Central-southern Region Research Articles

What do we know about biocrust lichens in Argentina? A comprehensive review and new records

Lichens are among the most distinctive and colorful organisms found in biological soil crusts (biocrusts). Along with cyanobacteria, green algae, and bryophytes, they inhabit the top few millimeters of the soil surface, forming the living skin of the soil. They cover large areas of the planet's arid and semiarid regions, as well as degraded terrestrial ecosystems in other regions. Although global studies of biocrusts have tripled in the last two decades, South America remains one of the least studied continents. In Argentina, ecological studies of biocrusts are increasing, but knowledge of the taxonomic diversity of the lichens that comprise them remains limited. Therefore, it is crucial to increase studies on terrestrial lichens, which, although often inconspicuous, may be more abundant than previously thought. To contribute to the knowledge of biocrust lichens taxonomy in Argentina, we proposed to 1) perform a bibliographic review of the works that reported species lists to confirm and update the taxonomic nomenclature and distribution, and 2) expand knowledge in less studied regions through the study of specimens from central Argentina. The results reveal that between 2002 and 2022, 78 crust-forming lichen species were recorded in Argentina. The richest family was Verrucariaceae, along with Collemataceae, Peltulaceae, and Lichinaceae distributed in the northern, western, and central-southern regions of the country, mainly in the arid and semiarid areas of Mendoza, San Juan, Neuquén, and San Luis. The most common lichen species found in the crusts were Placidium squamulosum, Endocarpon pusillum, Enchylium tenax, Peltula obscurans, and Psora decipiens, in descending order. We have expanded this lichen diversity with three new species records for Argentina: Gloeoheppia erosa, Heppia adglutinata, and Heteroplacidium divisum, as well as the distribution of Enchylium coccophorum, Peltula obscurans, Placidium squamulosum, and Psora icterica in the central region of the country. In this way, we hope that this study can serve as a starting point for future research on lichen composition in soil crusts.

Genetic diversity and diversification patterns of puma (Puma concolor) populations in the southern end of the species distribution

The puma (Puma concolor Linnaeus, 1771) is the top predator with the widest distribution in America. Since the establishment of European settlers on the American continent, puma populations have experienced significant contractions and reductions in their original distribution. In Argentina, the management of the conflict between humans and pumas (direct persecution and habitat modification) focused on reduction or elimination methods, leading to a drastic contraction, even total eradication, of puma populations as seen in Patagonia and the eastern part of the country. Despite the lack of knowledge about puma population demographic trends, there are taxonomic issues that remain controversial and need to be resolved to implement appropriate management and conservation measures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to genetically characterize puma populations in the central-southern region of Argentina using two mitochondrial markers, evaluate their demographic history, compare our results at a macro-regional level, and discuss our findings in a conservation and management context. A total of 203 individuals were used, and a fragment of the control region and another of ND5 were sequenced. The genetic variability obtained was moderate. Substitution rates for each locus and the tMRCA were calculated from calibrated trees. In a concatenated tree, two main phylogenetic clades were identified (posterior probability = 1), although a reciprocal monophyly was not observed, with a divergence time of 228 thousand years and a 95% CI [117–363 thousand years]. When evaluating population structuring, three genetic clusters were found, one characteristic of the Patagonian region and the others in the central part of the country. Calculating the ФST values for pairs resulted in significant structuring between Patagonia and the rest of the populations, suggesting the arid diagonal as a possible barrier to gene flow. When evaluating the demographic history, neutrality tests would support a recent expansion in Patagonia. These findings are crucial in defining two distinct Management Units (MUs) in the southern part of puma distribution and providing valuable information for management and conservation measures for the species.

Las organizaciones sociales agrarias en el Uruguay contemporáneo: un abordaje desde la territorialidad asociativa

The current configuration of Latin American agrarian capitalism is expressed in the growth of the control of land and the commercialization of agricultural commodities, sustained by an increase in the degradation of basic natural resources and a decrease in the rural population and the number of workers. In this context, it is necessary to understand the political practice actions by social agricultural organizations concerning their material base, since changes in the existing territories have reshaped the associative relationships of these organizations. In this sense, this paper aims to present the main characteristics of social agricultural organizations in recent Uruguay under the conceptual perspective of associative territoriality. For this purpose, descriptive and interpretive research was used with a qualitative methodological design. Among the main results, the following stand out: i) the agrarian associative territoriality in predominant contemporary Uruguay refers to rural development societies and farming cooperatives, ii) such territoriality is concentrated in the central-southern region of the country, and iii) the predominance of associative territoriality refers to low intensity.

