Recent publications
Despite the progress in the measurement and accessibility of plant trait information, acquiring sufficiently complete data from enough species to answer broad‐scale questions in plant functional ecology and biogeography remains challenging. A common way to overcome this challenge is by imputation, or ‘gap‐filling' of trait values. This has proven appropriate when focusing on the overall patterns emerging from the database being imputed. However, some applications force the imputation procedure out of its original scope, using imputed values independently from the imputation context, and specific trait values for a given species are used as input for computing new variables. We tested the performance of three widely used imputation methods (Bayesian hierarchical probabilistic matrix factorization, multiple imputation by chained equations with predictive mean matching, and Rphylopars) on a database of tropical tree and shrub traits. By applying a leave‐one‐out procedure, we assessed the accuracy and precision of the imputed values and found that out‐of‐context use of imputed values may bias the estimation of different variables. We also found that low redundancy (i.e. low predictability of a new value on the basis of existing values) in the dataset, not uncommon for empirical datasets, is likely the main cause of low accuracy and precision in the imputed values. We therefore suggest the use of a leave‐one‐out procedure to test the quality of the imputed values before any out‐of‐context application of the imputed values, and make practical recommendations to avoid the misuse of imputation procedures. Furthermore, we recommend not publishing gap‐filled datasets, publishing instead only the empirical data, together with the imputation method applied and the corresponding script to reproduce the imputation. This will help avoid the spread of imputed data, whose accuracy, precision, and source are difficult to assess and track, into the public domain.
Pollution is one of the main factors that threaten biodiversity nowadays. Plastic waste is a global problem which impacts not only on the marine environment but also on the terrestrial one. Great amounts of this kind of refuse are compiled in landfills, where lots of avian species feed. In contrast to seabirds research, there are limited studies that have considered how plastic is being ingested by land birds even when they are being affected both physically and at an endocrine level. We tried to assess the number of plastics and microplastics ingested by individuals of a White stork (Ciconia ciconia) colony in central Spain by collecting regurgitated pellets. The chemical composition of the elements was determined, as well as the relation between the amount of ingested plastic by individuals and their use of a landfill. Our results show that 3.44% of the pellet was formed by plastic (n = 50). Polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene and PET were the most abundant polymers, all of them being potentially problematic to the organism according to the literature. Each polymer was identified by Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR). We observed that the total amount of ingested plastics was stable along the use of the landfill, meaning White storks obtained plastic not only from anthropogenic sources but also from natural areas, indicating its high rate of pollution. Our study remarks the importance of addressing plastic ingestion in White storks as well as other terrestrial species, not only to understand the possible damage to the population but also to the whole ecosystem.
Coffee production is a crucial economic, social, and cultural pillar in Latin America, facing numerous challenges, including integrating technological advancements such as multispectral imaging. This approach offers multiple advantages for coffee production; however, a knowledge gap in the domain is the need to methodologically review the available empirical evidence to delineate the field and the study region. Therefore, this systematic mapping aims to map the scientific corpus of multispectral imagery and vegetation index implemented in coffee production in the Latin American region. The study followed the PRISMA protocol; 42 primary studies were analyzed to identify key trends and research gaps. The main result of this research is that NDVI emerged as the most widely used spectral index, with applications in estimating critical biophysical parameters such as biomass and chlorophyll content. Other indices such as GNDVI, NDRE, and SAVI also proved valuable in assessing coffee plant health and development. There was an emerging trend to integrate multispectral imaging with machine learning techniques, promising greater accuracy in data interpretation. The study also revealed a concentration of research efforts in selected Latin American countries, particularly Brazil, indicating opportunities to expand research in other coffee‐producing regions. The study's main conclusion is that multispectral imaging, mainly through vegetation index, has emerged as a valuable tool for phenological monitoring and management of coffee production, offering several advantages over traditional methods. Finally, this review contributes to the existing knowledge base and identifies future research directions for applying multispectral imagery to sustainable coffee production in Latin America.
