Flower production decreases with warmer and more humid atmospheric conditions in a western Amazonian forest.

Climate models predict that everwet western Amazonian forests will face warmer and wetter atmospheric conditions, and increased cloud cover. It remains unclear how these changes will impact plant reproductive performance, such as flowering, which plays a central role in sustaining food webs and forest regeneration. Warmer and wetter nights may cause reduced flower production, via increased dark respiration rates or alteration in the reliability of flowering cue-based processes. Additionally, more persistent cloud cover should reduce the amounts of solar irradiance, which could limit flower production. We tested whether interannual variation in flower production has changed in response to fluctuations in irradiance, rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity over 18 yrs in an everwet forest in Ecuador. Analyses of 184 plant species showed that flower production declined as nighttime temperature and relative humidity increased, suggesting that warmer nights and greater atmospheric water saturation negatively impacted reproduction. Species varied in their flowering responses to climatic variables but this variation was not explained by life form or phylogeny. Our results shed light on how plant communities will respond to climatic changes in this everwet region, in which the impacts of these changes have been poorly studied compared with more seasonal Neotropical areas.

Seasonality of reproduction in an ever-wet lowland tropical forest in Amazonian Ecuador.

Flowering and fruiting phenology have been infrequently studied in the ever-wet hyperdiverse lowland forests of northwestern equatorial Amazonía. These Neotropical forests are typically called aseasonal with reference to climate because they are ever-wet, and it is often assumed they are also aseasonal with respect to phenology. The physiological limits to plant reproduction imposed by water and light availability are difficult to disentangle in seasonal forests because these variables are often temporally correlated, and both are rarely studied together, challenging our understanding of their relative importance as drivers of reproduction. Here we report on the first long-term study (18 years) of flowering and fruiting phenology in a diverse equatorial forest, Yasuní in eastern Ecuador, and the first to include a full suite of on-site monthly climate data. Using twice monthly censuses of 200 traps and >1000 species, we determined whether reproduction at Yasuní is seasonal at the community and species levels and analyzed the relationships between environmental variables and phenology. We also tested the hypothesis that seasonality in phenology, if present, is driven primarily by irradiance. Both the community- and species-level measures demonstrated strong reproductive seasonality at Yasuní. Flowering peaked in September-November and fruiting peaked in March-April, with a strong annual signal for both phenophases. Irradiance and rainfall were also highly seasonal, even though no month on average experienced drought (a month with <100 mm rainfall). Flowering was positively correlated with current or near-current irradiance, supporting our hypothesis that the extra energy available during the period of peak irradiance drives the seasonality of flowering at Yasuní. As Yasuní is representative of lowland ever-wet equatorial forests of northwestern Amazonía, we expect that reproductive phenology will be strongly seasonal throughout this region.

La fenología de floración y fructificación ha sido poco estudiada en los bosques bajos, lluviosos e hiperdiversos de la Amazonía noroccidental. Estos bosques neotropicales son típicamente llamados no estacionales debido a su clima siempre lluvioso y se asume que son no estacionales con respecto a la fenología. Los límites fisiológicos a la reproducción de las plantas impuestos por la disponibilidad de agua y luz en estos bosques son difíciles de desentrañar debido a que estas variables están a menudo correlacionadas temporalmente y las dos se estudian usualmente por separado, lo que desafía nuestra comprensión de su importancia relativa como desencadenantes de la reproducción. Este es el primer estudio de largo plazo (18 años) de la fenología de floración y fructificación en un bosque hiperdiverso de la Amazonía noroccidental ecuatorial, Yasuní, ubicado al este de Ecuador, y el primero en incluir un completo set de datos climáticos mensuales. Usando censos quincenales de 200 trampas y > 1000 especies, examinamos si la reproducción en Yasuní es estacional a nivel de comunidad y de especies y analizamos las relaciones de las variables ambientales con la fenología. También nos interesaba probar si la estacionalidad en la fenología, en caso de que esté presente está causada por la irradiancia. Tanto a nivel de comunidad como de especies, los datos demuestran una fuerte estacionalidad reproductiva en Yasuní. La floración alcanzó un máximo en septiembre-noviembre y la fructificación alcanzó un máximo en marzo-abril, con una fuerte y consistente señal anual en las dos fenofases. A su vez, la irradiancia y la lluvia fueron también marcadamente estacionales, aunque ningún mes en promedio experimentó sequía (i.e. <100 mm de lluvia). La floración fue positivamente correlacionada con la irradiación, apoyando nuestra hipótesis de que la energía extra disponible durante los periodos de mayor irradiación causa la estacionalidad de la floración en Yasuní. Debido a que Yasuní representa a los bosques ecuatoriales lluviosos de tierras bajas de la Amazonía noroccidental, esperamos que la fenología reproductiva sea fuertemente estacional a lo largo de esta región.