Developing flood mapping procedure through optimized machine learning techniques. Case study: Prahova river basin, Romania

Study regionPrahova river basin located in the central-southern region of Romania. Study focusThis study aims to assess the susceptibility to flooding by using state-of-the-art machine learning and optimization procedures. To achieve this goal, we employed ten flood-related variables as independent variables in our machine learning models. These variables include slope angle, convergence index, distance from the river, elevation, plan curvature, hydrological soil group, lithology, topographic wetness index, rainfall, and land use. We used 158 flood locations as dependent variables in the training of four hybrid models: Deep Learning Neural Network-Statistical Index (DLNN-SI), Particle Swarm Optimization-Deep Learning Neural Network-Statistical Index (PSO-DLNN-SI), Support Vector Machine-Statistical Index (SVM-SI), and Particle Swarm Optimization-Support Vector Machine-Statistical Index (PSO-SVM-SI). Utilizing the Statistical Index method, we calculated coefficients for each flood predictor class or category. New hydrological insights for the regionThe PSO-DLNN-SI model demonstrated the best performance, achieving an AUC-ROC curve of 0.952. It's worth noting that the application of the PSO algorithm significantly enhanced the model's performance. Additionally, it's crucial to highlight that approximately 25 % of the study region exhibits a high to very high susceptibility to flood events. Taking into account the very precise results of the models applied in the present study, we can state that from a hydrological point of view, the current research contributes to a better understanding of the intensity with which floods can affect the different areas of the Prahova river basin.

Exploring Potential Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease among the Populations in Rural Areas of Central-Southern Region of Kerala, India: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death among the population in rural areas and therefore the risk factors associated with various groups of population are key factors to help in the treatment and prevention of this diseases. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the various risk factors among the population in rural areas of Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India. Materials and methods: A prospective observational study was carried out among the rural areas of Pathanamthitta district. The sample size of the study was 500 individuals. The study period ranged 6 months. The data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire and various instruments to evaluate risk factors including diabetes mellitus, blood pressure and BMI. Results: Of the total population of 500 individuals, positive family history of cardiovascular disease (32%), lifestyle diseases such as hypertension (53.5%), diabetes mellitus (39.4%), undesirable body mass index (39%) were seen. Other risk factors include consumption of saturated fat (39%), high salt intake (64.6%), high stress levels (42%), insufficient sleep (47%) and sedentary lifestyle (35.4%). Harmful lifestyle behaviours like alcohol consumption (37.8%) and smoking (17%) were also prevalent. Conclusion: As the number of risk factors increases in a rural population, the probability of developing cardiovascular disease increases.

Drought and Wildfire Trends in Native Forests of South-Central Chile in the 21st Century

Over the last decades, Chile has experienced a long-term drought with significant consequences for water availability, forest productivity, and soil degradation, ultimately dramatically increasing the surface of burned area. Here, we quantify the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) to ascertain the extent of “moisture deficiency” across the central-southern region of Chile from 2000 to 2023 to assess the drought’s relationship with the frequency of wildfires focusing on the impact of native forests. Our methodology quantifies the PDSI from the burned area data using MODIS MCD64A1 satellite imagery, validated by in situ wildfire occurrence records. The findings indicate that 85.2% of fires occurred under moderate to severe drought conditions. We identified 407,561 ha showing varying degrees of degradation due to wildfires, highlighting the critical areas for targeted conservation efforts. A significant increase in both the frequency of wildfires and the extent of the affected area in native forests was observed with the intensification of drought conditions in the 21st century within mesic to humid Mediterranean climatic zones where drought explains up to 41% of the variability in the burned area (r2 = 0.41; p < 0.05). This study highlights the relationship between drought conditions and wildfire frequency, showing the paramount need to adopt comprehensive wildfire mitigation management in native forests.

