Neotropics as a Cradle for Adaptive Radiations.

Neotropical ecosystems are renowned for numerous examples of adaptive radiation in both plants and animals resulting in high levels of biodiversity and endemism. However, we still lack a comprehensive review of the abiotic and biotic factors that contribute to these adaptive radiations. To fill this gap, we delve into the geological history of the region, including the role of tectonic events such as the Andean uplift, the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, and the emergence of the Guiana and Brazilian Shields. We also explore the role of ecological opportunities created by the emergence of new habitats, as well as the role of key innovations, such as novel feeding strategies or reproductive mechanisms. We discuss different examples of adaptive radiation, including classic ones like Darwin's finches and Anolis lizards, and more recent ones like bromeliads and lupines. Finally, we propose new examples of adaptive radiations mediated by ecological interactions in their geological context. By doing so, we provide insights into the complex interplay of factors that contributed to the remarkable diversity of life in the Neotropics and highlight the importance of this region in understanding the origins of biodiversity.

Cholec80-CVS: An open dataset with an evaluation of Strasberg's critical view of safety for AI.

Strasberg's criteria to detect a critical view of safety is a widely known strategy to reduce bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In spite of its popularity and efficiency, recent studies have shown that human miss-identification errors have led to important bile duct injuries occurrence rates. Developing tools based on artificial intelligence that facilitate the identification of a critical view of safety in cholecystectomy surgeries can potentially minimize the risk of such injuries. With this goal in mind, we present Cholec80-CVS, the first open dataset with video annotations of Strasberg's Critical View of Safety (CVS) criteria. Our dataset contains CVS criteria annotations provided by skilled surgeons for all videos in the well-known Cholec80 open video dataset. We consider that Cholec80-CVS is the first step towards the creation of intelligent systems that can assist humans during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Sars-CoV-2 infection rate in employees of a medium and high complexity hospital / Velocidad de la infección con Sars-CoV-2, en funcionarios en un hospital de mediana y alta complejidad

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was originally identified in the city of Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Current evidence indicates that the COVID-19-causing virus is transmitted person-to-person through direct contact and droplets. Objective: To estimate Sars-CoV-2 virus infection rate in hospital employees according to their job responsibilities. Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort study to detect Sars-CoV-2 infection in hospital employees, carried out between February 2020 and October 2021. The Kaplan Meier procedure was carried out to estimate the virus infection rate based on variables such as gender, age and job description. Results: There was a difference in infection rate between young and older adult age groups (Log Rank=18.6 gl=1 p=<0.0001). A significant difference was also found between young adult and older adult groups (Log Rank=10.6 gl=1 p=0.0011). Conclusions: The older adult group showed a higher infection rate than that observed in younger age groups. These findings highlight the occupational risk of Sars-CoV-2 infection in health workers, especially in older employees. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain safety measures in order to reduce infection risks.

Introducción: La enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 se identificó originalmente en la ciudad de Wuhan, China, en diciembre de 2019. La evidencia actual indica que el virus que causa la COVID-19 se transmite de persona a persona a través del contacto directo y gotitas. Objetivo: Estimar la tasa de infección por el virus Sars-CoV-2 en empleados de hospitales según sus responsabilidades laborales. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo para detectar infección por Sars-CoV-2 en empleados de hospitales, realizado entre febrero 2020 y octubre 2021. Se realizó el procedimiento de Kaplan Meier para estimar la tasa de infección del virus según género, edad y descripción del trabajo. Resultados: Hubo una diferencia en la tasa de infección entre los grupos de edad de adultos jóvenes y mayores (Log Rank=18,6 gl=1 p=<0,0001). Se encontró una diferencia significativa entre grupos de adultos jóvenes y adultos mayores (Log Rank=10.6 gl=1 p=0.0011). Conclusiones: Los adultos mayores presentaron una tasa de infección superior a la observada en grupos de edades más jóvenes. Se resalta el riesgo ocupacional de infección por Sars-CoV-2 en los trabajadores de la salud, especialmente en los empleados de mayor edad. Es necesario mantener las medidas de seguridad para reducir los riesgos de infección.

Phenolic and anthocyanin content characterization related to genetic diversity analysis of Solanum tuberosum subsp. tuberosum Chilotanum Group in southern Chile.

