Rare and Unusual Raptors of Northern Belize

EDIS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Venetia Briggs-Gonzalez ◽  
Elizabeth Scarlett ◽  
Justin Dalaba ◽  
Frank J Mazzotti
Keyword(s):  
Central America ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Conservation Ethics

The second smallest country in Central America, Belize has a stunning array of natural areas that is only matched by the remarkable diversity of animals that call them home. A small human population and strong conservation ethics have preserved nearly 75 percent of Belize in its natural state. This guide lists some of the rarer and more unusual raptors you might encounter while birding in northern Belize.

Alberto Masferrer and the Vital Minimum: The Life and Thought of a Salvadoran Journalist, 1868-1932

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Racine
Keyword(s):  
El Salvador ◽  
Central America ◽  
Parallel Evolution ◽  
Central American ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Late Nineteenth Century ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Moral Condition ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
Depression Era

The events of Alberto Masferrer's life and the parallel evolution of his social thought reveal much about the broader forces which shaped El Salvador and Central America during his generation. His lifetime brackets the consolidation of the Salvadoran state and the formation of modern social groups. Alberto Masferrer was born in 1868, the age of the Liberal presidents' ascendence throughout Central America; he died in 1932 as Depression-era dictators assumed power throughout that same region. In fact, 1932 is a watershed year in Central American history. With Agustín Farabundo Martí's failed Communist uprising in El Salvador and the murder of Augusto Cesar Sandino in Nicaragua, the early 1930s brought a decisive end to the possibility for Masferrer's idealized type of elite-led reform and instead turned opponents toward ideologically-motivated popular revolt. Alberto Masferrer, like most intellectuals, struggled with ideas and power. He realized that the liberal reforms of the late nineteenth century Presidents not only had failed to improve the material and moral condition of the majority of his countrymen, but actually had degraded them. Though Masferrer's admiring biographer Matilde Elena López observed that “[t]he reality of man exploited by an unjust society is the central idea of his life,” it remains no easy task to categorize the cranky journalist's thought for, indeed, he does not fit neatly into any single ideology. Masferrer the humanist gave primary importance to the betterment of social and economic conditions for those living on the material plane, while Masferrer as a Christian stressed the otherworldly values of humility, hard work, patience and charity. Masferrer the communist called for a return to the ejidal landholding system of the traditional Indian communities and a guaranteed standard of living for all Salvadorans, but Masferrer the corporatist recognized the existence of a natural state of hierarchy and felt that harmony would prevail if each remained true to his pre-ordained vocation. Masferrer the aesthetic arielista venerated language and culture, but Masferrer the criollista could not be restrained to the world of pure art and consistently returned to earth to criticize uneven social conditions. Masferrer the hispano-falangist idealized a strong and vigorous nation, yet Masferrer the pacifist abhorred violence and aggressiveness.

scholarly journals Molecular detection of Rickettsia in fleas from micromammals in Chile

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucila Moreno Salas ◽  
Mario Espinoza Carniglia ◽  
Nicol Lizama Schmeisser ◽  
Luis Gonzalo Torres Fuentes ◽  
María Carolina Silva de la Fuente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Flea Species ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
Standard Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Semi Arid Region

Abstract Background: Rickettsial diseases are considered important in public health due to their dispersal capacity determined by the particular characteristics of their reservoirs and/or vectors. Among the latter, fleas play an important role, since the vast majority of species parasitize wild and invasive rodents, so their detection is relevant to be able to monitor potential emerging diseases. The aim of this study was to detect, characterize, and compare Rickettsia spp. from the fleas of micromammals in areas with different human population densities in Chile. Methods: The presence of Rickettsia spp. was evaluated by standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing in 1315 fleas collected from 1512 micromammals in 29 locations, with different human population densities in Chile. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to identify the variables that may explain Rickettsia prevalence in fleas. Results: DNA of Rickettsia spp. was identified in 13.2% (174 of 1315) of fleas tested. Fifteen flea species were found to be Rickettsia-positive. The prevalence of Rickettsia spp. was higher in winter, semi-arid region and natural areas, and the infection levels in fleas varied between species of flea. The prevalence of Rickettsia among flea species ranged between 0–35.1%. Areas of lower human density showed the highest prevalence of Rickettsia. The phylogenetic tree showed two well-differentiated clades with Rickettsia bellii positioned as basal in one clade. The second clade was subdivided into two subclades of species related to Rickettsia of the spotted fever group. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence and molecular characterization of Rickettsia spp. in 15 flea species of micromammals in Chile. In this study, fleas were detected carrying Rickettsia DNA with zoonotic potential, mainly in villages and natural areas of Chile. Considering that there are differences in the prevalence of Rickettsia in fleas associated with different factors, more investigations are needed to further understand the ecology of Rickettsia in fleas and their implications for human health.

scholarly journals Molecular detection of Rickettsia in fleas from micromammals in Chile

