Negative impacts of human land use on dung beetle functional diversity

The loss of biodiversity caused by human activity is assumed to alter ecosystem functioning. However our understanding of the magnitude of the effect of these changes on functional diversity and their impact on the dynamics of ecological processes is still limited. We analyzed the functional diversity of copro-necrophagous beetles under different conditions of land use in three Mexican biosphere reserves. In Montes Azules pastures, forest fragments and continuous rainforest were analyzed, in Los Tuxtlas rainforest fragments of different sizes were analyzed and in Barranca de Metztitlán two types of xerophile scrub with different degrees of disturbance from grazing were analyzed. We assigned dung beetle species to functional groups based on food relocation, beetle size, daily activity period and food preferences, and as measures of functional diversity we used estimates based on multivariate methods. In Montes Azules functional richness was lower in the pastures than in continuous rainforest and rainforest fragments, but fragments and continuous forest include functionally redundant species. In small rainforest fragments (<5 ha) in Los Tuxtlas, dung beetle functional richness was lower than in large rainforest fragments (>20 ha). Functional evenness and functional dispersion did not vary among habitat types or fragment size in these reserves. In contrast, in Metztitlán, functional richness and functional dispersion were different among the vegetation types, but differences were not related to the degree of disturbance by grazing. More redundant species were found in submontane than in crassicaule scrub. For the first time, a decrease in the functional diversity in communities of copro-necrophagous beetles resulting from changes in land use is documented, the potential implications for ecosystem functioning are discussed and a series of variables that could improve the evaluation of functional diversity for this biological group is proposed.     

L'Azilien ancien de Cueva Oscura de Ania (Las Regueras, Asturias, Espagne)

Recent definition of the Cantabrian Lower Azilian has turned the Late Upper Magdalenian/Azilian transition into one of the most interesting archaeological ages in the area. This period is considered representing the earliest Azilian groups in Asturias. Critic review of Cueva Oscura de Ania record, in the center of Asturias, has allowed us to give full details of the Lower Azilian archaeological characteristics. Cueva Oscura de Ania archaeological collection shows archaic traits, close to those from Cueva de Los Azules and Cueva de La Riera, two eastern asturian sites. These likenesses suggest a high stylistic and technical uniformity in distant areas during a critical period, when Palaeolithic groups changed their subsistence strategies. Cueva Oscura de Ania archaeological and polinic records suggest that this deposit was built at the beginning of the paleoclimatic phase known as Alleröd/Cantabrian VIII (12 000-10?800 BP), when numerous cantabrian sites suffered high erosion processes. All these circumstances convert Cueva Oscura de Ania in a fundamental site to get a best knowledge of the origin and development of the Cantabrian Azilian. The study of its bone collection allows us outline new hypothesis about this archaeological period.     

Parasites of the Central American tapir Tapirus bairdii (Perissodactyla: Tapiridae) in Chiapas, Mexico

We analyzed 19 samples of Baird's tapir feces from La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve, collected between March and July 1999. We also took samples directly from a male tapir captured at the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve. Both reserves are in Chiapas, Mexico. We used five techniques: flotation, MacMaster, micrometric, Ritchie's sedimentation and Ferreira's quantitative. In addition, we collected ectoparasites from animals captured in both reserves and from a captive couple from Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. These nematodes and protozoans were found: Agriostomun sp., Lacandoria sp., Neomurshidia sp., Trichostrongylus sp., Strongylus sp., Brachylumus sp, and an unidentified species of ancilostomaide. We also found Eimeria sp. and Balantidium coli, as well as the mites Dermacentor halli, Dermacentor latus, Amblyomma cajannense, Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma ovale, Anocentor nitens and Ixodes bicornis.     

