Diego Méndez - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Diego Méndez
Scientific Reports, 2020
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are aggregations of extracellular matrix associated with specific neuron... more Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are aggregations of extracellular matrix associated with specific neuronal populations in the central nervous system, suggested to play key roles in neural development, synaptogenesis and experience-dependent synaptic plasticity. Pregnancy and lactation are characterized by a dramatic increase in neuroplasticity. However, dynamic changes in the extracellular matrix associated with maternal circuits have been mostly overlooked. We analyzed the structure of PNNs in an essential nucleus of the maternal circuit, the medial preoptic area (mPOA), during the reproductive cycle of rats, using the Wisteria floribunda (WFA) label. PNNs associated to neurons in the mPOA start to assemble halfway through gestation and become highly organized prior to parturition, fading through the postpartum period. This high expression of PNNs during pregnancy appears to be mediated by the influence of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, since a hormonal simulated-gestation treatmen...
Ibis, 2018
The Andean Condor Vultur gryphus is a globally threatened and declining species. Problems of surv... more The Andean Condor Vultur gryphus is a globally threatened and declining species. Problems of surveying Andean Condor populations using traditional survey methods are particularly acute in Bolivia, largely because only few roosts are known there. However, similar to other vulture species, Andean Condors aggregate at animal carcasses, and are individually recognizable due to unique morphological characteristics (size and shape of male crests and pattern of wing coloration). This provided us with an opportunity to use a capture-recapture ('sighting-resighting') modelling framework to estimate the size and structure of an Andean Condor population in Bolivia using photographs of individuals taken at observer-established feeding stations. Between July and December 2014, 28 feeding stations were established in five different zones throughout the eastern Andean region of Bolivia, where perched and flying Andean Condors were photographed. Between one and 57 (mean = 20.2 AE 14.6 sd) Andean Condors were recorded visiting each feeding station and we were able to identify 456 different individuals, comprising 134 adult males, 40 sub-adult males, 79 juvenile males, 80 adult females, 30 sub-adult females and 93 juvenile females. Open population capture-recapture models produced population estimates ranging from 52 AE 14 (se) individuals to 678 AE 269 individuals across the five zones, giving a total of 1388 AE 413 sd individuals, which is roughly 20% of the estimated Andean Condor global population. Future trials of this method need to consider explicitly knowledge of Andean Condor movements and home-ranges, habitat preferences when selecting suitable sites as feeding stations, juvenile movements and other behaviours. Sighting-resighting methods have considerable potential to increase the accuracy of surveys of Andean Condors and other bird species with unique individual morphological characteristics.
Scientiae Studia, 2016
teorías científicas para el análisis de exhibiciones en museos de ciencia. El trabajo aborda el m... more teorías científicas para el análisis de exhibiciones en museos de ciencia. El trabajo aborda el modo de presentar la economía campesina indígena en las salas etnográficas del Museo Nacional de Antropología de México (MNA), y reconstruye dicha conceptualización. El aparato reconstructor empleado recupera las distinciones del programa estructuralista, pero presenta la reconstrucción como un diagrama de la teoría de categorías, en lugar de un predicado conjuntista. El escrito propone un posible vínculo entre los contenidos del MNA y la teoría de Chayanov; concluye con una reflexión sobre las transformaciones estructurales que sufren las teorías científicas al pasar al ámbito de la divulgación. Palabras-clave Modelo. Concepción semántica. Museo Nacional de Antropología. Economía campesina. Programa estructuralista.
