Abstract The Bacalar Lagoon (BL) in Quintana Roo, Mexico; is an area of high interest due to its tourist potential. However, the changes in landuse patterns, urbanization, extensive cattle ranching and rapidly expanding agriculture, have generated negative impacts on areas of adjacent plan communities and wildlife habitats. The objective of this study has to evaluate the level of vegetation conservation in the southern portion of the BL through the avifauna present in sites with contrasting degrees of conservation. Additionally, change “and their habitat preference(s) in the different communities” to and their habitat use preferences in the different communities. To evaluate the level of conservation of the BL, field visits and botanical collections were carried out to identify species. For the counting and identification of birds, monthly surveys were made through coastal tours along the cenote Xul-ha in 2.5 km transects. Four transects were established: two for sites characterized as semi-conserved and two with disturbed sites. A total richness of 40 taxa was observed, which corresponds to 8.1% of the Quintana Roo avifauna and 32% to wetland birds (125 species). The species accumulation curves indicated that semi-conserved and disturbed sites tend to reach asymptotes and with a coverage percentage greater than 90%. In terms of diversity and community structure, no significant differences were observed. However, the semi-conserved and disturbed sites each have 11 unique species and share 18 species. The LB has an intermediate diversity of bird species compared to studies at the Mexican level, the habitat is important for the conservation of birdlife; as it functions as a reservoir of diversity. Strategies has been suggested that promote sustainable tourism, support the restoration of natural vegetation; and facilitate the economic development of the region.

Resumo A Lagoa Bacalar (BL) em Quintana Roo, México, é uma zona de grande interesse devido ao seu potencial turístico. No entanto, as mudanças nos padrões de uso da terra, urbanização, pecuária extensiva e agricultura em rápida expansão geraram impactos negativos nas áreas das comunidades adjacentes do plano e nos habitats da vida selvagem. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o nível de conservação da vegetação na porção sul da BL através da avifauna presente em locais com graus de conservação contrastantes. Além disso, alterar sua(s) preferência(s) de habitat nas diferentes comunidades. Para avaliar o nível de conservação da LB foram realizadas visitas de campo e coletas botânicas para identificação de espécies. Para a contagem e identificação das aves foram realizados levantamentos mensais através de passeios costeiros ao longo do cenote Xul-ha em transectos de 2,5 km. Foram estabelecidos quatro transectos: 2 para locais caracterizados como semiconservados e 2 para locais perturbados. Uma riqueza total de 40 táxons foi observada, o que corresponde a 8,1% da avifauna de Quintana Roo e 32% de aves pantanosas (125 espécies). As curvas de acumulação de espécies indicaram que locais semiconservados e perturbados tendem a atingir assíntotas e com percentual de cobertura superior a 90%. Em termos de diversidade e estrutura comunitária, não foram observadas diferenças significativas. No entanto, os locais semiconservados e perturbados têm, cada um, 11 espécies únicas e partilham 18 espécies. A BL possui uma diversidade intermediária de espécies de aves em comparação com estudos mexicanos, o habitat é importante para a conservação da avifauna; pois funciona como um reservatório de diversidade. Estratégias que promovem o turismo sustentável, apoiam a restauração da vegetação natural e facilitam o desenvolvimento econômico da região foram sugeridas, no presente estudo.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains disproportionately concentrated among the poor, yet known determinants of TB reactivation may fail to explain observed disparities in disease rates according to wealth. Reviewing data on TB disparities in India and the wealth distribution of known TB risk factors, we describe how social mixing patterns could be contributing to TB disparities. Wealth-assortative mixing, whereby individuals are more likely to be in contact with others from similar socio-economic backgrounds, amplifies smaller differences in risk of TB, resulting in large population-level disparities. As disparities and assortativeness increase, TB becomes more difficult to control, an effect that is obscured by looking at population averages of epidemiological parameters, such as case detection rates. We illustrate how TB control efforts may benefit from preferential targeting toward the poor. In India, an equivalent-scale intervention could have a substantially greater impact if targeted at those living below the poverty line than with a population-wide strategy. In addition to potential efficiencies in targeting higher-risk populations, TB control efforts would lead to a greater reduction in secondary TB cases per primary case diagnosed if they were preferentially targeted at the poor. We highlight the need to collect programmatic data on TB disparities and explicitly incorporate equity considerations into TB control plans.