Overweight and obesity significantly reduce pregnancy, implantation, and live birth rates in women undergoing In Vitro Fertilization procedures.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of overweight and obesity on fertility outcomes in IVF procedures. METHODS: This was a retrospective and nonrandomized study that included 191 IVF/ICSI cycles using non-donor oocytes performed between July 2016 and December 2018 that were allocated according to Body Mass Index (BMI) in three groups: Normal group: 18.5-24.9 (n=67 women), Overweight group: 25.0-29.9 (n=86 women) and Obesity group: ≥30.0 (n=38 women). We compared fertilization rates, embryo quality at day 3, development and quality of blastocyst, pregnancy rates, implantation rates, and live birth rates. RESULTS: Patients from all groups had similar stimulation days, but those women with overweight and obesity used more hormones compared to women with normal weight (p<0.05). Fertilization rates, zygotes that underwent cleavage and good-quality embryos at Day 3 were similar between the three evaluated groups. The groups of overweight and obesity had embryos at Day 3 with significantly less cells, compared to those from the normal group (p<0.05). The blastocyst development rate was significantly lower in women with overweight and obesity compared to women with normal BMI (p<0.05); but, the percentages of good blastocysts were similar in all studied patients. Pregnancy, implantation and live birth rates were significantly lower in the group of women with overweight and obesity, compared to those women with normal weight (p<0.05). Obese women had significantly more miscarriages compared to those in the other groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data shows that an increased BMI affects embryo development and significantly reduces the pregnancy, implantation and live birth rates.

Meta-analysis and Scientific Mapping of Well-being and Job Performance.

In this article, we present a meta-analysis and a scientific mapping about the relationship between different types of well-being and job performance. We followed The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses (Moher et al., 2009), and conduct the search in Web of Science, SCOPUS, Ebscohost, Proquest, and Jstor databases. We identified 43 studies from 1994 to early 2020 that represent 45 independent samples, 34,221 participants, and 77 correlations between four types of well-being and six of job performance. Meta-analysis results show that are different forms of relations between types and there is not only one form to explain the happy-productive worker hypothesis. The scientific mapping shows that there are seven clusters of topics about well-being and job performance in the Web of Science base articles: (I) Burnout and axiety, (II) Stress and depression, (III) Individual resources, (IV) Work context, (V) Work engagement and commitment, (VI) Justice, and (VII) Human resources practices. We organize the topics from each cluster in the different groups of variables of the contextual model of individual work, well-being and performance (van Veldhoven & Peccei, 2015) to explain their impact in well-being and job performance. We included the observations of our analysis and identified the future key directions for the field.

Meta-analysis and scientific mapping of well-beingand job performance

In this article, we present a meta-analysis and a scientific mapping about the relationship between different types of well-being and job performance. We followed The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses (Moher et al., 2009), and conduct the search in Web of Science, SCOPUS, Ebscohost, Proquest, and Jstor databases. We identified 43 studies from 1994 to early 2020 that represent 45 independent samples, 34,221 participants, and 77 correlations between four types of well-being and six of job performance. Meta-analysis results show that are different forms of relations between types and there is not only one form to explain the happy-productive worker hypothesis. The scientific mapping shows that there are seven clusters of topics about well-being and job performance in the Web of Science base articles: (I) Burnout and axiety, (II) Stress and depression, (III) Individual resources, (IV) Work context, (V) Work engagement and commitment, (VI) Justice, and (VII) Human resources practices. We organize the topics from each cluster in the different groups of variables of the contextual model of individual work, well-being and performance (van Veldhoven & Peccei, 2015) to explain their impact in well-being and job performance. We included the observations of our analysis and identified the future key directions for the field

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Inteligencia emocional y percepción de las emociones básicas como un probable factor contribuyente al mejoramiento del rendimiento en las ventas: Una investigación teórica / Emotional Intelligence and Perception of Basic Emotions as a Possible Contributing Factor to Improve Sales Performance: A Theoretical Research

La inteligencia emocional es uno de los conceptos que ha empezado a transformar el mundo empresarial gracias a los avances en el reconocimiento y el manejo de las emociones. Este es un campo que permitirá la elaboración de estrategias para robustecer los procesos de desarrollo organizacional. El presente artículo de investigación bibliográfica, sistematiza y aporta a la producción científica sobre el concepto de inteligencia emocional y sus potenciales aplicaciones al proceso de ventas. El objetivo de este estudio fue el de conceptualizar acerca del rol que puede jugar la percepción de los distintos estados emocionales en el proceso de ventas y cómo esto puede ayudar a mejorar el rendimiento empresarial.