Revista Nacional De Arquitectura, 1948
Anales de Psicología, 2015
Resumen: Diversas aproximaciones a la hipnosis han destacado la relevancia de las actitudes y cre... more Resumen: Diversas aproximaciones a la hipnosis han destacado la relevancia de las actitudes y creencias sobre ella para la promoción de las respuestas hipnóticas, para predecir la eficacia de las intervenciones que incluyen a la hipnosis, y para evitar iatrogenia en los usuarios que la reciben. El objetivo de este trabajo es investigar la nueva variación en castellano de La Escala de Valencia de Actitudes y Creencias hacia la Hipnosis versión Cliente. Se ha analizado su estructura factorial y propiedades psicométricas con metodología confirmatoria, usando una muestra exclusivamente española, para observar si se confirman los resultados de anteriores investigaciones exploratorias y confirmatorias realizadas con muestras de diferentes países. Se ha usado una muestra de 1.678 estudiantes universitarios españoles. Los resultados muestran una estructura de 8 factores (Miedo, Memoria, Ayuda, Control, Colaboración, Interés, Mágica y Marginal) y obtiene índices adecuados de consistencia interna y fiabilidad test-retest, resultados similares a los encontrados en análisis factoriales exploratorios y confirmatorios con muestras de diferentes países. Palabras clave: Hipnosis; actitudes; evaluación; escala; análisis factorial confirmatorio; EVACH-C. Title: Confirmatory factor analysis of the valencia scale of attitudes and beliefs toward hypnosis (revised client version), with a spanish sample.
Journal of Raptor Research, 2021
The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is a culturally iconic wildlife symbol for the South American ... more The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is a culturally iconic wildlife symbol for the South American Andes, but is naturally found at very low population densities, and is increasingly threatened. Using the Range Wide Priority Setting methodology, we (a group of 38 Andean Condor experts) updated the Andean Condor historical range (3,230,061 km2), systematized 9998 Andean Condor distribution points across the range, and identified geographic areas for which there was expert knowledge (66%), including areas where Andean Condors no longer occur (7%), and geographic areas where condors are believed to range, but for which there was not expert knowledge about condor presence (34%). To prioritize conservation action into the future and identify existing Andean Condor population strongholds, we used expert knowledge to identify 21 of the most important areas for the conservation of the species (i.e., Andean Condor Conservation Units [ACCUs]) that cover 37% of the revised historical range, and ...
Journal of Raptor Research, 2021
Most raptor populations are declining and nearly a fifth are threatened with extinction; thus the... more Most raptor populations are declining and nearly a fifth are threatened with extinction; thus there is a need to increase collaboration to ensure efficient and effective research, management, and conservation. Here, we introduce the Global Raptor Impact Network (GRIN; www.globalraptors.org), a tool to enhance collaboration and conservation impact of the raptor research community. We provide an overview of the history and current state of GRIN, including plans for expansion. Predecessors to GRIN include The African Raptor DataBank, which was launched in 2012 to ascertain the conservation status of raptors across Africa; and the Global Raptor Information Network, which was launched in the late 1990s as a website to provide information regarding diurnal raptors and facilitate communication among researchers. GRIN expands the data collection and storage capabilities of the African Raptor DataBank to a global scale via mobile application. We have implemented data-sharing rules to ensure ...