Bean monoculture deteriorates soil fertility, decreases organic matter, reduces microbial diversity, and accelerates erosion, depleting nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. This leads to dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, increasing environmental pollution. A viable solution is mountain microorganisms, improving nutrient availability, disease resistance, environmental stress, and soil structure. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding their specific efficacy in supporting the growth and development of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under specific agroecological conditions. This research aims to help fill this knowledge gap, so in the Municipality of Caldono, Cauca, Colombia, the effect of mountain microorganisms was evaluated in about 900 seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. variety Cargamanto. A randomized complete block design with three treatments was used: T0 (control, no inoculation), T1 (inoculation with mountain microorganisms for 1 h), and T2 (inoculation with mountain microorganisms for 3 h). Growth parameters such as plant height, number of nodules, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, dry weight, and grain yield per hectare were evaluated. The results suggest that inoculation with mountain microorganisms significantly improved all measured parameters compared to the control samples. T2 consistently outperformed T1, indicating that more extended inoculation periods increase the efficacy of the parameters evaluated. These results suggest that applying mountain microorganisms is a promising and sustainable approach to improve bean productivity, which could reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and promote more environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Thus, the study provides valuable information on mountain microorganisms as a biotechnological alternative to improve crop yield and soil health in bean monoculture systems.
Cattle farming is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and plays a crucial role in food security, especially in developing countries and in systems that use part of the production for self‐consumption. However, it is not completely clear how production processes impact on the environment. This research aimed to analyse the generation of greenhouse gasses and associated production factors on small‐scale dairy farms in order to identify management strategies to reduce emissions. A quantitative, nonexperimental and correlational study was carried out on 50 farms whose main objective is milk production, located in three municipalities in the central area of the Department of Boyacá. The variables calculated included the percentage of milking females, efficiency per area, per year, per female, and animal load. Greenhouse gas emissions were estimated using life cycle assessment. Data were processed using RStudio, applying the Shapiro–Wilk test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis for the variables amenable to modeling. The results indicated the total carbon footprint ( 1.8 kg CO 2 eq/L), EFCF ( 0.06 kg CO 2 eq/L), MMCF ( 0.21 kg CO 2 eq/L), and SNFCF ( 1.53 kg CO 2 eq/L), with SNFCF identified as the major contributor to total CF. The variables of the percentage of cows in milking ( 41.3%) and stocking rate ( 2.37 GLU/ha) exhibited the highest correlation coefficients, particularly with EFCF and SNFCF. The potential for enhancing the environmental sustainability of dairy production through the adoption of efficient management practices concerning manure, soil, and animal components is evident.
The integration of pollinators and flower strips into agricultural landscapes has emerged as a key strategy for addressing current challenges in agricultural sustainability and biodiversity conservation. This study presents a comprehensive global bibliometric analysis of research trends in this field from 2009 to 2023, offering an in‐depth overview of progress and remaining gaps. By reviewing 155 publications retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database, advanced tools such as VOSviewer and Tree of Science were used to analyze author networks, thematic dynamics, and citation patterns, identifying areas of significant impact and research growth. The results reveal a steady annual growth rate of 23.6% in scientific output, with Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States leading the field, collectively accounting for 54.2% of the publications. More than 76.8% of these studies were published in the last 5 years, highlighting an increasing interest in incorporating flower strips as part of sustainable agricultural strategies. However, despite this progress, our analysis identifies a critical gap in understanding the long‐term ecological and economic impacts of flower strips, particularly regarding their effectiveness in enhancing pollinator health and agricultural productivity. Additionally, there is a dearth of research on their adaptation and implementation in diverse geographic contexts, such as tropical and arid regions, where specific environmental conditions may influence their performance and sustainability. Most of the reviewed studies are short‐term, limiting the understanding of flower strips' long‐term effects on agricultural productivity and biodiversity. Additionally, there is a significant lack of research focusing on the implementation and effectiveness of flower strips in tropical and arid regions, emphasizing the need to expand the geographical scope of future studies. To maximize the potential of flower strips, we recommend developing standardized methodologies to consistently assess pollination services and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration to address the complex interactions between agricultural practices, pollinator conservation, and ecosystem services. Beyond providing a solid foundation for future research, this analysis offers critical recommendations for the development of agricultural policies that promote biodiversity and agroecosystem resilience, thereby helping to mitigate the effects of climate change and enhance global agricultural sustainability.