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucila Moreno Salas ◽  
Mario Espinoza Carniglia ◽  
Nicol Lizama Schmeisser ◽  
Luis Gonzalo Torres Fuentes ◽  
María Carolina Silva de la Fuente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Flea Species ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
Standard Polymerase Chain Reaction

Abstract Background: Rickettsial diseases are considered important in public health due to their dispersal capacity determined by the particular characteristics of their reservoirs and / or vectors. Among the latter, fleas play an important role, since the vast majority of species parasitize wild and invasive rodents, so their detection is relevant to be able to monitor potential emerging diseases. The aim of this study was to detect, characterize, and compare Rickettsia spp. from the fleas of micromammals in areas with different human population densities in Chile.Methods: The presence of Rickettsia spp. was evaluated by standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing in 1,315 fleas collected from 1,512 micromammals in 29 locations, with different human population densities in Chile. A generalized linear models (GLM) was used to identify the variables that may explain Rickettsia prevalence in fleas. Results: DNA of Rickettsia spp. was identified in 13.2% (174 of 1,315) of fleas tested. Fifteen flea species were found to be Rickettsia-positive. The prevalence of Rickettsia spp. was higher in winter, semi-arid region and natural areas, and the infections in fleas varied between species of fleas. The prevalence of Rickettsia among flea species ranged from 0%–35.1%. Areas of lower human density have the highest prevalence of Rickettsia. The phylogenetic tree shows two well-differentiated clades. Rickettsia bellii is positioned as basal in a clade. Another clade is subdivided into two subclades, and are related to Rickettsia of spotted fever group.Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence and molecular characterization of Rickettsia spp. in 15 species of fleas of micromammals in Chile. In this study, fleas were detected carrying Rickettsia DNA with zoonotic potential, mainly in villages and natural areas of Chile. Considering that there are differences in the prevalence of Rickettsia in fleas associated with different factors, more investigations are needed to further understand the ecology of Rickettsia in fleas and their implications for human health.

Survival of protected white-lipped peccaries in Costa Rica

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 586-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd K Fuller ◽  
Eduardo Carrillo ◽  
Joel C Saenz
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Central America ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
National Park ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Annual Survival ◽  
Tayassu Pecari ◽  
Specific Mortality ◽  
Corcovado National Park

The conservation of remnant populations of white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) in Central America depends on understanding their demography, but few quantitative data exist. We report survival and cause-specific mortality of 25 female and 11 male radio-marked adult (>1.0 year old) white-lipped peccaries monitored during February 1995 – February 2001 in Corcovado National Park, their largest stronghold in Costa Rica. Annual survival was lower for female (0.78; 95% CI = 0.68–0.88) than for male (0.94; 95% CI = 0.86–1.00) peccaries. Both sexes were poached and died in accidents but only females were killed by predators or died of unknown causes (but not poaching). In comparison with the demography of collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu), the population of white-lipped peccaries in Corcovado National Park may be maintaining itself. Still, protected areas may need to be expanded and (or) more forcefully monitored to sustain white-lipped peccaries throughout their range if additional use by humans is likely to occur, especially given stochastic population processes and human population increases.

scholarly journals Molecular detection of Rickettsia in fleas from micromammals in Chile

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucila Moreno Salas ◽  
Mario Espinoza Carniglia ◽  
Nicol Lizama Schmeisser ◽  
Luis Gonzalo Torres Fuentes ◽  
María Carolina Silva de la Fuente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Flea Species ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
Standard Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Well Differentiated ◽  
Semi Arid Region

Abstract BackgroundRickettsial diseases are considered important in public health due to their dispersal capacity determined by the particular characteristics of their reservoirs and / or vectors. Among the latter, fleas play an important role, since the vast majority of species parasitize wild and invasive rodents, so their detection is relevant to be able to monitor potential emerging diseases. The aim of this study was to detect, characterize, and compare Rickettsia spp. from the fleas of micromammals in areas with different human population densities in Chile.MethodsThe presence of Rickettsia spp. was evaluated by standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing in 1,315 fleas collected from 1,512 micromammals in 29 locations, with different human population densities in Chile. A generalized linear models (GLM) was used to identify the variables that may explain Rickettsia prevalence in fleas.ResultsDNA of Rickettsia spp. was identified in 13.2% (174 of 1,315) of fleas tested. Fifteen flea species were found to be Rickettsia-positive. The prevalence of Rickettsia spp. was higher in winter, semi-arid region and natural areas, and the infections in fleas varied between species of fleas. The prevalence of Rickettsia among flea species ranged from 0%–35.1%. Areas of lower human density have the highest prevalence of Rickettsia. The phylogenetic tree shows two well-differentiated clades. Rickettsia belli is positioned as basal in a clade. Another clade is subdivided into two subclades, and are related to Rickettsia of typhus group.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence and molecular characterization of Rickettsia spp. in 15 species of fleas of micromammals in Chile. In this study, fleas were detected carrying Rickettsia DNA with zoonotic potential, mainly in villages and natural areas of Chile. Considering that there are differences in the prevalence of Rickettsia in fleas associated with different factors, more investigations are needed to further understand the ecology of Rickettsia in fleas and their implications for human health.