Journal of Raptor Research, 2021
Among New World vultures (Cathartidae), the two species of condor are the most threatened: the Ca... more Among New World vultures (Cathartidae), the two species of condor are the most threatened: the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) and the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus). The California Condor is a Critically Endangered species exclusive to North America, with a wild population (which requires intensive management) of only approximately 300 birds in southwestern United States of America and northwestern Mexico (Finkelstein et al. 2020). The Andean Condor, a Vulnerable species that occurs throughout the Andes from northern Colombia to southernmost Argentina, is considered to be declining throughout its range—at an alarming rate in some countries (BirdLife International 2020). Shooting and deliberate or accidental poisoning are largely responsible for the delicate conservation status of both species (Plaza and Lambertucci 2019, Plaza et al. 2019, BirdLife International 2020, Finkelstein et al. 2020). A number of articles report the declines of condors, mentioning, for instance, that until the middle of the twentieth century it was not rare to observe California Condors in North America and Andean Condors in South America feeding in large groups at carcasses (Houston 1994). Although it is clear that the likelihood of finding many California Condors together is marginal these days, recent observations show that may not be the case for Andean Condors. For example, 62 condors were observed at a single carcass in northwestern Argentina (CailliArnulphi et al. 2013) and 108 condors were recorded in central Chile (Escobar-Gimpel et al. 2015). Because there is no published information on how common such large aggregations of Andean Condors at carcasses are or were, we argue that the knowledge of the size and frequency of these assemblies could be of great conservation importance, especially in the face of the unrestricted threat of poisoned carcasses (Plaza et al. 2019, Estrada Pacheco et al. 2020). Here we report on large Andean Condor aggregations at observer-established carcasses in Bolivia, where the species’ population is an estimated 1388 individuals (Méndez et al. 2019), or roughly 20% of the estimated global population of 6700 (BirdLife International 2020, Wallace et al. 2020), and the country is 1 Email address: diemndez@gmail.com
DYNA, 2017
El internet de las cosas, también conocido como IoT por sus siglas en inglés (Internet of Things)... more El internet de las cosas, también conocido como IoT por sus siglas en inglés (Internet of Things), es un nuevo paradigma tecnológico que permite la interconexión de objetos (las cosas), servicios y/o personas por medio de internet. IoT introduce nuevas herramientas que enriquecen el trabajo en diferentes sectores industriales. Este artículo presenta un estudio del trabajo desarrollado en todo el mundo en tecnologías con base en el concepto de IoT en el marco de la industria del cuidado de la salud, incluyendo métodos, estadísticas y casos de éxito. En la última sección, se discute sobre el trabajo realizado en este ámbito en el contexto colombiano, incluyendo aplicaciones exitosas y proyectos que se encuentran en desarrollo.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2010
A series of novel aryl aminosulfonamides was designed and synthesized as 5-HT(6) receptor ligands... more A series of novel aryl aminosulfonamides was designed and synthesized as 5-HT(6) receptor ligands. Many compounds screened in a functional reporter gene based assay displayed potent antagonistic activity with Kb values in the range of 0.02-10nM. The lead compound 11m exemplified in this series showed good ADME surrogate properties, acceptable pharmacokinetic profile and is active in animal models of cognition like novel object recognition test and Morris water maze. The compound was selected for detailed profiling.
Current Zoology
Patterns of variation in the size of vulture foraging groups, and their ecological causes and con... more Patterns of variation in the size of vulture foraging groups, and their ecological causes and consequences, remain little explored despite strong links with the carrion recycling service that this key functional group provides. We documented the group size-frequency pattern of Andean condors Vultur gryphus gathered to feed on 42 equine carcasses experimentally placed in Bolivia, between 2012 and 2019, along an elevation range of 1,300–4,500 m asl. Based on the location (altitude and latitude) of the foraging groups, we examined the relationship between their size and species’ population parameters (size and trend), habitat conditions, and livestock carcass availability and predictability. Condors utilized a high frequency (93%) of carcasses forming groups that ranged from 1 to 80 individuals (mean = 25, median = 18) and shaped a “lazy-J curve” typical pattern of size-frequency distribution whereby few groups (5, 12%) were large (> 55 individuals) and most (21, 50%) were relativel...
Plants
Phaseolus vulgaris L. has beneficial effects on several chronic non-communicable diseases (e.g., ... more Phaseolus vulgaris L. has beneficial effects on several chronic non-communicable diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases) related to oxidative stress. This redox state may influence platelet activation and aggregation; which is crucial in thrombus formation. In this work, the antiplatelet and antioxidant potential of aqueous extracts obtained by green processes, microwave-assisted extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction, from 25 landraces of common beans were investigated. Phenol content and antioxidant potential were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, total monomeric anthocyanin and ORAC assay, respectively. The antiplatelet potential of the extracts was explored by turbidimetry. Microwave extraction showed higher phenol content and antioxidant activity in most extracts. Soja landrace extract obtained by microwave-assisted extraction showed higher phenol content and antioxidant activity (893.45 ± 87.30 mg GAE/g and 35,642.85 ± 2588.88 ORAC μmolTE/g, respectively). A...