The potato (Solanum tuberosum L) is one of the four most important crops worldwide in production and consumption. It originated from South America along the Andes, where six hotspots of diversity known as subcenters of origin are described from Venezuela to Chiloe Island in Chile, and where the greatest diversity of potatoes in the world is found. Today, the use of ancestral genetic resources has gained significant relevance, recovering and producing foods with a greater nutrient content and beneficial to human health. Therefore, native potatoes possess a set of characteristics with great potential for use in potato breeding guided primarily to produce better feed, especially potatoes of the Chilotanum Group that are easily crossed with conventional varieties. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate 290 accessions of S. tuberosum subsp tuberosum belonging to the Chilotanum Group using a set of molecular markers and correlate them to its phenotypic traits for future use in breeding programs. For this purpose, 290 accessions were analysed through 22 specific microsatellites described previously, correlating them with flesh and skin colour, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content. A division into groups considering all the 290 accessions resulted in two clusters using STRUCTURE analysis and seven different genetic clusters using UPGMA. The latter exhibited common phenotypic characteristics as well as anthocyanin content, strongly supporting a correlation between phenotypic traits and the genetic fingerprint. These results will enable breeders to focus on the development of potatoes with high polyphenol and anthocyanin content.

Relict inland mangrove ecosystem reveals Last Interglacial sea levels.

Climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene played a major role in shaping the spatial distribution and demographic dynamics of Earth's biota, including our own species. The Last Interglacial (LIG) or Eemian Period (ca. 130 to 115 thousand years B.P.) was particularly influential because this period of peak warmth led to the retreat of all ice sheets with concomitant changes in global sea level. The impact of these strong environmental changes on the spatial distribution of marine and terrestrial ecosystems was severe as revealed by fossil data and paleogeographic modeling. Here, we report the occurrence of an extant, inland mangrove ecosystem and demonstrate that it is a relict of the LIG. This ecosystem is currently confined to the banks of the freshwater San Pedro Mártir River in the interior of the Mexico-Guatemala El Petén rainforests, 170 km away from the nearest ocean coast but showing the plant composition and physiognomy typical of a coastal lagoon ecosystem. Integrating genomic, geologic, and floristic data with sea level modeling, we present evidence that this inland ecosystem reached its current location during the LIG and has persisted there in isolation ever since the oceans receded during the Wisconsin glaciation. Our study provides a snapshot of the Pleistocene peak warmth and reveals biotic evidence that sea levels substantially influenced landscapes and species ranges in the tropics during this period.

Factores asociados al síndrome de desgaste laboral en auxiliares de enfermería / Factors associated with burnout syndrome in nursing assistants

Introducción: El Síndrome de Desgaste Laboral o Burnout, es entendido como una baja resiliencia para afrontar el estrés laboral. Objetivo: Identificar factores asociados al Burnout y la prevalencia global y de cada uno de sus constructos, entre auxiliares de enfermería en un hospital de referencia de mediana y alta complejidad, en Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de casos y controles, con 183 auxiliares registradas en un hospital. Se utilizó el instrumento de Maslach y se identificaron los factores asociados utilizando la regresión Log-Binomial determinando los Odds Ratio (OR). Resultados: Los factores encontrados asociados con Burnout que aumentan la probabilidad de ocurrencia son: trabajar más de 48 horas por semana, OR=1,02 (1,01-1.05) al 90% de confianza; sentirse mal con el trabajo que se realiza OR=3,87 (1,18-10,71); el dormir siete horas o más al día OR=0,70 (0,53-0,91), disminuye la probabilidad. La prevalencia total de Burnout fue 44,7%, siendo 11,8% para agotamiento personal, 14,9% despersonalización y 47,81% pobre realización personal. Conclusiones: Los factores asociados: no dormir suficiente y sentirse mal con la tarea que se realiza, aumentan la probabilidad de desarrollar Burnout, mientras que dormir 7 o más horas diarias la disminuye. Estos hallazgos facilitarán la aplicación de medidas de control institucional.

Introduction: The Burnout syndrome is understood as a low resilience to face work stress. Objective: To identify factors and constructs associated with Burnout and its overall prevalence in nursing assistants in a reference hospital of medium and high complexity level from Colombia. Materials and methods: A case-control study was conducted on 183 nursing assistants from a hospital. The Maslach instrument and Log-Binomial regression were used to identify associated factors, determining their Odds Ratio (OR). Results: The factors found associated with Burnout that increase its probability of occurrence are: working more than 48 hours a week (OR=1.02 (1.01-1.05) 90% CI) and feeling negatively about the work being done (OR=3.87 (1.18-10.71)). However, sleeping 7 or more hours a day reduces such probability (OR=0.70 (0.53-0.91)). The total Burnout prevalence was 44.7%, the main causes being personal fatigue (11.8%), depersonalization (14.9%), and poor personal fulfillment (47.81%). Conclusions: Associated factors, such as not getting enough sleep and feeling negatively about the work being done, increase the probability to develop Burnout, while this probability decreases by sleeping 7 or more hours a day. These findings will facilitate the implementation of institutional control measures.

