undersaturated to supersaturated values (37%–24,174%) depending on reservoirs and depths. N2O concentration depended on nitrogen and oxygen availabilities, with the lowest and highest N2O values at suboxic conditions. Ammonia‐oxidizing archaea dominated over ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria but were not related to the dissolved N2O. In contrast, the abundance of the nirS gene was significantly related to N2O concentration, and three orders of magnitude higher than amoA abundance. Denitrifying bacteria appeared consistently in the water column of all reservoirs. The nirS and nosZ genes appeared in oxic and suboxic waters, but they were more abundant in suboxic waters. The nitrate concentration, and nirS and nosZ relative abundances explained the dissolved N2O. Besides, nirS abundance was related positively with total phosphorus and cumulative chlorophyll a, a proxy for fresh organic matter. Therefore, P inputs, not just N inputs, promoted N2O production by denitrification in the water column of reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel and efficient symbiotic seed gemination and seedling development protocols were established for P. concreta. • Putative mycorrhizal fungi were isolated from native Ecuadorian orchids. • Tullasnella strains from different orchids enhanced seed germination of P. concreta. • T. calospora (UAMH9824) promote seed germination and seedling development of P. concreta. The Orchidaceae is the most numerous and diverse family in Ecuador with more than 4200 species. Information on the interaction between these neotropical orchids seed and mycorrhizal fungi during germination and seedling development in situ is very limited. Symbiotic seed germination culture allows screening for compatible mycobionts resulting in mycorrhizal associations to develop under sterile and controlled environmental conditions. A previously developed symbiotic seed culture protocol was used to screen seed germination and seedling development in the neotropical orchid Polystachya concreta. Mature seeds collected from native populations in the northwest Andes Mountains of Ecuador display high viability (92%) and germination percentage (96%). Light was not a limiting factor for gemination and seedling development in this orchid species. Tulasnella isolates from roots of different orchid species in situ facilitated seed germination only, whereas Tulasnella calospora (UAMH 9824), isolated from Spiranthes brevilabris in Florida, facilitated both seed germination and seedling development in P. concreta. Ceratobasidium strains, isolated from roots of different orchid species in Ecuador, neither promoted seed gemination or seedling development. Symbiotic seed culture did not significantly improve germination compared to that observed in the absence of fungi. Higher germination rates and percentages of more advanced seedling development were observed on asymbiotic PhytoTechnology Orchid Seed Sowing Medium (P723). However, significantly larger seeds seedlings were observed when seeds were cocultured with certain fungal isolates. Information obtained from this study confirm that this symbiotic seed culture application will be both beneficial for screening potential mycobiont isolates and seedling production for conservation of native orchid species in Ecuador. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information age has changed all aspects of our daily lives and education is no exception, so a web-based system was developed to improve communication and information exchange with students, teachers and parents in Orellana. Agile development methodology was used to achieve a pleasant and functional interface; two types of roles were implemented to ensure data security and integrity. In order to measure the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction of the website, usability tests were carried out, and an acceptable percentage was obtained. Users expressed their satisfaction with the interface, the ease of use, the correct functioning of the functions and the security and integrity of the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, authority within the Catholic Church has come under fire and has been accused of committing abuses on those under its responsibility. The reference to classical natural law can shed light on understanding this problem and propose a roadmap that proposes practical solutions. Respect for human dignity and freedom of conscience will be the cornerstones to guarantee an adequate and fair exercise of authority. In addition to natural law used as a hermeneutical tool to propose a safeguard of the rights of the faithful against possible abusive actions of ecclesiastical authority, this study will resort to the thought of Pope Francis. Both the pontifical documents issued during his pontificate, as well as certain interventions of lesser magisterial relevance, present a clear roadmap that promotes a renewal in the thinking and behavior of those who lead within the Church. It is an invitation to return to what is essential, from a humanism that seeks to follow in the footsteps of Christ incarnate, understanding and merciful to all, avoiding the worldly temptation to govern without serving. The