Angiotensin II type 1 receptors and the intestinal microvascular dysfunction induced by ischemia and reperfusion

The acute phase of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is mediated by leukocytes and is characterized by oxidative stress and blood cell recruitment. Upregulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptors (AT1-R) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of conditions associated with oxidative stress. The AT1-R-antagonist Losartan (Los) attenuates leukocyte recruitment following I/R. However, the role of AT1-R in intestinal I/R injury and the associated platelet-leukocyte interactions remains unclear. The objective of this study was to define the contribution of AT1-R to I/R-induced blood cell recruitment in intestinal venules. Leukocyte and platelet adhesion were quantified by intravital microscopy in the small bowel of C57Bl/6 [wild-type (WT)] mice exposed to sham operation or 45 min of ischemia and 4 h of reperfusion. A separate WT group received Los for 7 days before gut I/R (WT-I/R + Los). AT1-R bone marrow chimeras that express AT1-R on the vessel wall but not blood cells also underwent I/R. Platelet and leukocyte adhesion as well as AT1-R expression in the gut microvasculature were significantly elevated after I/R. All of these responses were attenuated in the WT-I/R + Los group, compared with untreated I/R mice. A comparable abrogation of I/R-induced blood cell adhesion was noted in AT1-R bone marrow chimeras. I/R-induced platelet adhesion was unaltered in mice overexpressing Cu,Zn-SOD or mice deficient in NAD(P)H oxidase. These data suggest that although gut I/R upregulates endothelial expression of AT1-R, engagement of these angiotensin II receptors on blood cells is more important in eliciting the prothrombogenic and proinflammatory state observed in postischemic gut venules, through a superoxide-independent pathway.     

Sustainability criteria and indicators for the Makiling Botanic Gardens in Los Baños,Laguna, Philippines: An application of the CIFOR C&I toolbox

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) generic template was used as an initial set of sustainability criteria and indicators (C&I) in the development of a unique C&I set for the Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG). The MBG is a forest area managed for educational and recreational activities inside the University of the Philippines Los Baños campus. A multi-disciplinary team evaluated each criterion and indicator of the CIFOR generic template using multi-criteria analysis (MCA) techniques such as ranking, rating and pairwise comparison to eliminate irrelevant and inapplicable C&I items. The remaining C&I set was then restructured and additional items developed to finalize the set. The final C&I set for MBG was tested through a preliminary assessment conducted by MBG management and users. Results showed that the C&I set was appropriate for MBG, and focused primarily on the protection of ecological processes, while at the same time supporting recreational and educational activities. The MBG C&I also highlighted the importance of a sound policy framework that supports management, as well as the critical role that planning, implementation and monitoring play in progressing sustainability. Moreover, the study demonstrated the practical applicability of the CIFOR C&I Toolbox when developing C&I at the forest management unit level.     

Neutron, proton, and photonuclear cross-sections for radiation therapy and radiation protection

I review recent work at Los Alamos undertaken to evaluate neutron, proton, and photonuclear cross-sections up to 150 MeV (to 250 MeV for protons), based on experimental data and nuclear model calculations. These data are represented in the ENDF format and can be used in computer codes to simulate radiation transport. They permit calculations of absorbed dose in the body from therapy beams, and through use of kerma coefficients allow absorbed dose to be estimated for a given neutron energy distribution. In radiation protection, these data can be used to determine shielding requirements in accelerator environments and to calculate neutron, proton, gamma-ray, and radionuclide production. Illustrative comparisons of the evaluated cross-section and kerma coefficient data with measurements are given.     

Deforestation in Lacandonia (southeast Mexico): evidence for the declaration of the northernmost tropical hot-spot

To assess the conservation status of Lacandonia, a megadiversity area in Mexico, rates of deforestation were calculated for the periods 1974–1981 and 1981–1991, using a random sample of 38 5 × 5km sites. We evaluated: (i) the overall magnitude of, and spatial and temporal variation in deforestation; (ii) how spatial variation relates to human population density, terrain slope and the presence of the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve; (iii) the magnitude of potential plant species loss associated with deforestation. Overall deforestation was greater in the former than in the second period (1412 vs. 744ha/year), although mean rates (2.1 and 1.6%/year) were statistically indistinguishable due to a considerable spatial variation. The greatest spatial variation was related to the presence of the Montes Azules Reserve: deforestation outside the reserve was 20 and 6 times greater in the first and second period, respectively. Population density and terrain slope were related to deforestation but the relationship was considerably poor. Estimates of plant species committed to extinction (out of the expected total flora of 4314 species) were as high as 22% by year 2035, and 55% by year 2135. Such levels of potential species extinction associated to deforestation, and the great biological diversity of Lacandonia provide evidence to declare it as the northernmost tropical hot-spot and a priority goal in conservation efforts.     

Acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in conscious dogs decreases renin and is unaffected by losartan.

Acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) may be mediated by vasoactive peptides. We studied eight conscious, chronically tracheostomized dogs kept on a standardized dietary sodium intake. Normoxia (40 min) was followed by hypoxia (40 min, breathing 10% oxygen, arterial oxygen pressures 36 +/- 1 Torr) during both control (Con) and losartan experiments (Los; iv infusion of 100 microg. min-1. kg-1 losartan). During hypoxia, minute ventilation (by 0.9 l/min in Con, by 1.3 l/min in Los), cardiac output (by 0.36 l/min in Con, by 0.30 l/min in Los), heart rate (by 11 beats/min in Con, by 30 beats/min in Los), pulmonary artery pressure (by 9 mmHg in both protocols), and pulmonary vascular resistance (by 280 and 254 dyn. s. cm-5 in Con and Los, respectively) increased. Mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance did not change. In Con, PRA decreased from 4.2 +/- 0.7 to 2.5 +/- 0.5 ng ANG I. ml-1. h-1, and plasma ANG II decreased from 11.9 +/- 3.0 to 8.2 +/- 2.1 pg/ml. The renin-angiotensin system is inhibited during acute hypoxia despite sympathetic activation. Under these conditions, ANG II AT1-receptor antagonism does not attenuate HPV.     

Phylogeography, genetic structure, and gene flow in the endemic freshwater shrimp Palaemonetes suttkusi from Cuatro Ci��negas, Mexico

The valley of Cuatro Ciénegas in Mexico has the highest degree of local endemicity of any habitat in North America. A large number of endemic aquatic species occur both in the Cuatro Ciénegas basin and in the upper parts of the Río Salado de los Nadadores drainage, located immediately to the east of the valley. No natural surface flow occurs between these basins but artificial canals connect both areas. It is not clear whether the sharing of endemics between the Cuatro Ciénegas basin and the Río Salado is due to migration through canals. We conducted a phylogeographic study of mitochondrial haplotypes of the endemic shrimp Palaemonetes suttkusi to determine the evolutionary distinctiveness of the population found in Río Salado. We discovered that P. suttkusi likely has occurred naturally in both basins well into the distant past. Based on molecular clock analyses of the COI gene, the populations in the Río Salado and much of the Cuatro Ciénegas basin likely began diverging from each other between 1.9 and 11.2 Myr ago. The general levels of divergence are substantial but our results suggest there has also likely been recent gene flow between these basins. This is consistent with migration through human-made canals, but also consistent with the occurrence of natural gene flow during intermittent wet periods in the past million years. We also found significant differentiation of the Pozas Azules area from the rest of the Cuatro Ciénegas basin, a finding that is concordant with several phylogeographic studies on other aquatic endemics in Cuatro Ciénegas. We recommend that the upper parts of the Río Salado, the Pozas Azules area, and the rest of the Cuatro Ciénegas basin should each be considered independent evolutionarily significant units for conservation, and that migration of species through human-made canals should be monitored and controlled.     

Los Cayos Dinosaur Tracksite: An Overview on the Lower Cretaceous Ichno-Diversity of the Cameros Basin (Cornago,La Rioja Province,Spain)

The Los Cayos dinosaur tracksite is located at the eastern sector of the Cameros Basin (Cornago Township, La Rioja province), NE Spain. The sediments consist of interbedded terrigenous siliciclastics and carbonates belonging to the Enciso Group (Early Cretaceous, Aptian in age). The sedimentological and faunal evidence suggests that these sediments were deposited in a low gradient lacustrine environment. Los Cayos constitutes a relatively wide area with at least 6 localities that have yielded dinosaur tracks. More than 2,000 dinosaur tracks have been discovered to date. Medium to large theropod dinosaurs constitute about 95% of the ichnofauna. Ornithopod dinosaur tracks have been reported from only one of the outcrops (Los Cayos D). Los Cayos S has yielded theropod and sauropod tracks. One sauropod trackway shows a narrow-gauge locomotion pattern and a manus print morphology suggesting that the trackmaker was a titanosaurid, or at least a titanosauriform sauropod. Some pterosaur manus impressions, avian-like footprints of small size and possible turtle tracks complete the assemblage of one of the most impressive and best-preserved dinosaur tracksites of the European Lower Cretaceous.     

