Attitudes and misconceptions towards sharks and shark meat consumption along the Peruvian coast.

Misconceptions, lack of knowledge, and negative attitudes towards sharks act as barriers preventing actions required to tackle threats to shark populations, limiting the success of global shark conservation initiatives. Peru, a major player for the international trade of shark products, recently approved the 'National Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras' (PAN-Tib); a guiding document for conservation initiatives aimed at these fishes. Within PAN-Tib, the assessment of Peruvians' current knowledge and attitudes towards sharks is listed as a research priority. Between June and October 2016, 2004 Peruvians were surveyed along the coast to characterize their (i) shark meat consumption patterns, and (ii) knowledge and attitudes towards sharks. Results suggest that shark meat consumption is extended, but not necessarily frequent, and higher in the northern regions of the country. However, 77.5% of shark meat consumers were unaware that they had eaten sharks. Although 57.6% of the participants recognized that sharks are present in Peruvian waters, only 19.4% of the surveyed population was capable of naming at least one local shark species. Moreover, Peruvians have very negative attitudes towards sharks. They fear them and view them as man-eaters, despite this, no shark attacks have ever been reported in the country. These results highlight the need to: (i) encourage sustainable shark meat consumption, and (ii) promote communication campaigns aimed at increasing knowledge about sharks, and their importance as a source of employment and food for coastal communities, as for the national economy.

Identifying areas of deforestation risk for REDD+ using a species modeling tool.

BACKGROUND: To implement the REDD+ mechanism (Reducing Emissions for Deforestation and Forest Degradation, countries need to prioritize areas to combat future deforestation CO2 emissions, identify the drivers of deforestation around which to develop mitigation actions, and quantify and value carbon for financial mechanisms. Each comes with its own methodological challenges, and existing approaches and tools to do so can be costly to implement or require considerable technical knowledge and skill. Here, we present an approach utilizing a machine learning technique known as Maximum Entropy Modeling (Maxent) to identify areas at high deforestation risk in the study area in Madre de Dios, Peru under a business-as-usual scenario in which historic deforestation rates continue. We link deforestation risk area to carbon density values to estimate future carbon emissions. We quantified area deforested and carbon emissions between 2000 and 2009 as the basis of the scenario. RESULTS: We observed over 80,000 ha of forest cover lost from 2000-2009 (0.21% annual loss), representing over 39 million Mg CO2. The rate increased rapidly following the enhancement of the Inter Oceanic Highway in 2005. Accessibility and distance to previous deforestation were strong predictors of deforestation risk, while land use designation was less important. The model performed consistently well (AUC > 0.9), significantly better than random when we compared predicted deforestation risk to observed. If past deforestation rates continue, we estimate that 132,865 ha of forest could be lost by the year 2020, representing over 55 million Mg CO2. CONCLUSIONS: Maxent provided a reliable method for identifying areas at high risk of deforestation and the major explanatory variables that could draw attention for mitigation action planning under REDD+. The tool is accessible, replicable and easy to use; all necessary for producing good risk estimates and adapt models after potential landscape change. We propose this approach for developing countries planning to meet requirements under REDD+.

Linfoma testicular: incidencia, descripción epidemiológica y manejo durante el período 2005-2011 / Testicular lymphoma: incidence, epidemiologic description and management during the 2005-2011 period