Natural selection maintains species despite frequent hybridization in the desert shrub Encelia.

Natural selection is an important driver of genetic and phenotypic differentiation between species. For species in which potential gene flow is high but realized gene flow is low, adaptation via natural selection may be a particularly important force maintaining species. For a recent radiation of New World desert shrubs (Encelia: Asteraceae), we use fine-scale geographic sampling and population genomics to determine patterns of gene flow across two hybrid zones formed between two independent pairs of species with parapatric distributions. After finding evidence for extremely strong selection at both hybrid zones, we use a combination of field experiments, high-resolution imaging, and physiological measurements to determine the ecological basis for selection at one of the hybrid zones. Our results identify multiple ecological mechanisms of selection (drought, salinity, herbivory, and burial) that together are sufficient to maintain species boundaries despite high rates of hybridization. Given that multiple pairs of Encelia species hybridize at ecologically divergent parapatric boundaries, such mechanisms may maintain species boundaries throughout Encelia.

Colecistectomía subtotal: una alternativa en el manejo de la colecistectomía difícil / Subtotal cholecystectomy: an alternative in the management of difficult cholecystectomy

Introducción. Alrededor de un 10 % de las laparoscopias se convierten a cirugía abierta por dificultades en obtener una visión crítica durante la colecistectomía en colecistitis severas. La colecistectomía subtotal es una posibilidad terapéutica disponible, que disminuye la tasa de conversión en cirugía laparoscópica y mantiene bajas tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad. Métodos. Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, de pacientes sometidos a colecistectomía subtotal en la Clínica CES (Medellín, Colombia) entre enero y diciembre de 2015. Se identificaron variables demográficas, detalles de la cirugía, morbilidad y mortalidad. Resultados. De un total de 710 colecistectomías en dicho periodo, a 17 (2,4 %) se les realizó colecistectomía sub-total. Quince (88 %) de ellas fueron por laparoscopia y dos requirieron conversión. La distribución en cuanto a sexo fue similar (10 mujeres / 7 hombres) y la edad promedio fue de 51 años. El tiempo quirúrgico promedio fue de 119 minutos. En 14 (82 %) pacientes se dejó drenaje subhepático. Dos pacientes presentaron fístula biliar y un paciente reingresó por un hematoma; no se presentaron otras complicaciones. La estancia hospitalaria promedio fue de 5,2 días. Discusión. La colecistectomía subtotal es una alternativa en pacientes con colecistectomía difícil y en nuestra experiencia presenta una alta tasa de éxito

Introduction. About 10% of laparoscopies are converted to open surgery due to difficulties in obtaining critical vision during cholecystectomy in severe cholecystitis. Subtotal cholecystectomy is an available therapeutic possibi-lity, which decreases the conversion rate in laparoscopic surgery and maintains low morbidity and mortality rates.Methods. Descriptive, retrospective study of patients who underwent subtotal cholecystectomy between January and December 2015. Demographic variables, details of surgery, morbidity and mortality were identified.Results. Of a total of 710 cholecystectomies in that period, 17 (2.4%) underwent subtotal cholecystectomy. Fifteen (88%) of them were by laparoscopy and two required conversion. The gender distribution was similar (10 women/7 men) and the average age was 51 years. The average surgical time was 119 minutes. Subhepatic drainage was left in 14 (82%) patients. Two patients had a biliary fistula and one patient was readmitted for a hematoma; there were no other complications. The average hospital stay was 5.2 days.Discussion. Subtotal cholecystectomy is an alternative in patients with difficult cholecystectomy and in our experience, it has a high success rate

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus safensis RP10, Isolated from Soil in the Atacama Desert, Chile.

Genome analysis of Bacillus safensis RP10, a strain from the soil of Atacama Desert in northern Chile, reflects a bacterium adapted to live in soil containing high levels of heavy metals, high salt conditions, and low carbon and energy sources.