Journal of Functional Foods
Journal of Industrial Ecology
EU aquaculture produces only a small fraction of the internal demand of aquatic foods, but boosti... more EU aquaculture produces only a small fraction of the internal demand of aquatic foods, but boosting this activity must be done in compliance with high standards of environmental protection and social benefits, as fostered by the policies on circular economy recently launched by the EU. Nevertheless, the assessment of the environmental sustainability of aquaculture and other food production systems is complex, due to the different tools and approaches available. Moreover, the current EU regulatory framework may be restricting the options to implement some circular solutions. This paper examines the controversies related to the assessment of environmental impacts of aquaculture processes and the different available circular solutions, with a focus on the best options to valorize aquaculture side streams and how current regulatory burdens and gaps should be solved.
Perspectivas, 2019
En el presente trabajo se reconstruye el modelo de transformaciones agrosocioeconómicas que subya... more En el presente trabajo se reconstruye el modelo de transformaciones agrosocioeconómicas que subyace en The Struggle for Maize de Elizabeth Fitting, obra que interpreta un conjunto de datos etnográficos e históricos de una comunidad del sur del valle de Tehuacán, México, en relación con dinámicas mundiales o continentales de la producción y distribución alimentaria. La autora apela a la teoría de los regímenes agroalimentarios de Philip McMichael y otros autores para dar cuenta de un desarrollo agrosocioeconómico local. La labor de acople que realiza The Struggle for Maize implica un modelo de la articulación entre lo mundial y lo local; un modelo que podría generalizarse para dar cuenta de dinámicas en otros escenarios. Sin embargo, hay que extraerlo pues The Struggle for Maize no lo presenta a modo de un esquema conciso y explícito. A ese fin se orienta el presente artículo: con base en la teoría de categorías, aquí se reconstruye el modelo mencionado como un diagrama de la categor...
Antioxidants, 2021
With the diet, we ingest nutrients capable of modulating platelet function, which plays a crucial... more With the diet, we ingest nutrients capable of modulating platelet function, which plays a crucial role in developing cardiovascular events, one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Studies that demonstrate the antiplatelet and antithrombotic potential of bioactive compounds are vital to maintaining good cardiovascular health. In this work, we evaluate the flavonol isorhamnetin’s antiplatelet effect on human platelets, using collagen, thrombin receptor activator peptide 6 (TRAP-6), and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) as agonists. Isorhamnetin induced a significant inhibition on collagen- and TRAP-6-induced platelet aggregation, with half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 8.1 ± 2.6 and 16.1 ± 11.1 µM, respectively; while it did not show cytotoxic effect. Isorhamnetin reduced adenosine triphosphate levels (ATP) in platelets stimulated by collagen and TRAP-6. We also evidenced that isorhamnetin’s antiplatelet activity was related to the inhibition of mitochondri...
Frontiers in Chemistry, 2020
We designed and synthesized in water, using conventional heating and microwave irradiation, new t... more We designed and synthesized in water, using conventional heating and microwave irradiation, new thio-derivatives of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, a naturally occurring pigment known as lawsone or hennotannic acid, thus improving their antiplatelet activity with relevance to their potential future use in thrombus formation treatment. The structure-activity relationship showed that the thiophenyl moiety enhances the antiplatelet activity. Moreover, the position and nature of the substituent at the phenyl ring have a key effect on the observed biological activity. Compound 4 (2-((4-bromophenyl)thio)-3-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione) was the most active derivative, presenting IC 50 values for platelet aggregation inhibition of 15.03 ± 1.52 µM for TRAP-6, and 5.58 ± 1.01 µM for collagen. Importantly, no cytotoxicity was observed. Finally, we discussed the structure-activity relationships of these new lawsone thio-derivatives on inhibition of TRAP-6-and collagen-induced platelet aggregation.
The Lancet, 2021
Summary Background 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little c... more Summary Background 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit.