final conclusions will be of a practical nature, in the Bergoglian style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand how indigenous communities in the Amazon make decisions regarding territory and reach agreements regulating use of natural resources in the face of extractive economies, an experimental ethnography was carried out involving design and implementation of a serious board game. "Managing the Territory" is a thematic group game which is not dependent on chance, but rather invites players to discuss dilemmas, make decisions, and develop agreements regarding economic activities involving use of natural resources to be carried out in their territory, including extractivism. This ethnography discusses players' commentaries that emerged during the game as well as community decision making in the face of potential social and ecological impacts of extractive activities. The actions of the game that promoted developing agreements among players led them to reflect on topics in need of community decision making regarding regulation of their territorial resources and to discuss their differences of interests. In some cases, the potential influence of extractive economies led players to take action to establish, revoke, or modify a formal territorial management agreement, and in others to restore or revoke an informal traditional pact. Players' commentaries allowed for inferring principles of indigenous territorial management related to sufficiency and reciprocity, as well as informal territorial management pacts, that explain the rationales according to which they regulated the territory during the game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focused on the implementation of different species to evaluate their efficiency in soils disturbed by clay mining. A part of the land was taken and a physical-chemical and microbiological characterization was made to know the conditions of the soil under study before applying the species, then it was divided into four plots of equal measures, of 1.5x1 m, one control and three in which we applied the respective species, this with the objective of evaluating the efficiency of the interaction of the species in the soil contaminated by mining. This study revealed the great capacity of grasses (Maize, star grass and brachiaria grass), and Fabaceae (Yaguaro and Acacia Riparia Kunth), to provide organic materials and nutrients that allowed the evaluation of the efficiency or reactivation of the contaminated soils. It should be noted that the one with the highest efficiency was plot three. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cross-sectional descriptive study to determine the frequency of ocular manifestations associated with systemic autoimmune diseases in a third-level hospital in Mexico. Records from 2014 to 2017 at the Inflammatory Eye Disease Clinic of the Asociación Para Evitar la Cegueraen México were examined by both an ophthalmologist and a rheumatologist on the same day. Diagnosis was achieved from initial ocular manifestations with later systemic assessment. Out of 311 medical records, 276 were included, 75% of the patients were female. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca was the most frequent ocular manifestation (33.3%), followed by anterior uveitis (29.5%), scleritis (23.2%), and peripheral ulcerative keratitis (7.2%). The leading autoimmune diseases were spondyloarthritis (29%), rheumatoid arthritis (28.6%), primary Sjögren's syndrome (10.5%) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (9.1%). 41.3% of systemic disease diagnoses were made after an initial ocular manifestation. Inflammatory eye manifestations can imply systemic autoimmune diseases. It is crucial to suspect and confirm this association and provide timely interdisciplinary management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence-based psychological treatments (EBPT) are an effective and efficient solution for the treatment of emotional disorders (EDs). However, their implementation and dissemination are not yet widespread. The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of EDs (UP), applied in a group format, could be an effective option to be implemented in specialized public mental health services in Spain. The sample consisted of 533 users of public specialized mental health centers (77.3% women), with a mean age of 42.0 years (SD = 12.62), who were randomized to the UP in group format condition (n = 277) or treatment as usual (specific cognitive behavioral therapy for each disorder in individual format, n = 256). Assessments were performed at preintervention (T1) and at 3, 6, 9 and 15 months after treatment onset (T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively). The results showed a main effect of time in both conditions for all primary outcomes (p < 0.05) and no statistically significant Time ∗ Condition interaction. Similarly, the noninferiority tests showed that UP results were statistically noninferior compared to TAU. Effect sizes for psychological variables were higher in the UP condition at T5, even though the differences were not statistically significant. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the evolution of the diagnostic criteria and comorbidity were found, with the highest percentage of patients no longer meeting main and secondary diagnosis criteria in the UP condition at all assessment moments (except for secondary diagnosis at T3). The results showed statistically significant differences in treatment retention between conditions at T5, being the UP condition the one with less dropouts. Finally, participants in the group UP condition showed high satisfaction with the treatment. The UP is an EBPT that has been shown to be effective when applied in groups and may represent an efficient option for its implementation in public mental health services in Spain. This trial is registered with NCT03064477. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The personality dimension neuroticism and difficulties in emotional regulation (ER) are two variables closely related to the onset, course, and maintenance of emotional disorders (EDs). The Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) is a treatment specifically designed to address neuroticism by training in adaptive ER skills and has been shown to be effective in reducing difficulties in ER. However, the specific impact of these variables on treatment outcomes is not entirely clear. The aim of the present study was to explore the moderating role of neuroticism and difficulties in ER regarding the evolution of depressive and anxiety symptoms and quality of life. This secondary study included 140 participants diagnosed with EDs, who received the UP in group format as part of an RCT being conducted in different Spanish Public Mental Health Units. The results of this study found that high scores in neuroticism and difficulties in ER were associated with greater severity of depression and anxiety symptomatology, and with poorer quality of life. In addition, difficulties in ER moderated the efficacy of UP regarding anxiety symptoms, and quality of life. No moderating effects were found for depression (p > 0.5). We only evaluated two moderators that may influence UP effectivenes; other key moderators should be analyzed in future. The identification of specific moderators affecting transdiagnostic interventions outcomes will allow the development of personalized interventions and provide useful information to improve the psychopathology and well-being of people with EDs. • Neuroticism were associated with greater severity symptoms. • Emotion regulation difficulties were associated with greater severity symptoms. • Neuroticism and difficulties in emotion regulation were not associated with quality of life. • Difficulties in emotion regulation moderated the efficacy of UP regarding anxiety symptoms. • Neuroticism moderates the efficacy of UP regarding quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The cave fauna of the Macaronesian archipelagos is rich in endemic species. In this region, most studies have been carried out in the Azores and the Canary Islands. In contrast to these archipelagos, the arthropod fauna of the lava tubes of the Madeira has not been well studied. Madeira is the only island in this archipelago with lava tube complexes suitable for endogenous arthropod species. In the two known complexes, San Vicente and Machico (Cavalum), 13 endemic species have been recorded; among these, there are two critically endangered cave spiders of the genus Centromerus. These caves not only have no protection measures, and while they are not exploited for tourism, they are under serious threats by the frequent passage of people. The San Vicente complex, the largest on the island, has undergone profound structural modifications for its tourist exploitation but still, since its inauguration in 1996, receives thousands of visitors per year. Until now, faunal studies of Madeiran caves have been the result of casual collecting. This work is the first monitoring study of Madeira's cave fauna. One-year monitoring has been done in four lava tubes of Machico: the Cavalum lava tubes (I, II, III) and the Landeiros tube. This study aimed to make a species checklist of the cave fauna present. So far, only three species of Collembola have been described for the Madeira lava tubes. Here we describe four new species, Neelus serratus Jordana & Baquero sp. nov., Coecobrya decemsetosa Jordana & Baquero sp. nov., Coecobrya octoseta Jordana & Baquero sp. nov., and Sinella duodecimoculata Jordana & Baquero sp. nov., and we update the checklist of the Collembola of lava tubes from three to 16 species. At present, the Machico complex caves represent the island's only natural lava tube habitats and are probably the main contributor to Madeira's cave biodiversity. The cave fauna of the Macaronesian archipelagos is rich in endemic species. Unlike the Azores and the Canary Islands, the cave fauna of the Madeira archipelago is little known. The only two cave complexes studied, Machico and São Vicente, lack protection measures. São Vicente is seriously threatened because it is being exploited for touristic purposes, while the Machico complex, the only one in its natural state, is open to the public but without any control. The importance of the conservation of this cave fauna is indisputable. So far, of the 13 cavernicolous species recorded, two of them—genus Centromerus—are critically endangered. Apart from occasional sampling, no monitoring study has ever been carried out. The aim of this work has been to make a species checklist of the cave fauna of the Machico complex, the least studied so far. For this purpose, during 2001–2002, a monitoring study was carried out using traps and manual collections in the lava tubes of Landeiros and Cavalum (I, II, III). Fourteen species of springtails were recorded. Of these, four are new species, Neelus serratus Jordana & Baquero sp. nov., Coecobrya decemsetosa Jordana & Baquero sp. nov., Coecobrya octoseta Jordana & Baquero sp. nov., and Sinella duodecimoculata Jordana & Baquero sp. nov., and one is a new record for the archipelago, Lepidocyrtus curvicollis Bourlet, 1839. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The government had granted an oil exploration concession overlapping Sarayaku lands to the Argentine fuel company CGC in 1996, spurring a wave of violence. In the early 2000s, Kichwa de Sarayaku, an Indigenous nation in the Ecuadorian Amazon, clashed with oil workers and state forces as the community resisted a militarized effort to expand the petroleum frontier in their territories without their consent. b B PG: b States, first of all, should not discuss forests like those of the Sarayaku nation without the presence of the peoples who have been here since before conquest and colonization. [Extracted from the article]

Social media, especially Twitter, has become a platform where hate, toxic, intolerant, and discriminatory speech is increasingly spread. These messages are aimed at different vulnerable social groups, due to some of their differentiating characteristics with respect to the dominant one, whether they are phenotypic, religious, cultural, gender, sexual, etc. Of all these minorities, one of the most affected is the Muslim community, especially since the beginning of the Mediterranean refugee crisis, during which migration from the Middle East and North Africa increased considerably. Spain does not escape this reality as, given its proximity to Morocco, it is one of the main destinations for migrants from North Africa. In this context, there are already several studies focused on specifically investigating Islamophobic speech disseminated on social platforms, normally focused on specific cases. However, there are still no studies focused on analyzing the entire conversation around Islam and the Muslim community that takes place on Twitter and in a southern European country such as Spain, aiming to identify the latent sentiments and the main underlying topics and their characteristics, which would help to relativize and dimension the relevance of Islamophobic messages, as well as to analyze them from a more solid base. The main objective of the present study is to identify the most frequent words, the main underlying topics, and the latent sentiments that predominate in the general conversation about Islam and the Muslim community on Twitter in Spain and in Spanish during the last 8 years. To do this, 190,320 messages that included keywords related to Muslim culture and religion were collected and analyzed using computational techniques. The findings show that the most frequent words in these messages were mostly descriptive and not derogatory, and the predominant latent topics were mostly neutral and informative, although two of them could be considered reliable indicators of Islamophobic rejection. Similarly, while the overall average sentiment in this conversation trended negatively, neutral and positive messages were more prevalent. However, in the negative messages, the sentiment was considerably more pronounced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epitranscriptomic modification N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a ubiquitous feature of the mammalian transcriptome. It modulates mRNA fate and dynamics to exert regulatory control over numerous cellular processes and disease pathways, including viral infection. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) reactivation from the latent phase leads to the redistribution of m6A topology upon both viral and cellular mRNAs within infected cells. Here we investigate the role of m6A in cellular transcripts upregulated during KSHV lytic replication. Our results show that m6A is crucial for the stability of the GPRC5A mRNA, whose expression is induced by the KSHV latent–lytic switch master regulator, the replication and transcription activator (RTA) protein. Moreover, we demonstrate that GPRC5A is essential for efficient KSHV lytic replication by directly regulating NFκB signalling. Overall, this work highlights the central importance of m6A in modulating cellular gene expression to influence viral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological and cultural factors affect antibiotic usage rate. Antibiotic prescription for children with reactive and demanding behavior (ambivalent attachment pattern) is several times more frequent than for other children. Infants to which antibiotics were prescribed tend to have overprotective, worried, or inconsistent mothers. Among high-income countries, antibiotic prescription rates are higher in those