Determinación de intervalos biológicos de referencia para adultos en el equipo hematológico BC-5000 de la Escuela de Microbiología de la Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 2017 / Determination of reference biological intervals in a hematology analyzer BC-5000 of the Microbiology School of the University of Antioquia, Medellin 2017

RESUMEN Introducción: los valores del hemograma en adultos pueden variar de acuerdo con factores como el origen étnico, la edad, el sexo y la altura sobre el nivel del mar, por lo cual es indispensable conocer intervalos biológicos asociados a nuestra población. Por esto el objetivo de nuestro estudio fue determinar intervalos biológicos de referencia (IBR) para adultos en un equipo hematológico BC-5000. Metodología: estudio descriptivo transversal con 111 donantes entre 18 y 62 años de un banco de sangre de Medellín. Se realizó un hemograma, proteína C reactiva y ferritina. Se calcularon los IBR siguiendo las recomendaciones de la Federación Internacional de Química Clínica. La comparación de los IBR según sexo se realizó con la prueba T-student. Resultados: los IBR calculados mediante la fórmula X ± (DS * 1,96) mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre hombres y mujeres para el recuento de la mayoría de los parámetros. Se obtuvieron medias estadísticas mayores en mujeres para el recuento de leucocitos y plaquetas, recuentos absolutos y relativos de algunas células blancas, volumen plaquetario medio (VPM) y plaquetocrito (PCT). Discusión: la presencia de andrógenos en el sexo masculino, inductores del sistema eritropoyético, así como los estrógenos y el período menstrual, supresores del mismo, pueden explicar los valores menores en el recuento eritrocitario, en los rangos de hemoglobina, hematocrito y glóbulos rojos en las mujeres. Las altas cargas de estrógenos e interleucinas 6 y 10 en las mujeres amplían la vida media de células como linfocitos, explicando la diferencia en el recuento leucocitario a expensas de linfocitos encontrados en el presente estudio.

SUMMARY Introduction: The adult hemogram values can vary according factors such as ethnic origin, age, sex and level above the sea, whereby it is essential to know the biological intervals associated to our own population. Therefore, the objective of our study was to determine biological reference intervals (BRI) for adults with the hematological equipment BC-5000. Methods: This is a transversal descriptive study with 111 blood bank donors from Medellín, between 18 62 years old. Hemogram, Creactive protein and ferritin were done. The BRI were calculated according to the recommendations of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC), with the formula X ± (DS * 1, 96). BRI comparison according sex was carried out with the t-student test. Results: Calculated BRI by X ± (DS * 1, 96) formula, showed statistically significant differences (P < 0, 05) between men and women for count in most of the parameters. Higher statistical means were obtain in women for the count of leukocytes and platelets, absolute counts of some white cells, VPN y PCT. Discussion: The presence of androgens in the male sex, inductors of the erythropoiesis system, as well as the estrogens and menstrual period, suppressor of this system, can explain the lower values in the female erythrocyte count, the hemoglobin, hematocrit and red cell lower ranges. The high estrogen and interleukins 6 and 1 loads in women, drive the extended half-life of some cells like lymphocytes, that can explain the difference in leucocyte count found in the present study.

A new species of Escallonia (Escalloniaceae) from the inter-Andean tropical dry forests of Bolivia.

Over the last two decades, renewed fieldwork in poorly explored areas of the tropical Andes has dramatically increased the comparative material available to study patterns of inter- and intraspecific variation in tropical plants. In the course of a comprehensive study of the genus Escallonia, we found a group of specimens with decumbent branching, small narrowly elliptic leaves, inflorescences with up to three flowers, and flowers with red petals. This unique combination of traits was not present in any known species of the genus. To evaluate the hypothesis that these specimens belonged to a new species, we assessed whether morphological variation between the putative new species and all currently known Escallonia species was discontinuous. The lack of overlap in tolerance regions for vegetative and reproductive traits combined with differences in habit, habitat, and geographic distribution supported the hypothesis of the new species, which we named Escallonia harrisii. The new species grows in sandstone inter-Andean ridges and cliffs covered with dry forest, mostly on steep slopes between 1,300-2,200 m in southern Bolivia. It is readily distinct in overall leaf and flower morphology from other Escallonia species in the region, even though it does not grow in sympatry with other species. Because E. harrisii is locally common it may not be threated at present, but due to its restricted geographic distribution and the multiple threats of the tropical dry forests it could become potentially vulnerable.