scholarly journals Molecular detection of Rickettsia in fleas from micromammals in Chile

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucila Moreno-Salas ◽  
Mario Espinoza-Carniglia ◽  
Nicol Lizama-Schmeisser ◽  
Luis Gonzalo Torres-Fuentes ◽  
María Carolina Silva-de La Fuente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Flea Species ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
Standard Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Semi Arid Region

Abstract Background Rickettsial diseases are considered important in public health due to their dispersal capacity determined by the particular characteristics of their reservoirs and/or vectors. Among the latter, fleas play an important role, since the vast majority of species parasitize wild and invasive rodents, so their detection is relevant to be able to monitor potential emerging diseases. The aim of this study was to detect, characterize, and compare Rickettsia spp. from the fleas of micromammals in areas with different human population densities in Chile. Methods The presence of Rickettsia spp. was evaluated by standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing in 1315 fleas collected from 1512 micromammals in 29 locations, with different human population densities in Chile. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to identify the variables that may explain Rickettsia prevalence in fleas. Results DNA of Rickettsia spp. was identified in 13.2% (174 of 1315) of fleas tested. Fifteen flea species were found to be Rickettsia-positive. The prevalence of Rickettsia spp. was higher in winter, semi-arid region and natural areas, and the infection levels in fleas varied between species of flea. The prevalence of Rickettsia among flea species ranged between 0–35.1%. Areas of lower human density showed the highest prevalence of Rickettsia. The phylogenetic tree showed two well-differentiated clades with Rickettsia bellii positioned as basal in one clade. The second clade was subdivided into two subclades of species related to Rickettsia of the spotted fever group. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence and molecular characterization of Rickettsia spp. in 15 flea species of micromammals in Chile. In this study, fleas were detected carrying Rickettsia DNA with zoonotic potential, mainly in villages and natural areas of Chile. Considering that there are differences in the prevalence of Rickettsia in fleas associated with different factors, more investigations are needed to further understand the ecology of Rickettsia in fleas and their implications for human health.

Sem and X-Ray Analysis of Renal and Biliary Calculi

1976 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 306-307
Author(s):  
R. J. Narconis ◽  
G. L. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Natural State ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Chemical Methods ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Additional Dimension ◽  
Biliary Calculi ◽  
Calculus Formation ◽  
Scanning Electron

Analysis of the constituents of renal and biliary calculi may be of help in the management of patients with calculous disease. Several methods of analysis are available for identifying these constituents. Most common are chemical methods, optical crystallography, x-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy. The application of a SEM with x-ray analysis capabilities should be considered as an additional alternative.A scanning electron microscope equipped with an x-ray “mapping” attachment offers an additional dimension in its ability to locate elemental constituents geographically, and thus, provide a clue in determination of possible metabolic etiology in calculus formation. The ability of this method to give an undisturbed view of adjacent layers of elements in their natural state is of advantage in determining the sequence of formation of subsequent layers of chemical constituents.

Structural integrity after cold storage of human epidermal model in hypothermosol: A correlative ultrastructural and fluorescent assay

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 270-271
Author(s):  
Henry H. Eichelberger ◽  
John G. Baust ◽  
Robert G. Van Buskirk
Keyword(s):  
Cold Storage ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Cell Structure ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Sodium Cacodylate ◽  
Ruthenium Tetroxide ◽  
Cacodylate Buffer ◽  
Before And After

For research in cell differentiation and in vitro toxicology it is essential to provide a natural state of cell structure as a benchmark for interpreting results. Hypothermosol (Cryomedical Sciences, Rockville, MD) has proven useful in insuring the viability of synthetic human epidermis during cold-storage and in maintaining the epidermis’ ability to continue to differentiate following warming.Human epidermal equivalent, EpiDerm (MatTek Corporation, Ashland, MA) consisting of fully differentiated stratified human epidermal cells were grown on a microporous membrane. EpiDerm samples were fixed before and after cold-storage (4°C) for 5 days in Hypothermosol or skin culture media (MatTek Corporation) and allowed to recover for 7 days at 37°C. EpiDerm samples were fixed 1 hour in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in sodium cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2). A secondary fixation with 0.2% ruthenium tetroxide (Polysciences, Inc., Warrington, PA) in sodium cacodylate was carried out for 3 hours at 4°C. Other samples were similarly fixed, but with 1% Osmium tetroxide in place of ruthenium tetroxide. Samples were dehydrated through a graded acetone series, infiltrated with Spurrs resin (Polysciences Inc.) and polymerized at 70°C.

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