Scientific Reports, 2020
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are aggregations of extracellular matrix associated with specific neuron... more Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are aggregations of extracellular matrix associated with specific neuronal populations in the central nervous system, suggested to play key roles in neural development, synaptogenesis and experience-dependent synaptic plasticity. Pregnancy and lactation are characterized by a dramatic increase in neuroplasticity. However, dynamic changes in the extracellular matrix associated with maternal circuits have been mostly overlooked. We analyzed the structure of PNNs in an essential nucleus of the maternal circuit, the medial preoptic area (mPOA), during the reproductive cycle of rats, using the Wisteria floribunda (WFA) label. PNNs associated to neurons in the mPOA start to assemble halfway through gestation and become highly organized prior to parturition, fading through the postpartum period. This high expression of PNNs during pregnancy appears to be mediated by the influence of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, since a hormonal simulated-gestation treatmen...
Ibis, 2018
The Andean Condor Vultur gryphus is a globally threatened and declining species. Problems of surv... more The Andean Condor Vultur gryphus is a globally threatened and declining species. Problems of surveying Andean Condor populations using traditional survey methods are particularly acute in Bolivia, largely because only few roosts are known there. However, similar to other vulture species, Andean Condors aggregate at animal carcasses, and are individually recognizable due to unique morphological characteristics (size and shape of male crests and pattern of wing coloration). This provided us with an opportunity to use a capture-recapture ('sighting-resighting') modelling framework to estimate the size and structure of an Andean Condor population in Bolivia using photographs of individuals taken at observer-established feeding stations. Between July and December 2014, 28 feeding stations were established in five different zones throughout the eastern Andean region of Bolivia, where perched and flying Andean Condors were photographed. Between one and 57 (mean = 20.2 AE 14.6 sd) Andean Condors were recorded visiting each feeding station and we were able to identify 456 different individuals, comprising 134 adult males, 40 sub-adult males, 79 juvenile males, 80 adult females, 30 sub-adult females and 93 juvenile females. Open population capture-recapture models produced population estimates ranging from 52 AE 14 (se) individuals to 678 AE 269 individuals across the five zones, giving a total of 1388 AE 413 sd individuals, which is roughly 20% of the estimated Andean Condor global population. Future trials of this method need to consider explicitly knowledge of Andean Condor movements and home-ranges, habitat preferences when selecting suitable sites as feeding stations, juvenile movements and other behaviours. Sighting-resighting methods have considerable potential to increase the accuracy of surveys of Andean Condors and other bird species with unique individual morphological characteristics.
Scientiae Studia, 2016
teorías científicas para el análisis de exhibiciones en museos de ciencia. El trabajo aborda el m... more teorías científicas para el análisis de exhibiciones en museos de ciencia. El trabajo aborda el modo de presentar la economía campesina indígena en las salas etnográficas del Museo Nacional de Antropología de México (MNA), y reconstruye dicha conceptualización. El aparato reconstructor empleado recupera las distinciones del programa estructuralista, pero presenta la reconstrucción como un diagrama de la teoría de categorías, en lugar de un predicado conjuntista. El escrito propone un posible vínculo entre los contenidos del MNA y la teoría de Chayanov; concluye con una reflexión sobre las transformaciones estructurales que sufren las teorías científicas al pasar al ámbito de la divulgación. Palabras-clave Modelo. Concepción semántica. Museo Nacional de Antropología. Economía campesina. Programa estructuralista.