Isotopic composition of convective rainfall in the inland tropics of Brazil

Abstract. Strong convective systems characterize the tropical central-southern region of Brazil. These systems provide abundant water supply for agroindustrial activities and pose flood risks to large cities. Here, we present high-frequency (2–10 min; inter- and intra-event) rainfall isotopic compositions (n = 90 samples) to reveal regional and local atmospheric processes controlling the isotopic variability of convective systems between 2019–2021. Inter-event rainfall weighted-average (δwgd) values were low (δ18Owgd ≤ −10.0 ‰) due to the higher rainfall along the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model trajectories from the Amazon forest during the summer. In contrast, during autumn and spring seasons HYSPLIT model trajectories from the Atlantic Ocean and southern Brazil exhibited lower rainfall amounts, resulting in high δ18Owgd ≥ −4.2 ‰. This strong regional δwgd pattern often masks intra-event isotopic variability. Therefore, we analyzed the vertical structure of local rainfall using reflectivity (Z) from microradar data. Variations in Z indicate that microphysical processes as raindrops fall led to changes in δ18O and deuterium excess (d-excess). Our findings establish a novel framework for evaluating the meteorological controls on the isotopic variability of convective precipitation in tropical South America, fill the gap in high-frequency studies in this region, and generate an isotopic dataset for convective model evaluations.

Một số đặc điểm dịch tễ của bệnh do Lates calcarifer herpes virus (LCHV) gây ra trên cá chẽm (Lates calcarifer Bloch, 1790)

This study investigated epidemiological features of disease caused by LCHV, is a new emerging virus in barramundi. Sick barramundi was collected monthly from the field through-out a year and diagnosed for the presence of LCHV using realtime PCR. The virus was detected in farmed barramundi in the Central region (Khanh Hoa) and Southern region (Vung Tau) of Vietnam. Positive samples were found every month with an average prevalence up to about 62.5% (27 - 100%) at the total samples showed signs at disease. Fish were more sensitive to the disease in rainy season, especially during the transition period from July to November, with the peak in July, August and November with an infection rate of 100%. Large fluctuations in temperature and rainfall were associated with the outbreak of the disease. Fish weighing at less than 250 g, especially when first transferred from the hatchery to the cage, were more sensitive. Horizontal transmission was confirmed in controlled experiments. These epidemiological features were critical for prevention and management of this disease.

Short-term multi-step-ahead sector-based traffic flow prediction based on the attention-enhanced graph convolutional LSTM network (AGC-LSTM)

AbstractAccurate sector-based air traffic flow predictions are essential for ensuring the safety and efficiency of the air traffic management (ATM) system. However, due to the inherent spatial and temporal dependencies of air traffic flow, it is still a challenging problem. To solve this problem, some methods are proposed considering the relationship between sectors, while the complicated spatiotemporal dynamics and interdependencies between traffic flow of route segments related to the sector are not taken into account. To address this challenge, the attention-enhanced graph convolutional long short-term memory network (AGC-LSTM) model is applied to improve the short-term sector-based traffic flow prediction, in which spatial structures of route segments related to the sector are considered for the first time. Specifically, the graph convolutional networks (GCN)-LSTM network model was employed to capture spatiotemporal dependencies of the flight data, and the attention mechanism is designed to concentrate on the informative features from key nodes at each layer of the AGC-LSTM model. The proposed model is evaluated through a case study of the typical enroute sector in the central–southern region of China. The prediction results show that MAE reduces by 14.4% compared to the best performing GCN-LSTM model among the other five models. Furthermore, the study involves comparative analyses to assess the influence of route segment range, input and output sequence lengths, and time granularities on prediction performance. This study helps air traffic managers predict flight situations more accurately and avoid implementing overly conservative or excessively aggressive flow management measures for the sectors.

Geographic distribution prediction of an invading species in Mexico: the case of the monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)

Objective: To determine the potential distribution of the monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) in Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: The study generated the model with confirmed presences of the species, the MaxEnt algorithm, and bioclimatic and elevation information. The evaluation, calibration and selection were carried out with the kuenm package in R. The model generated was projected to the geographic space of Mexico. Results: The model estimated the most favorable areas for the species in Mexico, based on the similarity of the climate and elevation conditions of the sites with its natural distribution. The most favorable sites for the species are distributed in the central–southern regions of the country. Variables influencing its distribution are derived from temperature, precipitation and elevation. Limitations on study/implications: The model can contribute to the planning of management and monitoring strategies that mitigate the invasion of this species. Findings/conclusions: The areas in Mexico where there is a high risk of invasion by the monk parakeet were identified.