Emotional intelligence is one of the concepts that have begun to transform the business world thanks to the advancements in emotional management and recognition. This is a field that allows the elaboration of strategies for the strengthening of organizational development processes. The present article of bibliographic research incorporates part of the scientific production about the concept of emotional intelligence and the possible application of this concept into the sales process. The objective is to conceptualize about the role that the perception of different emotional states can play in the sales process and how it can help improve organizational performance.

Tasa de Blastulación en función del número de ovocitos en metafase II / The Percentage of Blastulation as function in the number of metaphase II oocytes

OBJETIVOS: Determinar el número de ovocitos en metafase II que se necesitan para lograr una óptima tasa de blastulación y conseguir una mejor tasa de gestación. DISEÑO: Estudio Retrospectivo. Institución: Unidad de Fertilidad -Hospital Alcivar Guayaquil (Ecuador). PARTICIPANTES: Mujeres con diagnóstico de infertilidad. INTERVENCIONES: Fueron 110 Mujeres en las que se les realizo FIV-ICSI, excluyendo transferencia día 3 y ciclos cancelados. previa estimulación ovárica controlada, El cultivo continúa a blastocistos. Principales medidas de resultados: Tasa de ovocitos en metafase II, Tasa de embarazo. Edad Promedio de las pacientes, Técnica FIV-ICSI. RESULTADOS: Edad promedio de las pacientes 33,41. Técnica FIV: 73 pacientes 66,4 % ICSI: 37 pacientes 33,6 %. Embarazo: Si Gestación: 57,3 %, No gestación: 42,7 %. Tasa de Ovocitos en Metafase II: Una Media de 7,5. CONCLUSIÓN: La tasa de gestación que coincide con los resultados del centro (50 a 60 %), la alcanzamos a partir de 7 ovocitos maduros. La tasa de blastulacion promedio fue de 39,2 %

OBJECTIVES: Determine the number of metaphase II oocytes that are needed for optimum rate blastulation and get a better rate of gestation. DESIGN: Retrospective study. Institution: Fertility Unit -Hospital Alcivar Guayaquil (Ecuador). PARTICIPANTS: Women diagnosed with infertility. INTERVENTIONS: There were 110 women in which they are performed IVF-ICSI, excluding 3rd and transfer canceled cycles. After controlled ovarian stimulation, cultivation continues to blastocysts. Main outcome measures: Rate of metaphase II oocytes, pregnancy rate. Average age of patients, IVF-ICSI technique. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients 33,41. IVF technique: 66.4% ICSI 73 patients: 37 patients 33.6%. Pregnancy: If pregnancy: 57.3% No pregnancy: 42.7% .Tasa of oocytes in metaphase II: A Media 7.5. CONCLUSION: The pregnancy rate coincides with the center's results (50-60%), the reach from 7 mature oocytes. The average rate was 39.2% blastulation

Percentage of Blastulation on the Number and Function of Metaphase II Oocytes.

OBJECTIVE: Establish the number of metaphase II oocytes that are needed for optimum blastulation rate and to achieve a better rate of gestation. METHODS: Retrospective study. Women diagnosed with infertility. There were 110 women submitted to IVF/ICSI, excluding third day transfers and those with canceled cycles. After controlled ovarian stimulation, cultivation continued to blastocysts. RESULTS: Average age of the patients: 33.41. IVF technique: 73 patients, 66.4%; ICSI: 37 patients, 33.6%. Pregnancy: gestation: 57.3%; Non-gestation: 42.7%. Mean number of oocytes in metaphase II: 7.5. CONCLUSION: The gestation rate coincides with the center's results (50-60%), reached with 7 mature oocytes. Mean blastulation rate was 39.2%.

Low diversity and high host preference of ectomycorrhizal fungi in western Amazonia, a neotropical biodiversity hotspot.

Information about the diversity of tropical microbes, including fungi is relatively scarce. This study addresses the diversity, spatial distribution and host preference of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcMF) in a neotropical rainforest site in North East Ecuador. DNA sequence analysis of both symbionts revealed relatively low richness of EcMF as compared with the richness of temperate regions that contrasts with high plant (including host) diversity. EcMF community was positively autocorrelated up to 8.5+/-1.0-m distance-roughly corresponding to the canopy and potentially rooting area of host individuals. Coccoloba (Polygonaceae), Guapira and Neea (Nyctaginaceae) differed by their most frequent EcMF. Two-thirds of these EcMF preferred one of the host genera, a feature uncommon in boreal forests. Scattered distribution of hosts probably accounts for the low EcMF richness. This study demonstrates that the diversity of plants and their mycorrhizal fungi is not always related and host preference among EcMF can be substantial outside the temperate zone.