Considering the meaning of the hydric resource regarding the formation of territories and its connection to agriculture development, present review paper aims to analyze the actual context of rural water systems in Colombia. For this, scientific information was acquired using Scopus through the search formula: “sustainability AND aqueduct” as well as information gather from national and regional public institutions websites with the intention to stablish an international and national context using meta‐analysis PRISMA method. To determine the service cycle of the search formula, information was subjected to lineal regression by considering the determination coefficient ( R ² ) and analyzing information taking as a reference the inflection point. Like that, each resulted document from the search were studied to then select those with grater relation towards the goals. Background information allowed to understand that aqueducts are fundamental organizations for sustainable development offering a reasonable access to clean water through its management and also showing that, regardless of existent challenges around its administration, it is necessary to implement policies that offer articulated and comprehensive solutions with participant elements as it is outlined on Colombia's National Development Plan, aiming to guarantee sustainable and equal access to water source.
This study applies a two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform (2D-DWT) analysis using a biorthogonal filter, followed by a continuous analysis employing an anisotropic Cauchy wavelet, on electroluminescence (EL) images of polycrystalline and monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells under varying current levels. The wavelet-based approach facilitates the identification of electrode-cell interfaces defects that are not readily visible in EL imaging alone. Our findings reveal that cells with poor soldering at electrode interfaces exhibit up to a 16.3% reduction in maximum normalized power (MNP), directly correlating with reduced current density across certain busbars. The quantitative improvements in defect detection underscore the method's efficacy in addressing power inconsistencies tied to internal PV cell failures. This technique shows promise as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for assessing PV cell performance and structural integrity.
Background
One of the most important pillars of action to achieve the elimination of trachoma and soil-transmitted helminth infections as a public health problem is the mass administration, at regular intervals, of azithromycin and anthielmintics, respectively, to a high proportion of the eligible population in endemic areas.
Objective
The objective of the study was to identify access barriers and facilitators for achieving coverage goals in the mass drugs administration, azithromycin and albendazole, in the department of Amazonas, Colombia.
Methodology
Implementation research was used, combining three types of qualitative research methodologies to collect information about access barriers and facilitators already described; These were individual and group interviews, focus group discussions and face-to-face intercultural dialogues. We design, validate and apply different instruments with questions adapted to the context and role of the participants, and recorded and transcribed the sessions and analyzed them in qualitative analysis software. We used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to complement the above instrument questions, to guide data analysis, and apply the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).
Results
Records of 159 participants were included; 21 individual and 3 group interviews, 6 focus group discussions and 4 intercultural dialogues were carried out. 21 strong, 30 weak, 6 neutral barriers as well as 5 weak and 11 strong facilitators were identified. 62% of the strong barriers and 40% of the weak ones were concentrated in the “Outer Setting Domain”. Only 16 facilitators were identified, 44% in the “Innovation” domain.
Conclusions
Multiple political, administrative, geographical, logistical and cultural access barriers, as well as external and internal migration of the population, explain low coverage in mass administration of azithromycin and albendazole. It is necessary to review them individually to implement an improvement plan that also recognizes the identified facilitators.
Plant communities are composed of species that differ both in functional traits and evolutionary histories. As species’ functional traits partly result from their individual evolutionary history, we expect the functional diversity of communities to increase with increasing phylogenetic diversity. This expectation has only been tested at local scales and generally for specific growth forms or specific habitat types, for example, grasslands. Here we compare standardized effect sizes for functional and phylogenetic diversity among 1,781,836 vegetation plots using the global sPlot database. In contrast to expectations, we find functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity to be only weakly and negatively correlated, implying a decoupling between these two facets of diversity. While phylogenetic diversity is higher in forests and reflects recent climatic conditions (1981 to 2010), functional diversity tends to reflect recent and past climatic conditions (21,000 years ago). The independent nature of functional and phylogenetic diversity makes it crucial to consider both aspects of diversity when analysing ecosystem functioning and prioritizing conservation efforts.
Natural product (NP) databases are crucial tools in computer-aided drug design (CADD). Over the past decade, there has been a worldwide effort to assemble information regarding natural products (NPs) isolated and characterized in certain geographical regions. In 2023, it was published LANaPDB, and to our knowledge, this is the first attempt to gather and standardize all the NP databases of Latin America. Herein, we present and analyze in detail the contents of an updated version of LANaPDB, which includes 619 newly added compounds from Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico. The present version of LANaPDB has a total of 13 578 compounds, coming from ten databases of seven Latin American countries. A chemoinformatic characterization of LANaPDB was carried out, which includes the structural classification of the compounds, calculation of six physicochemical properties of pharmaceutical interest, and visualization of the chemical space by employing and comparing two different fingerprints (MACCS keys (166-bit) and Morgan2 (2048-bit)). Furthermore, additional analyses were made, and valuable information not included in the first version of LANaPDB was added, which includes structural diversity, molecular complexity, synthetic feasibility, commercial availability, and reported and predicted biological activity. In addition, the LANaPDB compounds were cross-referenced to two of the largest public chemical compound databases annotated with biological activity: ChEMBL and PubChem.