Draft genome sequence of Exiguobacterium aurantiacum strain PN47 isolate from saline ponds, known as "Salar del Huasco", located in the Altiplano in the North of Chile

ABSTRACT In this report, we present a draft genome of 2,886,173 bp of an Exiguobacterium aurantiacum strain PN47 isolate from the sediment of a saline pond named "Salar del Huasco" in the Altiplano in the North of Chile. Strain PN47 encodes adaptive characteristics enabling survival in extreme environmental conditions of high heavy metal and salt concentrations and high alkalinity.

Draft genome sequence of Exiguobacterium aurantiacum strain PN47 isolate from saline ponds, known as Salar del Huasco, located in the Altiplano in the North of Chile

In this report, we present a draft genome of 2,886,173 bp of an Exiguobacterium aurantiacum strain PN47 isolate from the sediment of a saline pond named “Salar del Huasco” in the Altiplano in the North of Chile. Strain PN47 encodes adaptive characteristics enabling survival in extreme environmental conditions of high heavy metal and salt concentrations and high alkalinity.(AU)

Issues and Perspectives in Species Delimitation using Phenotypic Data: Atlantean Evolution in Darwin's Finches.

Progress in the development and use of methods for species delimitation employing phenotypic data lags behind conceptual and practical advances in molecular genetic approaches. The basic evolutionary model underlying the use of phenotypic data to delimit species assumes random mating and quantitative polygenic traits, so that phenotypic distributions within a species should be approximately normal for individuals of the same sex and age. Accordingly, two or more distinct normal distributions of phenotypic traits suggest the existence of multiple species. In light of this model, we show that analytical approaches employed in taxonomic studies using phenotypic data are often compromised by three issues: 1) reliance on graphical analyses that convey little information on phenotype frequencies; 2) exclusion of characters potentially important for species delimitation following reduction of data dimensionality; and 3) use of measures of central tendency to evaluate phenotypic distinctiveness. We outline approaches to overcome these issues based on statistical developments related to normal mixture models (NMMs) and illustrate them empirically with a reanalysis of morphological data recently used to claim that there are no morphologically distinct species of Darwin's ground-finches (Geospiza). We found negligible support for this claim relative to taxonomic hypotheses recognizing multiple species. Although species limits among ground-finches merit further assessments using additional sources of information, our results bear implications for other areas of inquiry including speciation research: because ground-finches have likely speciated and are not trapped in a process of "Sisyphean" evolution as recently argued, they remain useful models to understand the evolutionary forces involved in speciation. Our work underscores the importance of statistical approaches grounded on appropriate evolutionary models for species delimitation. We discuss how NMMs offer new perspectives in the kind of inferences available to systematists, with significant repercussions on ideas about the phenotypic structure of biodiversity.

Draft genome sequence of Exiguobacterium aurantiacum strain PN47 isolate from saline ponds, known as "Salar del Huasco", located in the Altiplano in the North of Chile.

In this report, we present a draft genome of 2,886,173bp of an Exiguobacterium aurantiacum strain PN47 isolate from the sediment of a saline pond named "Salar del Huasco" in the Altiplano in the North of Chile. Strain PN47 encodes adaptive characteristics enabling survival in extreme environmental conditions of high heavy metal and salt concentrations and high alkalinity.

Desempeño del APACHE II y el SAPS 3 Adaptación regional en una población de pacientes críticos de Colombia / Performance of APACHE II and SAPS 3 Regional adaptation in a population of critically Ill patients in Colombia

El puntaje fisiológico agudo simplificado, SAPS 3 (del inglés Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3) ha sido recientemente desarrollado con muestras de los cinco continentes, pero no ha sido validado en pacientes de las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) en Colombia. En este trabajo se comparó el desempeño del SAPS 3 con el APACHE II en pacientes colombianos de UCI. Métodos: en una población de una cohorte histórica de pacientes críticos admitidos a una UCI de un hospital universitario, entre enero 1º de 2006 a junio 30 de 2011, se midió el desempeño de los modelos de mortalidad. La probabilidad de muerte hospitalaria fue calculada con el APACHE II y el SAPS 3. Para mejorar la exactitud de los modelos fue realizada una adaptación de primer orden usandola regresión logística del puntaje original para el APACHE II, y para el SAPS 3 se hizo el cálculo de la probabilidad de muerte con las fórmulas para Europa oriental, Centro-Suramérica y Australasia. Resultados: el estudio incluye 2523 pacientes. La mortalidad hospitalaria fue 27%. La discriminación fue aceptable para todos los modelos, más baja para el APACHE II que mejora con la adaptación de 0.74 a 0.78. Para todas las formas de SAPS 3 el área bajo la curva ROC fue de 0.78. La calibración, medida con el estadístico de Hosmer-Lemeshow, fue pobre para el APACHE II, APACHE II adaptado,SAPS 3 adaptado para Centro-Suramérica, y Europa oriental, pero fue buena para el SAPS 3 global y el adaptado para Australasia. Conclusión: en una población de pacientes críticos colombianos, la adaptación logra mejorar la discriminación del APACHE II pero no su calibración. La calibración es adecuada sólo para el SAPS 3 global y el adaptado para Australasia. (Acta Med Colomb 2014; 39: 148-158).