Die Korallenriffe Kubas. I. Genese und Evolution

The Coral Reefs of Cuba. I. Genesis and Evolution Los arrecifes de corales de Cuba. I. Genesis y evolución     

Vegetation changes and human occupation in the Patagonian steppe, Argentina, during the late Holocene

Vegetation changes during the late Holocene are interpreted from four fossil pollen sequences from two caves at the Los Toldos archaeological locality, Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Taphonomic processes are particularly taken into account in order to analyze the effects on the fossil pollen records of biotic factors such as human occupation and animals, and abiotic ones such as volcanic ash fall. Fossil pollen assemblages are interpreted using local modern pollen data. The main vegetation change occurred at ca. 3750 uncal b.p., when a shrub steppe of Asteraceae subf. Asteroideae with Schinus, Ephedra frustillata and a high proportion of grasses was replaced by a shrub steppe of Colliguaja integerrima and Asteraceae subf. Asteroideae. This change is synchronous with an archaeological record change and could be related either to moderate climatic variations or the effects of ash fall on the environment. Plant communities similar to the present-day ones were established in the Los Toldos area from ca. 3750 uncal b.p.     

Maclean, J.L., Dawe, D.C., Hardy, B. and Hettel, G.P. (eds) Rice almanac. 3rd edn

This book is the third in the series called Rice Almanac publishedby the International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Philippines.It will serve as a standard source book for the most importanteconomic activity on earth. The Almanac provides fully updatedrice production and consumption statistics from the top tenrice-producing countries, in addition to 54 other countriesfrom Afghanistan to Venezuela. The book is composed of chapterson     

A new species of winged fruits of Podopterus (Caryophyllales,Polygonaceae) from the Miocene amber,Chiapas, Mexico

In Chiapas, southern Mexico, there are Miocene amber deposits containing high diversity of biological inclusions of plants, fungi, crustaceans, and vertebrates. Here I describe a new species of Podopterus (Polygonaceae), P. mijangosae n. sp. based on well-preserved fruit fossils collected from the Los Pocitos mine, Chiapas. The fruit specimens are characterized by obovate shape, emarginate apex, cuneate base with three thin wings, and the endocarp being pubescent or tomentose. The wings are thin and translucent with entire to undulate margin, pubescent hairs, and fine fusiform-reticulate venation. This new record of Podopterus represents the second fossil record to the southernmost in North America, and further supports the idea that several genera that grow in Mexico today were present in the area since the Miocene.     

Mesolithic burials in los canes cave (Asturias,Spain)

Los Canes is a small cave situated half way up the abrupt southern slope of Cuera range, near the village of Arangas (Eastern Asturias, Spain). Three funerary structures have been discovered in the entrance of that cave. They consisted of burials (one of them, number II, reused) where the corpses of three individuals had been placed in different positions, with the legs strongly bent. Various grave goods (animal bones, pierced teeth, a perforated antler, etc.) accompanied them. The individuals found in these burials have been directly dated by AMS. Their age ranges between 6930±95 and 6265±75 BP (5930–5680 and 5330–5010 cal. BC). The present paper describes in detail the burials and discusses the questions raised by their datations and characteristics. Fourthermore the authors compare them with other Cantabrian funerary structures, taken into account the different mesoecological factors and living conditions of these last hunter-gatherer populations. Some preliminary anthropological data about Los Canes individual n^oI are also considered.     