Resistance Mutation Patterns among HIV-1-Infected Children and Features of the Program for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission in Vietnam's Central Highlands and Southern Regions, 2017-2021.

The Vietnam Ministry of Health (MOH) has intensified efforts in its aim to eliminate AIDS by 2030. Expanding the program for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) is a significant step towards achieving this goal. However, there are still HIV-exposed children who do not have access to PMTCT services, and some who have participated in the program but still contracted HIV. This study focused on assessing the prevalence and profile of HIV mutations among children under 18 months of age who had recently tested positive for HIV, while gaining insights into the implementation of early infant diagnostic (EID) tests. Between 2017 and 2021, 3.43% of 5854 collected dry blood spot (DBS) specimens from Vietnam's Central and Southern regions showed positive EID results. This study identified a high prevalence of resistance mutations in children, totaling 62.9% (95% CI: 53.5-72.3). The highest prevalence of mutations was observed for NNRTIs, with 57.1% (95% CI: 47.5-66.8). Common mutations included Y181C and K103N (NNRTI resistance), M184I/V (NRTI resistance), and no major mutations for PI. The percentage of children with any resistance mutation was significantly higher among those who received PMTCT interventions (69.2%; 95% CI: 50.5-92.6%) compared with those without PMTCT (45.0%; 95% CI: 26.7-71.1%) with χ2 = 6.06, p = 0.0138, and OR = 2.75 (95% CI: 1.13-6.74). Mutation profiles revealed that polymorphic mutations could be present regardless of whether PMTCT interventions were implemented or not. However, non-polymorphic drug resistance mutations were predominantly observed in children who received PMTCT measures. Regarding PMTCT program characteristics, this study highlights the issue of late access to HIV testing for both mothers and their infected children. Statistical differences were observed between PMTCT and non-PMTCT children. The proportion of late detection of HIV infection and breastfeeding rates were significantly higher among non-PMTCT children (p < 0.05). Comparative analysis between children with low viral load (≤200 copies/mL) and high viral load (>200 copies/mL) showed significant differences between the mothers' current ART regimens (p = 0.029) and the ARV prophylaxis regimen for children (p = 0.016). These findings emphasize the need for comprehensive surveillance to assess the effectiveness of the PMTCT program, including potential transmission of HIV drug-resistance mutations from mothers to children in Vietnam.

Analysis of the situations and influencing factors of public anxiety in China: based on Baidu index data.

Anxiety disorders have emerged as one of the most prevalent mental health problems and health concerns. However, previous research has paid limited attention to measuring public anxiety from a broader perspective. Furthermore, while we know many factors that influence anxiety disorders, we still have an incomplete understanding of how these factors affect public anxiety. We aimed to quantify public anxiety from the perspective of Internet searches, and to analyze its spatiotemporal changing characteristics and influencing factors. This study collected Baidu Index from 2014 to 2022 in 31 provinces in mainland China to measure the degree of public anxiety based on the Baidu Index from 2014 to 2022. The spatial autocorrelation analysis method was used to study the changing trends and spatial distribution characteristics of public anxiety. The influencing factors of public anxiety were studied using spatial statistical modeling methods. Empirical analysis shows that the level of public anxiety in my country has continued to rise in recent years, with significant spatial clustering characteristics, especially in the eastern and central-southern regions. In addition, we constructed ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) spatial statistical models to examine the relationship between social, economic, and environmental factors and public anxiety levels. We found that the GWR model that considers spatial correlation and dependence is significantly better than the OLS model in terms of fitting accuracy. Factors such as the number of college graduates, Internet traffic, and urbanization rate are significantly positively correlated with the level of public anxiety. Our research results draw attention to public anxiety among policymakers, highlighting the necessity for a more extensive examination of anxiety issues, especially among university graduates, by the public and relevant authorities.

Unraveling the genetic diversity of Ceiba pubiflora (Malvaceae) in isolated limestone outcrops: Conservation strategies.

Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) located on limestone outcrops are vulnerable to degradation caused by timber logging and limestone extraction for cement production. Some of these forests represent the last remnants of native vegetation cover, functioning as isolated islands. Ceiba pubiflora (Malvaceae) is a tree frequently found on limestone outcrops in the central region of Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and identify suitable populations for the establishment of Management Units (MUs) for conservation. Inter-simple sequence repeat markers were employed to assess the genetic diversity in ten populations sampled from the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest biomes. The species exhibited substantial genetic diversity (HT = 0.345; PLP = 97.89%). Populations SAH, JAN, and MON demonstrated elevated rates of polymorphic loci (> 84.2%) along with notable genetic diversity (He > 0.325). Additionally, these populations were the primary contributors to gene flow. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most genetic variation occurs within populations (91.5%) than between them. In the Bayesian analysis, the ten populations were clustered into five groups, revealing the presence of at least three barriers to gene flow in the landscape: 1) the Central Plateau or Paranã River valley; 2) near the Espinhaço mountains or the São Francisco River valley; and 3) around the Mantiqueira mountain range, Chapada dos Veadeiros plateau, and disturbed areas. A positive and statistically significant correlation was observed between genetic (θB) and geographic distances (r = 0.425, p = 0.008). Based on these findings, we propose the establishment of Management Units in Minas Gerais state, encompassing the (1) southern region (MIN population), (2) central region (SAH population), and (3) north region (MON population), as well as in Goiás state, covering the (4) Central Plateau region. These units can significantly contribute to preserving the genetic diversity of these trees and protecting their habitat against ongoing threats.

Implementing a vegetation-based risk index to support management actions in Mediterranean coastal dunes

Coastal dunes play a crucial role in mitigating sea-related impacts and safeguarding coastlines. However, increasing human influence and natural factors such as sea-level rise underscore the need for effective coastal risk assessment methodologies. This study introduces a comprehensive coastal risk index covering 24 km of the Italian coastline within the protected area of San Rossore Park (Tuscany, Italy). The study area, distinguished by its notable coastal dune ecosystems, holds naturalistic, cultural, and economic importance. Nevertheless, diverse uses, zoning, and human impact variables pose challenges.By incorporating geological, socioeconomic, cultural, and ecological parameters, the index integrates a range of data sources and field observations. This research focused on developing and applying a vegetation-based risk index (VRI) within a geographic information system (GIS) framework, recognizing the ecological importance of dune vegetation in mitigating coastal erosion. Analysisrevealed varying risk levels within the study area. Half of the San Rossore Park coastline exhibited low risk values, 37.5% had moderate risk values, and 12.5% had high risk values. The publicly accessible northernmost section displays excellent preservation of dune habitats but faces heightened risk due to anthropogenic impacts. Conversely, the central-southern portion, inaccessible to the public, registers high-risk levels linked to variables associated with coastal erosion.Furthermore, the results highlight areas with heightened cultural and ecological vulnerabilities aligned with elevated risk levels. The index facilitates clear and intuitive cartographic representations of coastal risk, identifying variable categories that substantially influence on risk determination. Tailored strategies, including mitigating human pressure in the northern sector and implementing erosion management in the central-southern region, are recommended.In summary, this study not only provides a practical tool for assessing and managing coastal areas and directing attention to specific threats but also supports stakeholders in informed decision-making. The VRI enhances global sustainable coastal conservation, deepening our understanding of coastal risks and providing valuable insights for effective management strategies.

Scientific literacy in biology and attitudes towards science in the Chilean education system