that prize traditional values than in more secular-rational countries. In conclusion, there is a relationship between cultural dimensions, individual psychological characteristics, and antibiotic prescription. These relationships must be further investigated, and the generated knowledge should be incorporated into antibiotic stewardship programs. Humans have inundated the environment worldwide with antimicrobials for about one century, giving selective advantage to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, antibiotic resistance has become a public health problem responsible for increased mortality and extended hospital stays because the efficacy of antibiotics has diminished. Hospitals and other clinical settings have implemented stewardship measures to reduce antibiotic administration and prescription. However, these measures demand multifactorial approaches, including multidisciplinary teams in clinical settings and the education of professionals and patients. Recent studies indicate that individual factors, such as mother–infant attachment and parenting styles, play a critical role in antibiotic use. Also, macrocontextual factors, such as economic, social, or cultural backgrounds, may impact antibiotic use rates. Therefore, research aiming to ameliorate stewardship measures must include psychologically and sociologically based research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of daily temperature fluctuations that mimic on-site environmental conditions were tested on seed germination and development in Dracula felix, a native epiphytic orchid from the neotropics. Mature seeds collected from a native population lost their viability from 60% to 37.78% and 0% after 8 and 16 weeks., respectively, under 22 ± 2 °C. Seed viability was completely lost when seeds were maintained at −10 °C in the dark. Less than 50% germination was observed in D. felix seed across all treatments. Seed germinated regardless of the light or temperature treatment. However, significant improvement in germination was observed at 17/22 °C compared to constant temperature treatments. Early seedling development stages were observed only on 1/2XMS and VW media at 17 °C or 17 °C/22 °C under a 12 h light photoperiod. Neither germination nor seedling development were improved by any fungal strain tested using standard symbiotic germination protocols. Information obtained from this study is critical to ensure the ex-situ conservation of this and other rare Dracula species under current and future climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SALURBAL (Urban Health in Latin America) Project is an interdisciplinary multinational network aimed at generating and disseminating actionable evidence on the drivers of health in cities of Latin America. We conducted a temporal multilayer network analysis where we measured cohesion over time using network structural properties and assessed diversity within and between different project activities according to participant attributes. Between 2017 and 2020 the SALURBAL network comprised 395 participants across 26 countries, 23 disciplines, and 181 institutions. While the cohesion of the SALURBAL network fluctuated over time, overall, an increase was observed from the first to the last time point of our analysis (clustering coefficient increased [0.83–0.91] and shortest path decreased [1.70–1.68]). SALURBAL also exhibited balanced overall diversity within project activities (0.5–0.6) by designing activities for different purposes such as capacity building, team-building, research, and dissemination. The network's growth was facilitated by the creation of new diverse collaborations across a range of activities over time, while maintaining the diversity of existing collaborations (0.69–0.75 between activity diversity depending on the attribute). The SALURBAL experience can serve as an example for multinational research projects aiming to build cohesive networks while leveraging heterogeneity in countries, disciplines, career stage, and across sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The concept of "structural epistasis" expresses the emergence of new phenotypes which are not based on changes in the products and functions of genes, but on the changes in the physical–mechanical interactions between biological structural pieces and components of the bacterial cell architecture. These interactions are fostered by primary physical changes in the shape and size of the pieces or in spatial (topological) alterations driven by changes in their quantity or local density of the cell compartments, and might have consequences on antibiotic resistance phenotypes. Epistasis refers to the way in which genetic interactions between some genetic loci affect phenotypes and fitness. In this study, we propose the concept of "structural epistasis" to emphasize the role of the variable physical interactions between molecules located in particular spaces inside the bacterial cell in the emergence of novel phenotypes. The architecture of the bacterial cell (typically Gram-negative), which consists of concentrical layers of membranes, particles, and molecules with differing configurations and densities (from the outer membrane to the