Losartan prevents contractile dysfunction in rat myocardium after left ventricular myocardial infarction

We studied the effects of chronic losartan (Los) treatment on contractile function of isolated right ventricular (RV) trabeculae from rat hearts 12 wk after left ventricular (LV) myocardial infarction (MI) had been induced by ligation of the left anterior descending artery at 4 wk of age. After recovery, one-half of the animals were started on Los treatment (MI+Los; 30 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1) per os); the remaining animals were not treated (MI group). Rats without infarction or Los treatment served as controls (Con group). MI resulted in increases in LV and RV weight and unstressed LV cavity diameter; these were partially prevented by Los treatment. The active peak twitch force-sarcomere length relation was depressed in MI compared with either Con or MI+Los. Likewise, maximum Ca2+ saturated twitch force was depressed in MI, whereas twitch relaxation and twitch duration were prolonged. Myofilament function, as measured in skinned trabeculae, was not significantly different among the Con, MI, and MI+Los groups. We conclude that Los prevents contractile dysfunction in rat RV trabeculae after LV MI. Our results suggest that the beneficiary effect of Los treatment results not from improved myofilament function but rather from improved myocyte Ca2+ homeostasis.     

Yeast Los1p Has Properties of an Exportin-Like Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Factor for tRNA

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Los1p, which is genetically linked to the nuclear pore protein Nsp1p and several tRNA biogenesis factors, was recently grouped into the family of importin/karyopherin-β-like proteins on the basis of its sequence similarity. In a two-hybrid screen, we identified Nup2p as a nucleoporin interacting with Los1p. Subsequent purification of Los1p from yeast demonstrates its physical association not only with Nup2p but also with Nsp1p. By the use of the Gsp1p-G21V mutant, Los1p was shown to preferentially bind to the GTP-bound form of yeast Ran. Furthermore, overexpression of full-length or N-terminally truncated Los1p was shown to have dominant-negative effects on cell growth and different nuclear export pathways. Finally, Los1p could interact with Gsp1p-GTP, but only in the presence of tRNA, as revealed in an indirect in vitro binding assay. These data confirm the homology between Los1p and the recently identified human exportin for tRNA and reinforce the possibility of a role for Los1p in nuclear export of tRNA in yeast.     

Biogeography and incipient speciation in Ophryotrocha labronica (Polychaeta, Dorvilleidae)

Crossing experiments were conducted between the Naples I (NI) strain of Ophryotrocha labronica labronica, three strains of O. l. pacifica from Japan (M3), Hawaii (WH) and Los Angeles (LA), two strains of O. labronica from Australia and one from an unknown origin, discovered in a Moscow aquarium, to determine the relationships between the European and Pacific subspecies, and the newly discovered strains. Previously published data combined with new results revealed several stages in the process of speciation within the sibling group. Interpopulation crosses yielded an increased sex ratio that appears to be positively related to genetic distance and to the sex ratio of the parent strains. Fecundity data demonstrated that the three northern Pacific strains are more closely related to each other than to any other strain, confirming that they are a valid subspecies, and indicate that they are the result of natural distribution. The strain of unknown origin as well as the Australian strains clearly belong to O. l. labronica. Its isolated presence in the South Pacific may be a remnant of an earlier wider distribution or an introduction of the Mediterranean population, as the life histories of Ophryotrocha species have made them prime candidates for anthropogenic dispersals.     

What price medical malpractice insurance?

The Medical Review and Advisory Board has been established as a committee of the Commission on Professional Welfare of the California Medical Association to make studies and recommendations toward solution of the growing problems of professional liability insurance and malpractice actions in California. The members of the Board are: Joseph F. Sadusk, Jr., Oakland, Chairman; Wilbur Bailey, M.D., Los Angeles, vice-chairman; Howard W. Bosworth, M.D., Los Angeles; H. I. Burtness, M.D., Santa Barbara; Paul W. Frame, Jr., M.D., Sacramento; Verne G. Ghormley, M.D., Fresno; Carl M. Hadley, M.D., San Bernardino; Joseph J. O'Hara, M.D., San Diego; William F. Quinn, M.D., Los Angeles; Rees B. Rees, M.D., San Francisco; and Bernard Silber, M.D., Redwood City; Mr. Rollen Waterson, 564 Market Street, San Francisco 4, is executive secretary, and Mr. Howard Hassard is legal counsel.