El linfoma testicular es una patología infrecuente, correspondiendo al 9 por ciento de los cánceres testiculares, presentándose más frecuentemente entre los 60 a 80 años (25-50 por ciento). La presentación clínica más frecuente es el aumento de volumen unilateral e indo/oro. El tipo histológico más común es linfoma difuso de células grandes B (60-90 por ciento). La orquidectomía radical asociada a quimioterapia y radioterapia es la primera línea de tratamiento para los pacientes con enfermedad limitada. Material y método: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo. Se revisó y filtró la lista de pacientes ingresados al SIGGES como tumor testicular entre enero 2005 a abril 2011. De los pacientes con diagnóstico histológico e inmunohistoquímico compatible, se registraron las características epidemiológicas, estudio, manejo y sobrevida. Posteriormente se realizó un análisis de la base de datos con el programa estadístico SPSS 13. 0. Resultados: De un total de 299 pacientes con el diagnóstico histológico de cáncer testicular, 8 pacientes fueron diagnosticados como linfoma testicular confirmado por histología e inmunohistoquímica. El promedio y mediana de edad fue 52 años y 63 años (18-73) respectivamente. Tres casos (37,5 por ciento) correspondieron a presentaciones secundarias. En 6 de los casos (75 por ciento) el testículo afectado fue el derecho. Histológicamente, el 63 por ciento correspondió a Linfoma difuso de células grande B. Clínicamente, el todos los casos se presentaron con aumento de volumen y con marcadores en rango normal. En 7 casos (8 7, 5 por ciento) el diagnóstico y manejo inicial fue mediante orquidectomía radical, y en un caso por biopsia testicular, con orquidectomía posterior 3 casos presentaron diseminación...

esticular lymphoma is a rare disease, happening in 9 percent of testicular cancers, most commonly between the ages 60 to 80 years (25 percent-50 percent). The most common presentation is unilateral indolent testicular growth. Histology shows a diffuse big B cell lymphoma in most of the cases (60 percent-90 percent). Radical orchiectomy, chemotherapy and radiation are the first line therapy for patients with limited disease. Materials and methods: Retrospective clinical study. We included and filtered the SIGGES list of patients admitted for Testicular Tumor from January 2005 to April 2011. Patients with a compatible diagnosis were analyzed, using SPSS 13.0® as statistical software. Result: Of a total number of 299 testicular cancer patients 8 presented with a histological and inmunnohistochemical testicular lymphoma. Mean age was 52 years and the median 63 years (18-73). ln three cases (37.5 percent) it was a secondary localization. ln 6 cases ( 75 percent) the affected testicle was the right one. 63 percent corresponded to a diffuse big cell B cell Lymphoma. All patients presented normal tumor markers. ln 7 (87,5 percent) cases the initial treatment was radical orchiectomy in one patient the diagnosis was don through a testicular biopsy, and the orchidectomy was differed. 3 cases presented dissemination. In 7 patients adjuvant chemotherapy was performed. Mortal/ty was 38 percent with a 1 7-month follow-up. Conclusion: Testicular lymphoma is a rare condition with bad prognosis. Histology is fundamental for treatment, an in this sense inmunohystochemcal analysis is especially helpful...

Cirugía percutánea renal bilateral simultánea en decúbito supino: experiencia inicial / Percutaneous bilateral renal surgery in supine position: initial experience

La litiasis renal bilateral voluminosa es un desafío quirúrgico para el endourólogo. La cirugía percutánea bilateral simultánea (CPRBS) es una modalidad aceptada, tanto en adultos como niños, sin embargo existe poca literatura al respecto. Presentamos nuestra experiencia de 3 pacientes (6 unidades renales) en posición de Valdivia-Galdakao. Incluimos el primer reporte mundial de un caso de CPRBS tubeless bilateral en de cúbito supino...

Simultaneous bilateral PCNL (SBPCNL) is a safe procedure and can be used effectively in adults as well as in children. In addition to being cost effective, it involves only a single anesthesia with a shorter hospital stay and faster convalescence. We present our initial experience of 3 cases (6 renal units) in supine position. We include the first report to our knowledge of a tubeless SBPCNL in supine position...

Aspectos conductuales de la competencia de esperma en aves / Behavioral aspects of sperm competition in birds

La teoría de la selección sexual ha sido un complemento clave a la teoría draconiana de selección natural y tiene dos componentes. La selección intersexual, se refiere a la elección de pareja por miembros del sexo opuesto. La selección intrasexual, hace referencia a la competencia entre congéneres por un compañero sexual. La selección da lugar a la competencia de esperma. En este artículo se presentan los principales aspectos conductuales de la competencia de esperma en aves. Se destacan las copulaciones extra-par, que favorecen la competencia de esperma. Se discuten igualmente la territorialidad (competencia pre-copulatoria) y la protección de pareja (competencia post-copulatoria), en donde los machos permanecen frente a sus compañeras por largos periodos de tiempo, cuidando así a la hembra de copulaciones extra-par