nucleoid) determines and is in turn determined by the cell shape and size, depending on the growth phases, exposure to toxic conditions, stress responses, and the bacterial environment. Antibiotics change the bacterial cell's internal molecular topology, producing unexpected interactions among molecules. In contrast, changes in shape and size may alter antibiotic action. The mechanisms of antibiotic resistance (and their vectors, as mobile genetic elements) also influence molecular connectivity in the bacterial cell and can produce unexpected phenotypes, influencing the action of other antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) have gained recognition as versatile molecules capable of acting as organocatalysts in various reactions, particularly through the activation of aldehydes via Breslow-type adducts. This organocatalytic activation has enabled the production of numerous 3,4-dihydropyran-2-ones and related derivatives. In this review, we provide an overview of the production of 3,4-dihydropyran-2-ones and derivatives via organocatalytic processes involving NHCs over the past eight years. These processes involve the use of a diverse range of substrates, catalysts, and reaction conditions, which can be classified into [4+2]-and [3+3]-type cycloadditions, primarily aimed at synthesizing this skeleton due to its biological activity and multiple stereocenters. These processes are scaled up to the gram scale, and the resulting products are often directed towards epimerization and functionalization to produce more complex molecules with potential applications in the biological field. Finally, we provide a perspective and the future directions of this topic in organic synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article engages in the contemporary discussion on utopia by exploring Adolfo Sánchez Vázquez's philosophy. The fall of the Berlin Wall has led to debates about the "end of history" and to doubts about the possibility of achieving the ideals and values embedded within the Marxist utopia. To deal with this challenge, contemporary scholars have revisited Marxist tradition to recover the hope stemming from utopia. However, these readings have not taken into consideration Sánchez Vázquez's contribution to this topic. With a view to addressing this omission, this article analyzes philosophical assumptions underlying Sánchez Vázquez's approach. By exploring his Philosophy of Praxis and by highlighting its anthropological assumptions, this study demonstrates the extent to which his works provide theoretical underpinnings and resources for contesting contemporary discourses on the "end of history" and for recovering utopia after the fall of the Berlin Wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial nerve injury in rats have been widely used to study functional and structural changes that occur in the injured motoneurons and other central nervous system structures related with sensorimotor processing. A decrease in long‐term potentiation of hippocampal CA3‐to‐CA1 commissural synapse has recently been reported related to this peripheral injury. Additionally, it has been found increased corticosterone plasmatic levels, impairment in spatial memory consolidation, and hippocampal microglial activation in animals with facial nerve axotomy. In this work, we analyzed the neuronal morphology of hippocampal CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons in animals with either reversible or irreversible facial nerve injury. For this purpose, brain tissues of injured animals sacrificed at different postlesion times, were stained with the Golgi‐Cox method and compared with control brains. It was found that both reversible and irreversible facial nerve injury‐induced significant decreases in dendritic tree complexity, dendritic length, branch points, and spine density of hippocampal neurons. However, such changes' timing varied according to hippocampal area (CA1 vs. CA3), dendritic area (apical vs. basal), and lesion type (reversible vs. irreversible). In general, the observed changes were transient when animals had the possibility of motor recovery (reversible injury), but perdurable if the recovery from the lesion was impeded (irreversible injury). CA1 apical and CA3 basal dendritic tree morphology were more sensible to irreversible injury. It is concluded that facial nerve injury induced significant changes in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons morphology, which could be related to LTP impairments and microglial activation in the hippocampal formation, previously described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I discuss the concept of 'Decolonizing Nursing', answering what this process is about, and how and when it should be done. I introduce the idea of epistemological dominance and the concepts of colonization and decolonization of nursing knowledge. I describe my experiences of coming from Latin America and facing Anglo‐Saxon academy to discuss core disciplinary nursing knowledge and provide reflections around the decolonization of nursing language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the local labour control regimes (LCRs) in the workplaces of global production networks. Using the