Revista Nacional De Arquitectura, 1948
Anales de Psicología, 2015
Resumen: Diversas aproximaciones a la hipnosis han destacado la relevancia de las actitudes y cre... more Resumen: Diversas aproximaciones a la hipnosis han destacado la relevancia de las actitudes y creencias sobre ella para la promoción de las respuestas hipnóticas, para predecir la eficacia de las intervenciones que incluyen a la hipnosis, y para evitar iatrogenia en los usuarios que la reciben. El objetivo de este trabajo es investigar la nueva variación en castellano de La Escala de Valencia de Actitudes y Creencias hacia la Hipnosis versión Cliente. Se ha analizado su estructura factorial y propiedades psicométricas con metodología confirmatoria, usando una muestra exclusivamente española, para observar si se confirman los resultados de anteriores investigaciones exploratorias y confirmatorias realizadas con muestras de diferentes países. Se ha usado una muestra de 1.678 estudiantes universitarios españoles. Los resultados muestran una estructura de 8 factores (Miedo, Memoria, Ayuda, Control, Colaboración, Interés, Mágica y Marginal) y obtiene índices adecuados de consistencia interna y fiabilidad test-retest, resultados similares a los encontrados en análisis factoriales exploratorios y confirmatorios con muestras de diferentes países. Palabras clave: Hipnosis; actitudes; evaluación; escala; análisis factorial confirmatorio; EVACH-C. Title: Confirmatory factor analysis of the valencia scale of attitudes and beliefs toward hypnosis (revised client version), with a spanish sample.
Journal of Raptor Research, 2021
The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is a culturally iconic wildlife symbol for the South American ... more The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is a culturally iconic wildlife symbol for the South American Andes, but is naturally found at very low population densities, and is increasingly threatened. Using the Range Wide Priority Setting methodology, we (a group of 38 Andean Condor experts) updated the Andean Condor historical range (3,230,061 km2), systematized 9998 Andean Condor distribution points across the range, and identified geographic areas for which there was expert knowledge (66%), including areas where Andean Condors no longer occur (7%), and geographic areas where condors are believed to range, but for which there was not expert knowledge about condor presence (34%). To prioritize conservation action into the future and identify existing Andean Condor population strongholds, we used expert knowledge to identify 21 of the most important areas for the conservation of the species (i.e., Andean Condor Conservation Units [ACCUs]) that cover 37% of the revised historical range, and ...
Journal of Raptor Research, 2021
Most raptor populations are declining and nearly a fifth are threatened with extinction; thus the... more Most raptor populations are declining and nearly a fifth are threatened with extinction; thus there is a need to increase collaboration to ensure efficient and effective research, management, and conservation. Here, we introduce the Global Raptor Impact Network (GRIN; www.globalraptors.org), a tool to enhance collaboration and conservation impact of the raptor research community. We provide an overview of the history and current state of GRIN, including plans for expansion. Predecessors to GRIN include The African Raptor DataBank, which was launched in 2012 to ascertain the conservation status of raptors across Africa; and the Global Raptor Information Network, which was launched in the late 1990s as a website to provide information regarding diurnal raptors and facilitate communication among researchers. GRIN expands the data collection and storage capabilities of the African Raptor DataBank to a global scale via mobile application. We have implemented data-sharing rules to ensure ...