The simplified acute physiological score (SAPS 3) has been recently developed with samples from the five continents, but has not been validated in patients in intensive care units (ICU) in Colombia. In this work the performance of SAPS 3 with APACHE II in Colombian ICU patients was compared. Methods: in a population of a historical cohort of critically ill patients admitted to an ICU of a university hospital between January 1°, 2006 to June 30, 2011, the performance of the mortality models was measured. The probability of hospital death was calculated with APACHE II and SAPS 3. To improve the accuracy of the models, a first order adaptation was realized, using the logistic regression of the original score for the APACHE II, and for SAPS 3 the calculation of the probability of death was done with the formulas for Eastern Europe, Central and South America and Australasia. Results: the study included 2523 patients. Hospital mortality was 27%. Discrimination was acceptable for all models, being lower for APACHE II, which improves with adaptation from 0.74 to 0.78. For all forms of SAPS 3, the area under the ROC curve was 0.78. Calibration, measured with the Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic was poor for the APACHE II, adjusted APACHE II, SAPS 3 adapted to Central South America and Eastern Europe, but it was good for the global SAPS 3 and for the one adapted to Australasia. Conclusion: in a population of Colombian critically ill patients, adaptation manages to improve discrimination of APACHE II but not its calibration. Calibration is appropriate only for the global SAPS 3 and the one adapted to Australasia. (Acta Med Colomb 2014; 39: 148-158).

A multilocus phylogenetic analysis of Escallonia (Escalloniaceae): diversification in montane South America.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The mountains of South America are hotspots of plant diversity. How this diversity originated and evolved, and what roles geographic and environmental factors may have played in the diversification of lineages occurring in these regions, is not well understood. Escallonia, a morphologically and ecologically diverse group of shrubs and trees widely distributed in these mountains, provides an ideal opportunity for studying the historical underpinnings that have shaped the extraordinarily distinctive, diverse, and endangered flora of these regions, and for evaluating the role of abiotic factors in the process of lineage divergence. • METHODS: I analyzed neutral DNA sequence data from two nuclear loci and one chloroplast locus using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian phylogenetic approaches. I used a Bayesian approach to analyze the geographic structure of gene trees, and a phylogenetically controlled decomposition of the variance in bioclimatic variables to analyze the eco-climatic structure of gene trees. • KEY RESULTS: I found that Escallonia (1) is monophyletic, (2) has a remarkable level of geographic and climatic phylogenetic structure, (3) likely originated in the tropical Andes, and (4) has a widespread absence of species exclusivity. • CONCLUSIONS: Geography played an important role early in the history of Escallonia by separating populations that later diversify likely in isolation. Although geographic isolation was generally accompanied by changes in climate, it is not clear whether environmental gradients along elevation have influenced more recent diversification events or whether species have evolved broader environmental tolerances.

Heterogeneous CO(2) evolution from oxidation of aromatic carbon-based materials.

Carbon dioxide is one of the main gaseous products in oxidation of carbonaceous materials via both homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions. However, the mechanisms of heterogeneous CO(2) evolution during oxidation of aromatic carbon-based materials are not known in detail. Using density functional theory, a new oxidation mechanism of aromatic hydrocarbons with atomic oxygen was suggested to consist of four main steps, namely, (1) adsorption of oxygen atom, (2) insertion of O atom into the ring, (3) rearrangement to form a five-membered ring and four-membered ring lactone group, and (4) desorption of CO(2). Using naphthoxy radical as a model system, the proposed reaction pathway can explain how some of the experimentally observed CO(2) is formed.