ABSTRACT Background The development of scientific literacy in young people is seen as important in several countries. In recent decades, Chile’s educational reforms aimed at performance have led to a market-oriented funding and management system, worsening social inequality and segregation. Purpose The study looked at biology literacy and science attitudes in Chilean secondary school students, considering two aims: 1) to analyse the level of scientific literacy in biology and attitudes toward science posed by secondary school students, making comparisons by gender, age, socio-economic status (SES), and type of school; and 2) to evaluate the relationship between scientific literacy in biology and attitudes towards science. Sample 612 secondary school students in a central southern region of Chile, took part in the study. Design & Methods A quantitative method was used to analyse the students’ responses on two validated and adapted instruments; A test to measure biological knowledge (TOSLS) and Likert Scale Science-related (LSSr) to measure attitude towards science. These instruments were administered to secondary students, and descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted. Results The adapted TOSLS showed significant differences in SES, school type and slight variations by gender and age, although, no illiteracy level in biology was found among the Chilean students. The adapted LSSr showed significant differences concerning attitudes toward science were found in school type, and variations by SES and age, and gender. Also, the correlation analysis shows a weak positive relationship between scientific literacy in biology and attitudes towards science, although of moderate magnitude. Conclusion This study found that scientific literacy in biology does not necessarily impact attitudes towards science. However, SES and type of school can affect understanding and views of science and its role in society, which aligns with previous findings on social inequality in Chilean education.

Biofuel in the Automotive Sector: Viability of Sugarcane Ethanol

In Brazil, sugarcane ethanol competes directly with gasoline as a fuel for motor vehicles, emerging as a challenging biofuel to traditional fossil fuels. The problem this article solves and presents is the Return on Energy Investment (EROI) for the production cycle of first-generation ethanol derived from sugarcane in the central-southern region of Brazil, with the main objective to compare this EROI with the gasoline marketed in Brazil, as documented in the scientific literature. The methodology for the energy analysis of the ethanol production cycle is the ratio between the energy present in a quantity of sugarcane delivered for processing and the energy consumption required for the entire process. This analysis occurs from the agricultural phase through the distribution phase of ethanol for consumption, enabling the calculation of the EROI of sugarcane ethanol and a comparative assessment with the EROI values of the gasoline marketed in Brazil. The results for EROI of sugarcane ethanol fluctuate between 8.20 and 6.52. Therefore, for each unit of energy utilized in processing ethanol, 6.52 to 8.20 units of energy are available for end use. In contrast, the EROI values for gasoline range between 2.34 and 5.50, underscoring the competitive advantage of ethanol in this context.

Transforming HR Functions Through Shared Service: Insights from Indian Public Sector Power Major

The case is about a prominent Indian public sector power company involved in the entire power generation value chain, encompassing fossil, hydro, nuclear and renewable energy sources. The organization is geographically divided into eight zones/regions: Central Region, DBF Region, Western Region-I, Western Region-II, Eastern Region-I, Eastern Region-II, Northern Region and Southern Region. In a conversation between Mr Anuj Kapoor, the Director of HR at this major power company, and Ms Abhika Choudhary, a researcher and academician, the discussion revolved around implementing human resources shared services (HRSS) within the organization. Initially undertaken to address manpower optimization challenges within HR functions, the complete transformation of HR functions through shared services gave Mr Kapoor valuable insights. Reflecting on this journey during the meeting with Ms Choudhary, he explored the entire spectrum from idea generation to implementation, including navigating resistance to change and post-implementation feedback. While Ms Choudhary diligently recorded the discussion to gain practical insights into the technological intervention in organizational HR functions, the flow of the conversation encountered a hurdle when delving into one specific post-implementation feedback from employees. This feedback pertained to the dichotomy of face or faceless HR in the era of HRSS within the company.

Evaluation of tourist carrying capacity to support recreational beaches management

The overexploitation of sandy beaches by tourism reduces ecological integrity, rendering natural conditions unsatisfactory for the needs of the population and resulting in negative socio-economic impacts. In this context, the assessment of tourist carrying capacity aims to support beach management from a social, environmental, and economic perspective. The objective of this study was to estimate the tourist carrying capacity at nine beaches in the states of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Espírito Santo (ES), southeastern Brazil. The physical carrying capacity was calculated based on the available space for recreation in scenarios of one user per 5 m2 and 10 m2. Subsequently, limiting environmental factors for recreational use such as sunlight, precipitation, strong winds, tidal range, and temperature were considered, supporting the calculation of the tourist carrying capacity. For the calculation, management conditions (infrastructure and services) were estimated based on the scoring of 69 indicators, included in the international beach quality program called Blue Flag and in the main instrument for coastal management in Brazil, the Orla Project. At RJ beaches, the carrying capacity was not exceeded in the scenario of one user per 10 m2, except in the central region with a higher tourist appeal. In ES state, the results indicated overload for all beaches in the central southern region; for example, one received six times more users than its tourist capacity. Overall, the highest percentages of management capacity were recorded at beaches with Blue Flag certification. The beaches that require the most improvements in coastal management are those located in regions with lower Human Development Index (HDI) and farther from major urban centers. The results suggest priority management actions and guide efforts towards potential beach certification. The management of services, infrastructure, and overload highlights the need for preventive measures to avoid the tourism paradox, including loss of environmental quality and revenue. Moreover, the flexibility of this evaluation tool allows for its application in beaches of any country. The integration of tourist carrying capacity and assessment of the coastal scenario provides a more comprehensive and effective framework for the sustainable management of beaches.

Molecular detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Chytridiomycota) and culturable skin bacteria associated with three critically endangered species of Atelopus (Anura: Bufonidae) in Ecuador.

Chytridiomycosis is a fungal disease responsible for massive amphibian die-offs worldwide, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Potential symbiotic relationships between frogs and the bacteria residing on their skin-referred to as skin-bacteria-may inhibit Bd growth, aiding in resistance to this lethal disease. This research had three main objectives: (1) to detect the presence of Bd in native populations of Atelopus balios, A. bomolochos, and A. nanay in the central Andes and coastal southern regions of Ecuador; (2) to identify the culturable skin-bacteria; and (3) to analyze differences among the bacterial communities in the three Atelopus species studied. Skin swabs were collected from two populations of A. balios (107-203 m a.s.l.) and one population each of A. bomolochos and A. nanay (3,064-3,800 m a.s.l.). These swabs served two purposes: first, to detect Bd using conventional PCR; and second, to isolate culturable bacteria, which were characterized through DNA sequencing, molecular phylogeny, and community composition similarity analysis (Jaccard index). Results showed that Bd was present in all species, with positive Bd PCR amplification found in 11 of the 12 sampled amphibians. The culturable skin-bacteria were classified into 10 genera: Pseudomonas (31.4%), Stenotrophomonas (14.3%), Acinetobacter (11.4%), Serratia (11.4%), Aeromonas (5.7%), Brucella (5.7%), Klebsiella (5.7%), Microbacterium (5.7%), Rhodococcus (5.7%), and Lelliottia (2.9%). The Jaccard index revealed that bacterial genera were least similar in A. bomolochos and A. balios (J=0.10), while the highest similarity at the genus level was between A. bomolochos and A. nanay (J=0.33). At the clade-species level, only A. bomolochos and A. nanay show common bacteria (J=0.13). Culturable bacterial communities of specimens diagnosed as Bd positive (n=10) or Bd negative (n=1) share a J value of 0.1 at genus and 0.04 at species-clade level. The prevalence of Bd and the composition of cutaneous bacteria could be influenced by Bd reservoirs, Atelopus biology, and intrinsic environmental conditions. This research contributes to understanding the relationship between endangered Andean species and Bd, and explores the potential use of native skin-bacteria as biocontrol agents against Bd.

Exploring the role of mindfulness on obligatory exercise among young athletes: mediating roles of obsessive passion and cognitive state anxiety.

In the current trend toward youthfulness and age reduction in competitive sports, the issue of obligatory exercise among young athletes is becoming more severe. This not only affects their physical and mental health but also hampers their future prospects in the sports world. While delving into the impact of mindfulness on the issue of obligatory exercise among young athletes, it reveals the mediating role of obsessive passion and cognitive state anxiety. This study is a cross-sectional research that employs convenience and snowball sampling methods. We selected 403 young athletes from several universities and high-level sports teams in the central-southern region of China as valid samples and used AMOS v.23 to construct a structural equation model to validate the hypotheses. The research findings indicate a significant positive correlation between obsessive passion, cognitive state anxiety, and obligatory exercise. Furthermore, obsessive passion and cognitive state anxiety mediate the relationship between mindfulness and obligatory exercise. This implies that young athletes can better regulate their emotional state during training, manage training loads sensibly, and avoid issues with obligatory exercise through mindfulness training. In conclusion, to enhance the cognitive levels of young athletes and reduce their obligatory exercise behaviors, national sports authorities and coaching teams should develop reasonable mindfulness training programs for athletes and encourage their participation in mindfulness training.