Journal of Raptor Research, 2021
Among New World vultures (Cathartidae), the two species of condor are the most threatened: the Ca... more Among New World vultures (Cathartidae), the two species of condor are the most threatened: the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) and the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus). The California Condor is a Critically Endangered species exclusive to North America, with a wild population (which requires intensive management) of only approximately 300 birds in southwestern United States of America and northwestern Mexico (Finkelstein et al. 2020). The Andean Condor, a Vulnerable species that occurs throughout the Andes from northern Colombia to southernmost Argentina, is considered to be declining throughout its range—at an alarming rate in some countries (BirdLife International 2020). Shooting and deliberate or accidental poisoning are largely responsible for the delicate conservation status of both species (Plaza and Lambertucci 2019, Plaza et al. 2019, BirdLife International 2020, Finkelstein et al. 2020). A number of articles report the declines of condors, mentioning, for instance, that until the middle of the twentieth century it was not rare to observe California Condors in North America and Andean Condors in South America feeding in large groups at carcasses (Houston 1994). Although it is clear that the likelihood of finding many California Condors together is marginal these days, recent observations show that may not be the case for Andean Condors. For example, 62 condors were observed at a single carcass in northwestern Argentina (CailliArnulphi et al. 2013) and 108 condors were recorded in central Chile (Escobar-Gimpel et al. 2015). Because there is no published information on how common such large aggregations of Andean Condors at carcasses are or were, we argue that the knowledge of the size and frequency of these assemblies could be of great conservation importance, especially in the face of the unrestricted threat of poisoned carcasses (Plaza et al. 2019, Estrada Pacheco et al. 2020). Here we report on large Andean Condor aggregations at observer-established carcasses in Bolivia, where the species’ population is an estimated 1388 individuals (Méndez et al. 2019), or roughly 20% of the estimated global population of 6700 (BirdLife International 2020, Wallace et al. 2020), and the country is 1 Email address: diemndez@gmail.com
DYNA, 2017
El internet de las cosas, también conocido como IoT por sus siglas en inglés (Internet of Things)... more El internet de las cosas, también conocido como IoT por sus siglas en inglés (Internet of Things), es un nuevo paradigma tecnológico que permite la interconexión de objetos (las cosas), servicios y/o personas por medio de internet. IoT introduce nuevas herramientas que enriquecen el trabajo en diferentes sectores industriales. Este artículo presenta un estudio del trabajo desarrollado en todo el mundo en tecnologías con base en el concepto de IoT en el marco de la industria del cuidado de la salud, incluyendo métodos, estadísticas y casos de éxito. En la última sección, se discute sobre el trabajo realizado en este ámbito en el contexto colombiano, incluyendo aplicaciones exitosas y proyectos que se encuentran en desarrollo.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2010
A series of novel aryl aminosulfonamides was designed and synthesized as 5-HT(6) receptor ligands... more A series of novel aryl aminosulfonamides was designed and synthesized as 5-HT(6) receptor ligands. Many compounds screened in a functional reporter gene based assay displayed potent antagonistic activity with Kb values in the range of 0.02-10nM. The lead compound 11m exemplified in this series showed good ADME surrogate properties, acceptable pharmacokinetic profile and is active in animal models of cognition like novel object recognition test and Morris water maze. The compound was selected for detailed profiling.
Current Zoology
Patterns of variation in the size of vulture foraging groups, and their ecological causes and con... more Patterns of variation in the size of vulture foraging groups, and their ecological causes and consequences, remain little explored despite strong links with the carrion recycling service that this key functional group provides. We documented the group size-frequency pattern of Andean condors Vultur gryphus gathered to feed on 42 equine carcasses experimentally placed in Bolivia, between 2012 and 2019, along an elevation range of 1,300–4,500 m asl. Based on the location (altitude and latitude) of the foraging groups, we examined the relationship between their size and species’ population parameters (size and trend), habitat conditions, and livestock carcass availability and predictability. Condors utilized a high frequency (93%) of carcasses forming groups that ranged from 1 to 80 individuals (mean = 25, median = 18) and shaped a “lazy-J curve” typical pattern of size-frequency distribution whereby few groups (5, 12%) were large (> 55 individuals) and most (21, 50%) were relativel...
Plants
Phaseolus vulgaris L. has beneficial effects on several chronic non-communicable diseases (e.g., ... more Phaseolus vulgaris L. has beneficial effects on several chronic non-communicable diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases) related to oxidative stress. This redox state may influence platelet activation and aggregation; which is crucial in thrombus formation. In this work, the antiplatelet and antioxidant potential of aqueous extracts obtained by green processes, microwave-assisted extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction, from 25 landraces of common beans were investigated. Phenol content and antioxidant potential were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, total monomeric anthocyanin and ORAC assay, respectively. The antiplatelet potential of the extracts was explored by turbidimetry. Microwave extraction showed higher phenol content and antioxidant activity in most extracts. Soja landrace extract obtained by microwave-assisted extraction showed higher phenol content and antioxidant activity (893.45 ± 87.30 mg GAE/g and 35,642.85 ± 2588.88 ORAC μmolTE/g, respectively). A...