La tuberculosis (TB) continúa concentrada de manera desproporcionada entre los pobres, pero los determinantes conocidos de reactivación de la TB pueden no explicar las desigualdades observadas en las tasas de enfermedad según la riqueza. En el presente estudio, mediante la revisión de datos sobre desigualdades en TB en la India y la distribución de factores de riesgo de TB conocidos según riqueza, se describe cómo los patrones de mezcla social pueden estar contribuyendo a las desigualdades en TB. La mezcla social por afinidad selectiva según la riqueza, por la cual es más probable que las personas entren en contacto con otras personas de orígenes socioeconómicos similares, amplifica las pequeñas diferencias en el riesgo de TB y genera grandes desigualdades a nivel poblacional. A medida que las desigualdades y la asortatividad (o afinidad selectiva) aumentan, se hace más difícil controlar la TB; este efecto queda enmascarado cuando se examinan solamente promedios poblacionales de parámetros epidemiológicos, tales como las tasas de detección de casos. El estudio ilustra cómo los esfuerzos de control de TB pueden beneficiarse a partir de una orientación preferencial hacia los pobres. En la India, una intervención a escala equivalente podría tener un impacto sustancialmente mayor si se orientara a quienes viven por debajo de la línea de pobreza que el de una estrategia a toda la población. Además de las eficiencias potenciales de focalizar en poblaciones en más alto riesgo, los esfuerzos de control de la TB podrían llevar a una mayor reducción en el número de casos secundarios de TB por cada caso primario diagnosticado si es que tales esfuerzos fuesen preferencialmente orientados hacia los pobres. El estudio destaca la necesidad de recolectar datos programáticos sobre las desigualdades en TB e incorporar de manera explícita consideraciones de equidad en los planes de control de la TB.

Selective hydrolysis of brown mustard oil (from Brassica juncea) with regioselective porcine pancreas lipase was studied in this work. Buffer and oil phase were considered as the continuous and dispersed phases, respectively. Effects of speed of agitation, pH of the buffer phase, temperature, buffer-oil ratio and enzyme concentration on hydrolysis were observed. The best combination of process variables was: 900 rpm, pH 9, 35 ºC, buffer-oil ratio of 1:1 and enzyme concentration of 10 mg/g oil. These standard conditions led to 50% hydrolysis and selective production of 55% erucic acid in 6 h. Cations like Mg2+ and Ca2+ increased hydrolysis, but Cu2+ strongly inhibited it. Organic solvents decreased hydrolysis, though the decrease was minimum for isooctane. A mixed surfactant comprising of Span 80 and Tween 80 increased erucic acid production by 57% at a buffer-oil ratio of 0.2:1.

O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver forma de liberação controlada de dicloridrato de trimetazidina (TMZ) utilizando transportador plomérico natural em ambiente completamente aquoso. A TMZ foi presa em pérolas de alginato de cálcio preparadas com alginato de sódio pelo método de gelatinização ionotrópica, usando cloreto de cálcio como agente de formação de ligações cruzadas. O fármaco foi incorporado nas pérolas de gel de alginato de cálcio (método sequencial) ou incorporado, simultaneamente, durante o estágio de gelificação (método simultâneo). As pérolas foram avaliadas quanto ao tamanho das partículas e morfologia da superfície utilizando microscopia óptica de SEM, respectivamente. As pérolas produzidas pelo método sequencial apresentaram maior capacidade de inclusão. No método sequencial, a inclusão de fármaco foi maior com o aumento de CaCl2 e da concentração do plímero, mas menor com o aumento da concentração de fármaco. No método simultâneo, a inclusão de fármaco foi mais alta quando as concentrações de fármaco e plímero foram aumentadas e, também, atingiram certa extensão com aumento na concentração de CaCl2, cujo aumento posterior resultou em carga menor de fármaco. Estudos de FTIR revelaram que não há interação entre fármaco e CaCl2. Estudos de XRD mostraram que o fármaco mudou do estado cristalino para o amorfo após a formulação. As características de liberação de TMZ das pérolas carregadas com alginato de cálcio foram estudadas em fluidos simulados, gástrico e intestinal, livres de enzima.