Objective
Management of patients with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) by trained multidisciplinary teams is associated with improved outcomes. Ultrasound can predict intraoperative risks, but expert ultrasound imaging of PAS is often limited. Telemedicine is used increasingly in obstetrics, permitting expert consultation when essential resources are not available locally. Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility of teleconsultation using standardized ultrasound image acquisition and reporting, and to correlate prognosis with intraoperative findings in patients at risk for PAS.
Methods
A total of 12 PAS imaging experts (teleconsultants) were selected to asynchronously review deidentified standardized grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound images for five patients who had completed treatment for PAS, resulting in 60 individual teleconsultations. All patients were managed at a center using standardized imaging acquisition and intraoperative topographic classification to individualize surgical management. Teleconsultants reported the predicted topographic classification and recommended a surgical approach based on the topographic classification algorithm. Prognoses were compared with that reported by the local sonologist and with intraoperative findings.
Results
In all five patients, local sonologist prognosis and antenatal topographic classification was confirmed during surgery and the final surgical approach matched that which was recommended preoperatively. Teleconsultant antenatal evaluation and management plans matched those of the local team in 71.7% of the cases. When reports differed, PAS severity was overestimated in nine reviews (16.9%) and was underestimated in six reviews (11.3%).
Conclusion
Remote imaging teleconsultation provides accurate prenatal staging in most patients at risk for PAS. Teleconsultation is a feasible strategy to improve prenatal imaging, management planning, and guidance for local teams in settings with limited healthcare resources.
InAlN semiconductor alloy is a promising option for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices, such as high efficiency solar cells, due to its wide variable bandgap, from 0.64 eV to 6.2 eV. Traditionally, the production of high quality InAlN has been achieved by techniques such as MBE (Molecular Beam Epitaxy) and MOCVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition), which are complex and require high energy consumption. In contrast, sputtering is presented as a simpler, cheaper, and more industrially scalable technique, allowing the production of InAlN thin films with good structural quality. This study investigates the physical properties of InAlN layers to evaluate their potential in photovoltaic applications. Recent advances and challenges in the use of InAlN as an absorber layer in solar cells are discussed. In addition, critical parameters of the sputtering process, including target power, working pressure, gas flow ratio, substrate temperature, source type and number of cathodes and their influence on material properties are explored. These conditions are discussed along with their impact on the quality of InAlN thin films to enhance their application in photovoltaics and other emerging technology areas.
This study focused on searching for more effective nanomaterials for environmental remediation and health protection; thus, coliform bacteria, yeast and the organic food dye sunset yellow were selected as target pollutants to be eliminated under solar light by Ag/Cr-TiO2 and Pd/Cr-TiO2. Firstly, Cr³⁺ was in situ incorporated into the anatase crystalline lattice by the sol-gel method; then, Ag or Pd nanoparticles were deposited on Cr-TiO2 by chemical photoreduction. The scientific challenge addressed by the development of these composites was to analyse the recovery of Cr, to be employed in photocatalyst formulation and the enhancement of the TiO2 photocatalytic activity by addition of other noble metals. By extensive characterization, it was found that after TiO2 doping with chromium, the parameters of the crystal lattice slightly increased, due to the incorporation of Cr ions into the lattice. The TiO2 band gap decreased after Cr addition, but an increase in the optical absorptions towards the visible region after noble metals deposition was also observed, which was dependent of the Ag or Pd loading. Generally, it was observed that the noble metals type is a factor that strongly influenced the effectiveness of the photocatalysts concerning each substrate studied. Thus, by using Ag(0.1%)/Cr-TiO2, the complete elimination of E. coli from samples of water coming from a highly polluted river was achieved. Pd(0.5%)/Cr-TiO2 showed the highest efficiency in the elimination of S. cerevisiae from a lab prepared strain. On the other hand, the Pd(0.1%)/Cr-TiO2 sample shows the highest dye degradation rate, achieving 92% of TOC removal after 180 min.