ethnographic approach, it examines the control strategies utilized by several stakeholders in coffee production and consumption sites in Colombia. The results demonstrate that transformations in the value chains have changed LCRs due to neoliberal openness and new consumption trends, which led to the creation of exploitation, discipline, and mobilization of labour practices. Rural production occurs in farms with predominant piecework and daily payment, where women play traditional roles that render their contributions invisible and undervalued. Employment in urban cafeterias includes stable and flexible contracts with low wages, increased activities, and supervision. Both situations link productive and reproductive work. Under these scenarios, employees manage various levels of negotiation, response, and endurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study proposes a model based on social contagion theory to evaluate the impacts of authentic leadership on employee work engagement (WE) and trust in the leader (TL), integrating the mediating effect of TL and the moderating effect of workplace well-being (WW). Authentic leadership is disaggregated into its subscales: relational transparency (RT), internalized moral perspective (IMP), balanced processing (BP), and self-awareness (SA). Methods: Dubai hotel employees completed 476 surveys. Applying the bootstrapping technique, SmartPLS 4 software was utilized to test the hypotheses in a mediation model. Results: The findings indicate (1) that three subscales of authentic leadership (RT, IMP, and BP) positively impact WE; (2) that RT, IMP, and SA positively impact TL; (3) that TL positively impacts WE; (4) that TL mediates the relationship between RT, IMP, SA, and WE; (5) and that WW moderates the relationship between RT, BP, and WE. Conclusion: Authentic leadership and its subscales are proven to be an excellent tool for achieving employee WE and TL. TL is crucial for effective hotel operation, as it impacts employee WE and acts as a mediator between three subscales of authentic leadership and WE. WW moderates the relationship between two authentic leadership subscales and WE but does not interact in the relationship between TL and WE. Both researchers and hotel managers can benefit from these new findings, which also provide a foundation on which to build future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirteen species (18%) in the genus Dracula (Orchidaceae) in Colombia lack basic information about their ecology and biogeography. Dracula anthracina has remained as a charismatic market-valued species with no information on its natural habitat. We found the precise location of D. anthracina in explorations across the Colombian eastern Cordillera. Our observations of wild populations and cultivated plants suggest that D. nigritella should be reduced to a synonym of D. anthracina based on morphological characters. Furthermore, the species seems to be rare, geographically restricted, and has small populations. Hence, we suggest that D. anthracina should be considered of conservation concern and should be excluded from Ecuador's flora. Trece especies (18%) del género Dracula en Colombia carecen de información básica de su biogeográfica y ecológica. Dracula anthracina es una especie de alto valor en el mercado, cuya información del habito natural ha permanecido históricamente obscuro. Durante exploraciones de la orquideoflora de la cordillera oriental de Colombia, encontramos la ubicación de D. anthracina. Tras estudiar los caracteres morfológicos de individuos de D. anthracina en su hábitat natural y material cultivado, encontramos que D. nigritella debe ser reducido a sinónimo de D. anthracina. Nuestro muestreo aleatorio sugiere que esta Dracula es rara, con distribución geográfica restringida y poblaciones pequeñas. De tal manera, D. anthracina como especie comercializada debe ser considerada como una especie de conservación endémica de Colombia y debe ser excluida de la flora de Ecuador. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different organisations recently published reports identifying the challenges and potential solutions to ensure privacy in blockchain platforms. The proposed solutions frequently emphasise the role of privacy-compliance technologies to be incorporated into the blockchain design. Often, these solutions imply a techno-regulatory approach, ignoring that the level of privacy implemented in a blockchain involves legal and policy choices, disregarding the need to implement human participation and contestability in these platforms. Against this backdrop, this paper proposes to examine how privacy-compliance technologies can incorporate human participation and contestability: first, resorting to the interdisciplinary literature to examine how technological design could balance privacy with human oversight; second, discussing the challenges to ensure ex post contestability for aggrieved data subjects; third, examining the difficulties in identifying liable parties in a blockchain platform. The current disregard of the social and human element risks undermining the role of privacy-compliance technologies in the blockchain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]