The objective of this study was to develop a sustained release dosage form of Trimetazidine dihydrochloride (TMZ) using a natural polymeric carrier prepared in a completely aqueous environment. TMZ was entrapped in calcium alginate beads prepared with sodium alginate by the ionotropic gelation method using calcium chloride as a crosslinking agent. The drug was incorporated either into preformed calcium alginate gel beads (sequential method) or incorporated simultaneously during the gelation stage (simultaneous method). The beads were evaluated for particle size and surface morphology using optical microscopy and SEM, respectively. Beads produced by the sequential method had higher drug entrapment. Drug entrapment in the sequential method was higher with increased CaCl2 and polymer concentration but lower with increased drug concentration. In the simultaneous method, drug entrapment was higher when polymer and drug concentration were increased and also rose to a certain extent with increase in CaCl2 concentration, where further increase resulted in lower drug loading. FTIR studies revealed that there is no interaction between drug and CaCl2. XRD studies showed that the crystalline drug changed to an amorphous state after formulation. Release characteristics of the TMZ loaded calcium alginate beads were studied in enzyme-free simulated gastric and intestinal fluid.

For accurate determination of the three-dimensional structure of atmospheric circulation, it is very important to assimilate every observation from all available sources, especially over the data sparse oceanic regions. During the Indian Ocean Experiment Intensive Field Phase -1999 (INDOEX-IFP 99) several special observations were taken over the Indian Ocean region, which gave an opportunity to study this region more thoroughly. In this study these special observations, along with atmospheric motion vectors that form METEOSAT-5(63ºE), have been assimilated along with other conventional as well as non-conventional observations received at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) through the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) in its global analyses-forecast system. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of the additional data on the Global Data Assimilation system of NCMRWF as well as to create better initial conditions for its future use in modeling studies. Impact of INDOEX data sets on analyses and subsequent 5-day forecast has been studied on the monthly mean fields. Mean wind field shows the strengthening of trade winds in the lower levels and the strengthening of the wind around sub-tropical anticyclone in the higher levels. It is found that the impact is stronger over the data sparse oceanic region and in the higher levels compared to the lower levels. The impact of these data sets is studied on different initial conditions as well as forecast as part of case studies. Significant positive impacts, specially on analysis, are noticed over those oceanic regions where some well-defined synoptic system persisted.

Para la determinación precisa de la estructura tridimensional de la circulación atmosférica es muy importante asimilar cada observación de todas las fuentes de variables, especialmente sobre las regiones oceánicas escasas de datos. Durante la fase intensiva de campo de 1999 del experimento del Océano índico (INDOEX-IFP 99), se hicieron varias observaciones particulares sobre el Océano Indico que dieron la oportunidad de estudiarlo más exhaustivamente. En este estudio, estas observaciones particulares se han asimilado, junto con otras observaciones convencionales y no convencionales recibidas en el Centro Nacional para el Pronóstico Meteorológico de Rango Medio (NCMRWF), a través del Sistema Global de Telecomunicaciones en su sistema de análisis global de pronóstico. El propósito de este estudio es determinar el impacto de los datos adicionales sobre el Sistema Global de Asimilación de Datos del NCMRWF, así como generar mejores condiciones iniciales para su uso futuro en estudios de modelado. Se ha estudiado el impacto de los grupos de datos en análisis y pronósticos subsecuentes de 5 días en los campos medios mensuales. El campo medio de viento muestra el fortalecimiento de las tendencias de los vientos en los niveles bajos y el fortalecimiento del viento alrededor del anticiclón subtropical en los niveles altos. Se ha encontrado que el impacto es mayor sobre las regiones oceánicas escasas de datos y en los niveles altos en comparación con los niveles bajos. Se ha estudiado el impacto de estos grupos de datos sobre diferentes condiciones iniciales así como sobre el pronóstico. Se han observado impactos significativos sobre aquellas regiones oceánicas donde persisten sistemas sinópticos bien definidos.