Fabrication of batch‐wise efficient, user‐ and environmentally‐friendly, and well‐defined yield methods for the synthesis of graphite oxide, the main precursor to graphene oxide and its reduced derivative, is an essential and robust research field, yet is sparingly investigated or innovated in recent years. This concept review showcases recent potential advances in the fabrication of electrochemical electrodes that meet aforementioned design parameters, wherein working electrode construction is seen to play a key role in shaping the yield characteristics and aiding the mechanistic understanding of efficiency of adopted methods. Particularly, those advances pave the way for new and various tunable design parameters by fabricating different methods of encapsulating graphite powder instead of using conventional bare monolith forms of graphite as working electrode. Encapsulation geometry, pressure, and matrix material, as well as powder size are examples of such tunable design parameters which are lacking in the monolith methods. The encapsulation validates authenticity of real‐time monitoring of electrochemical intercalation, exfoliation, and oxidation of graphite powder, thereby offering excellent and well‐defined control on yield.
This study examines the relationship between subjective well-being in the workplace and organizational productivity through a systematic review of relevant scientific articles. A systematic review was conducted on 310 articles, employing inclusion and exclusion criteria to narrow it down to 36 pertinent articles. The review identified several factors affecting both subjective well-being and productivity, such as the company’s willingness to implement programs to improve well-being prioritizing friendly working conditions, fair compensation, flexible schedules, a respectful work environment, promotion of professional development, and emotional and economic incentives.
Keywords:
subjective well-being; labor productivity; organizations; quality of life; job satisfaction.
The density of wood is a key indicator of the carbon investment strategies of trees, impacting productivity and carbon storage. Despite its importance, the global variation in wood density and its environmental controls remain poorly understood, preventing accurate predictions of global forest carbon stocks. Here we analyse information from 1.1 million forest inventory plots alongside wood density data from 10,703 tree species to create a spatially explicit understanding of the global wood density distribution and its drivers. Our findings reveal a pronounced latitudinal gradient, with wood in tropical forests being up to 30% denser than that in boreal forests. In both angiosperms and gymnosperms, hydrothermal conditions represented by annual mean temperature and soil moisture emerged as the primary factors influencing the variation in wood density globally. This indicates similar environmental filters and evolutionary adaptations among distinct plant groups, underscoring the essential role of abiotic factors in determining wood density in forest ecosystems. Additionally, our study highlights the prominent role of disturbance, such as human modification and fire risk, in influencing wood density at more local scales. Factoring in the spatial variation of wood density notably changes the estimates of forest carbon stocks, leading to differences of up to 21% within biomes. Therefore, our research contributes to a deeper understanding of terrestrial biomass distribution and how environmental changes and disturbances impact forest ecosystems.
Tree growth and longevity trade-offs fundamentally shape the terrestrial carbon balance. Yet, we lack a unified understanding of how such trade-offs vary across the world’s forests. By mapping life history traits for a wide range of species across the Americas, we reveal considerable variation in life expectancies from 10 centimeters in diameter (ranging from 1.3 to 3195 years) and show that the pace of life for trees can be accurately classified into four demographic functional types. We found emergent patterns in the strength of trade-offs between growth and longevity across a temperature gradient. Furthermore, we show that the diversity of life history traits varies predictably across forest biomes, giving rise to a positive relationship between trait diversity and productivity. Our pan-latitudinal assessment provides new insights into the demographic mechanisms that govern the carbon turnover rate across forest biomes.
Las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación han llegado a las familias para quedarse. Forman parte de la vida cotidiana y su carácter formador e influenciador. Comprender las narrativas que construyen los niños y niñas a partir de la mediación y usos de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación es un desafío de la sociedad actual, con el objetivo de potenciar el papel de la familia en su rol como agente socializador. Este artículo busca indagar cómo se han abordado en las investigaciones las narrativas que los niños y las niñas hacen sobre los usos de las tecnologías digitales y cómo se han interpretado esas formas de relación emergente. Contribuye al fortalecimiento de la gestión de conocimiento en torno al uso que hacen los niños y las niñas de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en el ámbito familiar como parte de su socialización.
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Bogotá, Colombia
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Claudia Teresa Vargas Galán
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