Journal of Functional Foods
Journal of Industrial Ecology
EU aquaculture produces only a small fraction of the internal demand of aquatic foods, but boosti... more EU aquaculture produces only a small fraction of the internal demand of aquatic foods, but boosting this activity must be done in compliance with high standards of environmental protection and social benefits, as fostered by the policies on circular economy recently launched by the EU. Nevertheless, the assessment of the environmental sustainability of aquaculture and other food production systems is complex, due to the different tools and approaches available. Moreover, the current EU regulatory framework may be restricting the options to implement some circular solutions. This paper examines the controversies related to the assessment of environmental impacts of aquaculture processes and the different available circular solutions, with a focus on the best options to valorize aquaculture side streams and how current regulatory burdens and gaps should be solved.
Perspectivas, 2019
En el presente trabajo se reconstruye el modelo de transformaciones agrosocioeconómicas que subya... more En el presente trabajo se reconstruye el modelo de transformaciones agrosocioeconómicas que subyace en The Struggle for Maize de Elizabeth Fitting, obra que interpreta un conjunto de datos etnográficos e históricos de una comunidad del sur del valle de Tehuacán, México, en relación con dinámicas mundiales o continentales de la producción y distribución alimentaria. La autora apela a la teoría de los regímenes agroalimentarios de Philip McMichael y otros autores para dar cuenta de un desarrollo agrosocioeconómico local. La labor de acople que realiza The Struggle for Maize implica un modelo de la articulación entre lo mundial y lo local; un modelo que podría generalizarse para dar cuenta de dinámicas en otros escenarios. Sin embargo, hay que extraerlo pues The Struggle for Maize no lo presenta a modo de un esquema conciso y explícito. A ese fin se orienta el presente artículo: con base en la teoría de categorías, aquí se reconstruye el modelo mencionado como un diagrama de la categor...
Antioxidants, 2021
With the diet, we ingest nutrients capable of modulating platelet function, which plays a crucial... more With the diet, we ingest nutrients capable of modulating platelet function, which plays a crucial role in developing cardiovascular events, one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Studies that demonstrate the antiplatelet and antithrombotic potential of bioactive compounds are vital to maintaining good cardiovascular health. In this work, we evaluate the flavonol isorhamnetin’s antiplatelet effect on human platelets, using collagen, thrombin receptor activator peptide 6 (TRAP-6), and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) as agonists. Isorhamnetin induced a significant inhibition on collagen- and TRAP-6-induced platelet aggregation, with half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 8.1 ± 2.6 and 16.1 ± 11.1 µM, respectively; while it did not show cytotoxic effect. Isorhamnetin reduced adenosine triphosphate levels (ATP) in platelets stimulated by collagen and TRAP-6. We also evidenced that isorhamnetin’s antiplatelet activity was related to the inhibition of mitochondri...
Frontiers in Chemistry, 2020
We designed and synthesized in water, using conventional heating and microwave irradiation, new t... more We designed and synthesized in water, using conventional heating and microwave irradiation, new thio-derivatives of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, a naturally occurring pigment known as lawsone or hennotannic acid, thus improving their antiplatelet activity with relevance to their potential future use in thrombus formation treatment. The structure-activity relationship showed that the thiophenyl moiety enhances the antiplatelet activity. Moreover, the position and nature of the substituent at the phenyl ring have a key effect on the observed biological activity. Compound 4 (2-((4-bromophenyl)thio)-3-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione) was the most active derivative, presenting IC 50 values for platelet aggregation inhibition of 15.03 ± 1.52 µM for TRAP-6, and 5.58 ± 1.01 µM for collagen. Importantly, no cytotoxicity was observed. Finally, we discussed the structure-activity relationships of these new lawsone thio-derivatives on inhibition of TRAP-6-and collagen-induced platelet aggregation.
The Lancet, 2021
Summary Background 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little c... more Summary Background 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit.