Protocol of a randomised controlled multicentre trial investigating the effectiveness and safety of a wilderness programme on the mental and physical well-being of adolescents and young adults affected by cancer: the WAYA-2 study.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) affected by cancer are an understudied group. Effective interventions are needed to support coping with the late effects of cancer, its treatment and to promote quality of life. Nature-based interventions may be promising in support of the self-management and health of AYAs affected by cancer. However, randomised controlled studies (RCTs) on the effectiveness of such interventions are lacking. We performed a first pilot RCT (n=42) that showed that it is feasible and safe to conduct such a study. Here, we propose a full-scale RCT to investigate the effectiveness and safety of a wilderness programme on the mental and physical health of AYAs affected by cancer. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Participants are 150 AYAs affected by cancer, aged 16-39 years, who will be randomised to a wilderness (n=75) or a hotel stay (n=75). The wilderness programme is an 8-day intervention including a 6-day wilderness expedition. This is followed 3 months later by a 4-day intervention including a 2-day basecamp. Activities include hiking, backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, mindfulness and bush-crafting. The comparison group is an 8-day hotel stay followed by a 4-day hotel stay (interventions include two travel days) at the same hotel after 3 months. Primary outcomes are psychological well-being and nature connectedness up to 1 year after the study start. Secondary outcomes are quality of life, physical activity and safety parameters. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Swedish Ethical Review Authority approved the study protocol on 27 September 2023 (reference: 2023-05247-01). The recruitment started on 19 February 2024 and the first part is planned to end on 31 December 2027. Study results will be disseminated by means of scientific publications, presentations at conferences, popular articles, interviews, chronicles and books. News items will be spread via social media, websites and newsletters. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN93856392.

Program evaluation of a wilderness experience for adolescents facing cancer: A time in nature to heal, connect and find strength.

OBJECTIVE: Despite advances in cancer treatment and increased survival, adolescents in treatment for cancer often suffer from psychosocial distress, negative mood, and chronic health problems. Wilderness therapy is considered a promising program to address psychosocial issues among adolescents with mental or behavioral health issues. There is little research on whether it may benefit adolescents in cancer treatment. METHODS: This program evaluation in the form of a pilot study uses qualitative and quantitative measures to describe the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and to explore the impact of a nine-day wilderness program among adolescents aged 13-17 in treatment or who recently finished treatment for a cancer. Quantitative tracking documented recruitment, retention, safety, and participant satisfaction. PROMIS measures assessed mental and social health, positive affect, fatigue, pain interference and intensity over three time-points: pre, post, and three-months after the nine-day wilderness experience. Mean differences were compared over time. Qualitative data collection involved participant observation and open-ended interviews. RESULTS: Study enrollment goals were met, enrolling eight adolescent participants with 100% participant retention. No serious adverse events were reported and participants described high satisfaction (9.25/10) with the wilderness experience on the final day and at three-months follow-up (9.5/10). Exploratory data analysis showed scores in a favorable direction indicating improved psychosocial outcomes in physical functioning, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and peer relations. From qualitative analysis it is suggested that program participation supported: increased self-confidence and peer connection. The program was evaluated as increasing personal accomplishment, supporting social interaction, having strong staff support, and capitalizing on the natural surroundings. CONCLUSION: Use of a wilderness program is feasible, acceptable, and safe among this highly vulnerable adolescent cancer population. Participants described greater self-confidence and peer connection which developed as participants experienced physical competency, group leadership, and personal strength. Larger randomized controlled studies are needed to learn whether these programs can improve psychosocial outcomes.

A randomized controlled pilot study assessing feasibility and safety of a wilderness program for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: the WAYA study.

BACKGROUND: The majority of childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer survivors suffers from long-lasting health issues following cancer treatment. It is therefore critical to explore effective health promotion strategies to address their needs. Exposure to nature is a promising approach to support the needs of young cancer survivors. This study investigated whether it is feasible to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a wilderness program for childhood and AYA cancer survivors. METHODS: Eligible participants were aged 16-39 years, had a cancer diagnosis, and met minimal criteria. Seventy-one individuals expressed interest and 59 were randomized to either a wilderness or a holiday program. The wilderness program involved an 8-day expedition including backpacking, sea kayaking, gorge climbing, camping, bush-craft skills, and mindfulness-practices. It was followed by a 4-day basecamp after 3 months. The comparison was an 8-day holiday program at a Spa-hotel followed by a 4-day holiday program at the same hotel after 3 months. Primary outcome was study feasibility and safety. RESULTS: Ultimately, 19 AYAs participated in the wilderness and 23 in the holiday program. All completed the study at one-year follow-up. Participants were mostly female (70%) and represented diverse cancers. Clinical characteristics were similar between study arms excepting greater age at cancer diagnosis in the wilderness program (age 19.1 vs. 12.5; p = 0.024). Program adherence and data completeness was high (> 90%) in both arms. Adverse Effects (AEs) in the wilderness vs. the holiday program were similar (Relative Risk: 1.0, 95% Confidence Interval 0.8-1.3). The most frequent AE was tiredness, all were mild to moderate in severity, and serious AEs were not reported. Nature connectedness significantly increased over time in the wilderness program participants, but not in the holiday program (p < 0.001). No differences were found between the two study arms regarding quality of life, self-esteem, or self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to conduct a RCT and a supervised wilderness adventure is equally safe for childhood and AYA cancer survivors as a holiday program. This pilot study lays the foundation for a larger RCT to investigate the effectiveness of wilderness programs on the health of young cancer survivors. TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE AND NUMBER: 18/02/2021, NCT04761042 (clinicaltrials.gov).

The geographic bias of mammal studies: a comparison of a half a century of research on Palearctic and Neotropical mammals / El sesgo geográfico en el estudio de los mamíferos: comparación de medio siglo de investigación sobre mamíferos paleárticos y neotropicales

Abstract Introduction: There are no studies that specifically compare research output of Palearctic and Neotropical mammalogy; such comparison would be useful for informed decisions in conservation and management. Objective: To compare the scientific documents and citations about Palearctic and Neotropical mammals over half a century. Methods: We compared 50 years (1970-2019) of documents on 60 medium and large-sized (heavier than 1 kg) mammal species, in Scopus and the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection, considering number of documents and four citation indicators at the species level (h-index, citation rate, total citations, and citations per year). Results: We retrieved 13 274 documents in Scopus and 12 913 in WoS. We found that Palearctic mammals have 3.77 times more documents than Neotropical species in Scopus (3.91 times in WoS), and that the documents recorded 5.95 more total citations in Scopus (6.93 times more in WoS). Palearctic documents also record more yearly citations and a higher h-index in both Scopus and WoS. Scopus retrieved more articles for Neotropical species (2 782 vs. 2 631 in WoS) and had more citations (28 120 vs. 24 977 in WoS); differences for the citation indicators between regions were marker in WoS. The h-index and total citations are greatly affected by how many studies are published, i.e. the region with more production is the one with higher values. The Neotropical articles showed a greater growth rate in the last decade, decreasing the gap between both regions. Conclusion: There is a regional bias in WoS and Scopus, which retrieve more articles and citations about Palearctic mammals than about Neotropical mammals; this bias is worse in WoS and means that an urgent increase in indexed research about Neotropical species is needed to be on par with Palearctic research.

Resumen Introducción: No existen estudios que comparen, específicamente, la investigación de la mastozoología paleártica con la neotropical; pero tales comparaciones serían útiles para tomar decisiones informadas en conservación y manejo. Objetivo: Comparar los documentos científicos sobre mamíferos paleárticos y neotropicales, y su impacto en citas, durante medio siglo. Métodos: Comparamos 50 años (1970-2019) de documentos sobre 60 especies de mamíferos de tamaño mediano y grande (más de 1 kg), en Scopus y la colección principal del Web of Science (WoS), considerando el número de documentos y cuatro indicadores de citas a nivel de especie (índice h, tasa de citas, total de citas y citas por año). Resultados: Recuperamos 13 274 documentos en Scopus y 12 913 en WoS, y encontramos que los mamíferos paleárticos tienen 3.77 veces más documentos que las especies neotropicales en Scopus (3.91 veces en WoS), y que los documentos registran 5.95 más citas totales en Scopus (6.93 veces más en WoS). Los documentos paleárticos también registran más citas anuales y un índice h más alto, tanto en Scopus como en WoS. Scopus recuperó más artículos para especies neotropicales (2 782 vs. 2 631 en WoS) y tuvo más citas (28 120 vs. 24 977 en WoS). Las diferencias para los indicadores de citas entre regiones fueron más marcadas en WoS. El índice h y el total de citas se ven muy afectados por la cantidad de estudios publicados, es decir, la región con más producción será la que tenga indicadores más altos. Los artículos neotropicales mostraron una mayor tasa de crecimiento en la última década, disminuyendo la brecha entre ambas regiones. Conclusión: Existe un sesgo regional en WoS y Scopus, que recuperan más artículos y citas sobre mamíferos paleárticos que sobre mamíferos neotropicales; este sesgo es peor en WoS y significa que se necesita un aumento urgente en la investigación indexada sobre especies neotropicales para estar al nivel de la investigación paleártica.

Parásitos gastrointestinales en mamíferos silvestres cautivos en el Centro de Fauna de San Emigdio, Palmira (Colombia) / Gastrointestinal parasites in captive wild mammals at the fauna center from San Emigdio, Palmira (Colombia)

RESUMEN La parasitosis intestinal en mamíferos silvestres es una de las principales complicaciones debido a las condiciones exógenas del cautiverio; predisponen al animal a complicaciones fisiológicas o infecciones secundarias que impiden su rehabilitación y reintroducción. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar la presencia de parásitos gastrointestinales en mamíferos silvestres del Centro de Atención y Valoración de Fauna silvestre del Centro de Educación Ambiental San Emigdio, San Emigdio, Palmira (Colombia). Se tomaron muestras fecales de 25 animales cautivos en el Centro de Atención y Valoración y fueron analizadas mediante dos técnicas: a) montaje con solución salina al 0,85 % y solución de lugol al 1% y b) técnica de flotación por solución saturada (Sheather) con densidad de 1.28g/ml, encontrando un 36% de positividad. Se encontró Enterobius vermicularis, Fasciola sp., Entamoeba sp. y Ancylostoma sp. El grupo de primates no humanos presentó cargas parasitarias más altas con respecto a felinos, caninos y demás mamíferos del estudio. Los microorganismos identificados son reconocidos como parásitos causantes de complicaciones en animales cautivos y en libertad; al igual, son catalogados como posibles riesgos zoonóticos.

ABSTRACT Intestinal parasitosis in wild mammals is one of the main complications due to the exogenous conditions of captivity. They predispose the animal to physiological complications or secondary infections that prevent its rehabilitation and reintroduction. The objective is to determine the presence of gastrointestinal parasites in wild mammals from the Wildlife Care and Valuation Center of the San Emigdio Environmental Education Center, San Emigdio, Palmira (Colombia). Fecal samples were taken from 25 captive animals in Care and Valuation Center being analyzed using two techniques: a) assembly with 0.85% saline solution and 1% lugol solution and b) saturated solution flotation technique (Sheather) with a density of 1.28g/ml, with a 36% of positivity. Enterobius vermicularis, Fasciola sp., Entamoeba sp. and Ancylostoma sp. were found. The group of non-human primates had higher parasitic intensity compared to felines, canines and other mammals in the study. The identified microorganisms are recognized as parasites causing complications in captive animals and in free life; likewise, they are classified as possible zoonotic risks.

Into the wild and on to the table: A Western Trauma Association multicenter analysis and comparison of wilderness falls in rock climbers and nonclimbers.

BACKGROUND: Wilderness activities expose outdoor enthusiasts to austere environments with injury potential, including falls from height. The majority of published data on falls while climbing or hiking are from emergency departments. We sought to more accurately describe the injury pattern of wilderness falls that lead to serious injury requiring trauma center evaluation and to further distinguish climbing as a unique pattern of injury. METHODS: Data were collected from 17 centers in 11 states on all wilderness falls (fall from cliff: International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, e884.1; International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, w15.xx) from 2006 to 2018 as a Western Trauma Association multicenter investigation. Demographics, injury characteristics, and care delivery were analyzed. Comparative analyses were performed for climbing versus nonclimbing mechanisms. RESULTS: Over the 13-year study period, 1,176 wilderness fall victims were analyzed (301 climbers, 875 nonclimbers). Fall victims were male (76%), young (33 years), and moderately injured (Injury Severity Score, 12.8). Average fall height was 48 ft, and average rescue/transport time was 4 hours. Nineteen percent were intoxicated. The most common injury regions were soft tissue (57%), lower extremity (47%), head (40%), and spine (36%). Nonclimbers had a higher incidence of severe head and facial injuries despite having equivalent overall Injury Severity Score. On multivariate analysis, climbing remained independently associated with increased need for surgery but lower odds of composite intensive care unit admission/death. Contrary to studies of urban falls, height of fall in wilderness falls was not independently associated with mortality or Injury Severity Score. CONCLUSION: Wilderness falls represent a unique population with distinct patterns of predominantly soft tissue, head, and lower extremity injury. Climbers are younger, usually male, more often discharged home, and require more surgery but less critical care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiological, Level IV.

Mapping the concept, content and outcome of wilderness therapy for childhood cancer survivors: protocol for a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Long-term childhood cancer survivors are at risk for frailty and have significant health-related issues in adulthood. Various health promotion interventions have been proposed to enhance quality of life including wilderness therapy, which applies the impact of nature on health in a therapeutic context. Previous studies have described positive outcomes linked with various wilderness-related therapies for cancer survivors. However, there is no clarity on the role these therapies play in childhood cancer. The current scoping review aims to systematically map the concept, content and outcome of wilderness therapy for childhood cancer survivors. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This review will be guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers' manual for scoping reviews. A systematic literature search using medical subject headings (MeSH) and text words related to wilderness therapy and childhood cancer survivors will be performed in EMBASE, ERIC, Medline, Psycinfo, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus and Svemed+, Sociological Abstracts, supplemented by grey literature searches. Eligible quantitative and qualitative studies will be screened, included, assessed for quality and extracted for data by two reviewers independently. Results will be described in a narrative style, reported in extraction tables and diagrams, and where appropriate in themes and text. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study describes a protocol for a scoping review that will undertake secondary analysis of data already published in literature and is therefore exempt from medical ethical review. The scoping review will inform understanding of the benefits and risks of wilderness therapy for childhood cancer survivors, their families, practitioners, clinicians and researchers, and will help elucidate the steps necessary for building its evidence base going forward. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Diagnóstico de parásitos en heces del huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) en el centro y sur de Chile / Diagnosis of parasites in huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) feces from south and central Chile

RESUMEN Objetivo. Identificar parásitos en heces del huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) presente en áreas naturales protegidas del centro y sur de Chile y evaluar diferencias en la prevalencia de parásitos entre regiones y estaciones del año. Materiales y métodos. 200 muestras de heces de huemul fueron colectadas de distintas localidades de las regiones de Ñuble, Aysén y Magallanes a lo largo de todas las estaciones entre los años 2006 y 2008. Las muestras fueron analizadas utilizando las técnicas de flotación y sedimentación, para ser posteriormente observadas en el microscópio con el objetivo de detectar parásitos. Adicionalmente, se analizaron 124 de estas muestras para determinar la presencia de Fasciola hepatica. Resultados. El 38.0% (n = 76/200) de las muestras analizadas fueron positivas a algún parásito, observándose una prevalencia de 11.8% (n = 2/17) en Ñuble, 22.8% (n = 28/123) en Aysén y un 76.7% (n=46/60) en Magallanes. En Ñuble se encontraron huevos de Moniezia sp., mientras que en Aysén y Magallanes se identificaron huevos tipo Estrongílido, Nematodirus sp. y ooquistes de Eimeria spp. No se evidenció F. hepatica en las muestras analizadas. Se detectan diferencias de parasitismo entre las estaciones (p≤0.05) en Aysén y Magallanes. Conclusiones. La diferencia en la prevalencia y diversidad parasitaria entre regiones incluidas en este estudio pueden estar relacionadas con la disimilitud en la densidad poblacional de huemules y la masa ganadera de cada región. Es necesario continuar con monitoreos parasitológicos en poblaciones de huemul en Chile sur y central y estudiar la relación de esta especie con el ganado y la posible transmisión inter- e intraespecífica de parásitos.

ABSTRACT Objective. Identify parasites in huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) feces from natural protected areas of south-central Chile and evaluate differences in parasite prevalence between regions and seasons. Materials and methods. 200 fecal samples from huemul were collected during all seasons of the year from different localities of the Ñuble, Aysén and Magallanes regions between years 2006 and 2008. Samples were analyzed using flotation and sedimentation techniques and further observed with the microscope in order to detect parasites. Additionally, 124 samples were analyzed to determine the presence of Fasciola hepatica. Results. The 38.0% (n=76/200) of samples were positive to at least one parasite form, evidencing a prevalence of 11.8% (n = 2/17) in Ñuble, 22.8% (n = 28/123) in Aysén and a 76.7% (n=46/60) in Magallanes. Moniezia sp. eggs were found in the Ñuble region, meanwhile, Strongyle-type eggs, Nematodirus sp. eggs and Eimeria spp. oocysts were found in the Aysén and Magallanes regions. There was no evidence of F. hepatica during sample examination. Differences in parasitism were detected between seasons in Aysén and Magallanes (p≤0.05). Conclusions. Aysén and Magallanes regions showed a relatively higher prevalence and diversity of parasites than the Ñuble region. This could be related to differences in density of huemul populations and livestock in each region. Further parasitological surveys in huemul populations from central and southern Chile should be performed in the future. Studies involving the relationship between the huemul and livestock and the potential inter- and intraspecific transmission of parasites are also required.

Volatiles induction in response to mechanical damage is reduced by domestication in murtilla / La inducción de volátiles en respuesta al daño mecánico es reducida por la domesticación en murtilla

Volatiles compounds are involved in defensive induction against insects, playing an important role in insect-plant interaction being induced by response to mechanical damage. However, they could decrease according to the domestication degree in cultivated plants. Currently, it has been established that secondary metabolites are reduced due to the domestication process in murtilla. Hence, the follow question emerges: Are volatile organic compounds induced by mechanical damage reduced in cultivated murtilla plants in relation to wild plants? Two cultivated ecotypes and their respective wild counterparts were sampled. Volatiles compounds were obtained using Porapak-Q columns and analyzed by gas chromatography. Results showed that compounds as 2-hexanone, α-pinene, 2-thujene, 3-thujene and 1,8- cineole were more abundant in wild plants exposed to a mechanical damage than cultivated plants. Hence, these compounds have been associated to induced defense, these results suggest that domestication reduced the induction of defensive volatiles in cultivated murtilla in response to mechanical damage.

Los compuestos volátiles están implicados en la defensa inducida contra insectos, desempeñando un papel importante en esta interacción. Sin embargo, estos compuestos podrían disminuir según el grado de domesticación. Actualmente, se ha reportado que algunos metabolitos secundarios son reducidos en plantas de murtilla domesticadas. Por lo tanto, surge la siguiente pregunta de investigación: ¿Los compuestos orgánicos volátiles inducidos por el daño mecánico son reducidos en plantas cultivadas de murtilla en comparación con plantas silvestres? Para dos ecotipos cultivados y sus respectivas contrapartes silvestres, los compuestos volátiles fueron capturados usando columnas de Porapak-Q y las muestras analizadas por cromatografía gaseosa. Los resultados mostraron que compuestos tales como 2- hexanona, α-pineno, 2-tujeno, 3-tujeno y 1,8-cineol fueron más abundantes en plantas silvestres expuestas a daño mecánico que en cultivadas. Debido a que estos compuestos se han asociado a defensa inducida, estos resultados sugieren que la domesticación reduce la inducción de volátiles en plantas cultivadas sometidas a daño mecánico.

Descubriendo las relaciones de las personas con la naturaleza en Chile Central: estudio de caso en una comuna periurbana / Discovering people's relationships with nature in Central Chile: a case study in a peri-urban commune

La valoración social de la vida silvestre es reconocida como esencial para lograr una conservación biológica efectiva. Esto se fundamenta en la comprensión de las relaciones de las personas con la vida silvestre. Esta necesidad ya ha sido planteada en el contexto de las políticas ambientales internacionales. En Chile, ha sido explícitamente mencionada como relevante en la Estrategia Nacional de Biodiversidad, que declara la necesidad de un mejor entendimiento de cómo los ciudadanos chilenos están utilizando y valorando la biodiversidad. Sin embargo, en Chile aún existe poca evidencia científica al respecto. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo analizar las relaciones que las personas tienen con la naturaleza de su territorio de tal forma de establecer cuáles son las visiones que tienen sobre la fauna y flora. El estudio se desarrolla en un área periurbana de la Región Metropolitana de Santiago de Chile. El enfoque utilizado para el análisis de las relaciones personas-vida silvestre fue cualitativo, con base en la Teoría Fundamentada. A través del estudio se evidenció que la naturaleza es identificada por los habitantes por medio de elementos tangibles de su entorno natural, la cual se constituye a través de una relación entre el individuo, la sociedad y el mundo físico. Los resultados muestran una gran importancia de los bosques de quillay (Quillaja saponaria) para los participantes lo cual da luces sobre la relevancia que tiene el contexto socio-cultural en el cual se llevan a cabo las valoraciones sociales de la vida silvestre, dado que en este tipo de estudios la fauna generalmente emerge como más relevante. En Chile, a excepción de unos pocos estudios científicos, existen muy pocas experiencias publicadas que aborden la importancia social de plantas particulares. Con este estudio pretendemos aportar a la literatura científica con un estudio de caso así como también contribuir a la gestión de la conservación del área.

The social assessment of wildlife is recognized as essential to achieve effective biological conservation. This is based on the understanding of people's relationships with wildlife. This need has already been raised in the context of international environmental policies. In Chile, it has been explicitly mentioned as relevant in the National Biodiversity Strategy, which declares the need for a better understanding of how Chilean citizens are using and valuing biodiversity. However, in Chile there is still little scientific evidence in this regard. This article aims to analyze the relationships that people have with nature in their territory in order to establish what the visions that they have on fauna and flora are. The study is carried out in a peri-urban area of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile. The approach used for the analysis of people-wildlife relationships was qualitative, based on the Grounded Theory. Through the study it was shown that nature is identified by the inhabitants through tangible elements of their natural environment, which is constituted through a relationship between the individual, society and the physical world. The results show a great importance of the quillay forests (Quillaja saponaria) for the participants which gives light on the relevance of the socio-cultural context in which social assessment of wildlife are carried out, given that in this type of studies fauna generally emerges as more relevant. With the exception of a few scientific studies, there are very few published experiences in Chile that address the social importance of particular plants. This study intends to contribute to the scientific literature with a case study, as well as to contribute to the management of the conservation of the area.

Conocimiento tradicional de la flora silvestre en las comunidades campesinas del Santuario Histórico de la Pampa de Ayacucho (Quinua, Ayacucho, Perú) / Traditional knowledge of the wild flora in the rural communities of the Pampa de Ayacucho Historic Sanctuary (Quinua, Ayacucho, Peru)

El presente estudio registra el uso, conocimiento tradicional y distribución de la flora silvestre en las ocho comunidades campesinas andinas que rodean al Santuario Histórico de la Pampa de Ayacucho, ubicada en el distrito de Quinua, Perú. La metodología se basó en la recolección de la flora silvestre utilizada por los pobladores, entrevistas abiertas y semiestructuradas. Se reportan 137 especies utilizadas, agrupadas en 49 familias y 101 géneros, siendo las familias Asteraceae, Poaceae y Fabaceae las de mayor número de especies, con 34, 11 y 9 especies respectivamente. Las especies fueron clasificadas en nueve categorías de usos, siendo las categorías Medicinal (91 especies), Social (46 especies) y Alimenticio (35 especies) las más representativas por el número de especies que presentan. Se concluye que los pobladores del área de estudio aún conservan el conocimiento tradicional de sus recursos vegetales, evidenciado en el número de especies y en la diversidad de usos que presentan.

This study records the use, traditional knowledge and distribution of the wild flora in the eight Andean rural communities surrounding the Pampa de Ayacucho Historic Sanctuary, placed in the Quinua District, Peru. The methodology was based on the collection of the wild flora used by local people, open and semi-structured interviews. A total of 137 species used, grouped in 49 families and 101 genera, were registered; Asteraceae, Poaceae and Fabaceae are the families with the highest number of species, with 34, 11 and 9 species respectively. The species were classified into nine categories of uses; being the categories Medicinal (91 species), Social (46 species) and Food (35 species) being the most representative by the number of species present. We conclude that people living in the study area still maintaining the traditional knowledge of their vegetal resources, evidenced by the number of species and the diversity of uses that they present.

Heracleum orphanidis: chemical characterisation, and comparative evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities with specific interest in the influence on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

GC-FID and GC-MS were used to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil of the aerial parts of Heracleum orphanidis Boiss. Also, the HPLC-DAD/ESI-ToF-MS profile of the methanol extracts of aerial parts and roots was determined. The main components of the essential oil were n-octanol, octyl hexanoate and n-octyl acetate, while coumarins were the most prevalent compounds in methanol extracts. An evaluation of antioxidant activity showed that the methanol and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts had the highest potential. In terms of antimicrobial activity determined by microdilution assays, the essential oil and methanol extract of the roots showed the greatest effectiveness. The colonies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 treated with H. orphanidis samples produced less toxic pyocyanin, showed lower twitching and flagella mobility and biofilm formatting was reduced. The analyses in this study showed the considerable biological potential of H. orphanidis considering free radicals and various pathogenic strains, including the wild type of P. aeruginosa.

Restrain of birds with bottles of polyethylene terephthalate, tested in red-browed from the Atlantic Forest / Contenção de aves com garrafas de politereftalato de etileno, testado em papagaios-chauá (Amazona rhodocorytha,Salvadori, 1890) da Mata Atlântica

In wild animals, containment is the moment of greatest stress caused by the investigator to the animal due to its natural resistance to the moment of capture, handling, containment and transport, attitudes frankly contrary to his nature. In birds, the restraint must meet certain criteria in order to control the animal's movements, avoiding trauma at the same time that you need to keep your breathing amplitude. The high risk of death during the restraint of these animals raised the need to design a device, from bottles of poly ethylene terephthalate (PET), for containing parrots-browed Amazon (Amazona rhodocorytha), a parrot endemic to the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil, and endangered with extinction, which allowed the observation of respiration, the reduction of handling time of birds for collection of biological material, and consequent reduction of stress and risk of death during the evaluation of several biological data and health of the bird. The PET bottle container can be used as a model for any bird, provided it suits the size of the animal.

Em animais silvestres, a contenção é o momento de maior estresse promovido pelo pesquisador ao animal, devido à resistência natural ao momento da captura, ao manuseio, à contenção e ao transporte, atitudes francamente contrárias à sua índole. Em aves, a contenção deve obedecer a alguns critérios, com o objetivo de controlar os movimentos do animal, evitando traumas, ao mesmo tempo em que é preciso manter sua amplitude respiratória. O alto risco de morte, durante a contenção desses animais, suscitou a concepção de um dispositivo, proveniente de garrafas de politereftalato de etileno (PET), para a contenção de papagaios-chauá (Amazona rhodocorytha), psitacídeo endêmico da Mata Atlântica, na região Sudeste do Brasil, e ameaçado de extinção. Esse dispositivo permitiu a observação dos movimentos respiratórios, a diminuição do tempo de manuseio das aves, para coleta de materiais biológicos, e a consequente redução do estresse e dos riscos de morte, durante a avaliação de diversos dados biológicos e sanitários dessa ave. Tal contenção pode ser utilizada como modelo para qualquer outra ave, desde que se adapte o tamanho do animal, ao recipiente de garrafa PET.

A cross-sectional survey of occupational history as a wildland firefighter and health.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the impact of long-term wildland firefighting on health. Our objective was to investigate associations between duration of wildland firefighting experience and the prevalence of self-reported health outcomes. METHODS: We ascertained employment, health, and demographic information on 499 current wildland firefighters (WLFFs) via questionnaire. RESULTS: Relative to those with less than 10 years of experience as a WLFF, those with 10-19 years of experience had significantly greater odds of having ever been diagnosed with hypertension, as did those with 20 or more years of experience. Significant associations were observed for report of physician-diagnosed heart arrhythmia and previous knee surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We observed significant links between a greater number of years as a WLFF and self-report of two subclinical cardiovascular risk factors as well as markers of musculoskeletal health. Additional studies are needed to determine if findings can be generalized to all WLFFs.

Impacts of deforestation on the incidence of diseases in the Brazilian Amazon / Discussion Paper 212 : Impacts of deforestation on the incidence of diseases in the brazilian Amazon

O limitado conhecimento sobre os efeitos do desmatamento na saúde humana é uma lacuna importante para a gestão ambiental e da saúde no Brasil e no mundo. A fim de avaliar a sua ocorrência e magnitude, foi realizada uma análise de painel, ligação de dados sobre o desmatamento e doenças de notificação por município e ano, cobrindo 773 municípios na Amazônia entre 2004 e 2012. Foi realizado estimativas separadamente para cada doença, com a inclusão de controla para efeitos fixos do município, características socioeconômicas e de prestação de serviços públicos de saúde. Entre as doenças que tinham dados suficientes para análise, verificou-se que o desmatamento tem um efeito significativo sobre a leishmaniose e malária: em média aumenta, anuais de 1% no municipal chumbo área desmatada para um aumento entre 14,5% e 23,2% na incidência de malária e entre 5,12% e 9,26% na incidência de leishmaniose. Por outro lado, estatisticamente significativos efeitos não foram detectadas para as doenças indicadas como fortes candidatos por alguns autores. Os resultados confirmam a existência de custos de desmatamento relacionadas com a saúde, embora estas não se aplicam a uma ampla gama de doenças. Destaca-se a existência de custos de desmatamento relacionadas com a saúde na Amazônia, que devem ser tidos em conta tanto na gestão da saúde pública e na tomada de decisões em termos de capital natural.

Oil and gas wells and pipelines on U.S. wildlife refuges: challenges for managers.

The increased demand for oil and gas places a burden on lands set aside for natural resource conservation. Oil and gas development alters the environment locally and on a much broader spatial scale depending on the intensity and extent of mineral resource extraction. The current increase in oil and gas exploration and production in the United States prompted an update of the number of pipelines and wells associated with oil and gas production on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands. We obtained geospatial data on the location of oil and gas wells and pipelines within and close to the boundaries of NWRS lands (units) acquired as fee simple (i.e. absolute title to the surface land) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We found that 5,002 wells are located in 107 NWRS units and 595 pipelines transect 149 of the 599 NWRS units. Almost half of the wells (2,196) were inactive, one-third (1,665) were active, and the remainder of the wells were either plugged and abandoned or the status was unknown. Pipelines crossed a total of 2,155 kilometers (1,339 miles) of NWRS fee simple lands. The high level of oil and gas activity warrants follow up assessments for wells lacking information on production type or well status with emphasis on verifying the well status and identifying abandoned and unplugged wells. NWRS fee simple lands should also be assessed for impacts from brine, oil and other hydrocarbon spills, as well as habitat alteration associated with oil and gas, including the identification of abandoned oil and gas facilities requiring equipment removal and site restoration.