Geodiversity, Geoconservation, and Geotourism in Central America

Central America is located in a dynamic region where tectonics and volcanism together with the tropical climate and its diverse vegetation have shaped the landscapes. Our main objective is to review the status of the geodiversity, geoconservation, and geotourism in Central America. We will identify the region’s geomorphic environments and geodiversity using classic regional geomorphology mapping techniques. Likewise, using touristic maps and webpages, we identify the most prominent geosites of different origin in Central America. Moreover, we will explore the national environmental policies, natural conservation systems, and tourism initiatives to promote their national geoheritage through geotourism. We found that volcanic, coastal, karstic, glacial, and fluvial geomorphic environments are the most common in the region. In addition, we identified 393 geosites of volcanic, coastal, karstic, glacial, fluvial, and archeological origin in Central America. The promotion of geoheritage, geodiversity, geoconservation, and thus the development of geoparks are excellent opportunities to promote sustainable development, sustainable lifestyles, appreciation of natural and cultural diversity, and the promotion of peace. These results may prove important to spread information about geoscience widely to decision makers on geotourism and conservation in each country and the stakeholders of the region. Geoheritage studies in tropical and developing countries such as those in Central America should be improved, and priority should be given to the geomorphological dynamics and strong anthropic pressures on their geo- and biodiversity to increase their income through geotourism, especially among the less favored communities and avoid affecting their already threatened natural resources.

Comparative Analysis of Three Trypanosomatid Catalases of Different Origin

Most trypanosomatid flagellates do not have catalase. In the evolution of this group, the gene encoding catalase has been independently acquired at least three times from three different bacterial groups. Here, we demonstrate that the catalase of Vickermania was obtained by horizontal gene transfer from Gammaproteobacteria, extending the list of known bacterial sources of this gene. Comparative biochemical analyses revealed that the enzymes of V. ingenoplastis, Leptomonas pyrrhocoris, and Blastocrithidia sp., representing the three independent catalase-bearing trypanosomatid lineages, have similar properties, except for the unique cyanide resistance in the catalase of the latter species.

«ONE CRAFTSMAN’S» VESSELS FROM THE CERAMIC ASSEMBLAGE OF THE BALANOVO CEMETERY

Статья посвящена дальнейшей разработке методических приемов выделения посуды, изготовленной условно «одним мастером». Используя методику выделения посуды «одного мастера» по формам-моделям, апробированную на посуде из Волосово-Даниловского могильника фатьяновской культуры, автор выявил по керамическому комплексу Балановского могильника эпохи бронзы 15 гончаров, делавших горшки, трех мастеров, изготовлявших амфоровидные сосуды, и одного, производившего миски. Предполагается, что в рамках одного поколения работали 4-5 мастеров. По изученным материалам реконструируется глубоко зашедший в результате устойчивых брачных контактов процесс смешения двух разных по происхождению родовых коллективов - балановского и атликасинского. Дуализм социальной структуры изучаемого общества проявлялся в том, что покойному приносили посуду родственники, различные по своей культурной принадлежности. Но оба коллектива продолжали частично сохранять культурную обособленность. Тот факт, что один и тот же мастер мог делать сосуды, соответствующие разным культурным традициям (и балановским, и атликасинским), а также число гончаров указывает на то, что в данном случае мы имеем дело с ремесленным на заказ гончарным производством. The paper deals with further development of methodological techniques of identifying «one craftsman’s» vessels. With the use of the methodology of identifying «one craftsman’s» vessels based on model forms which was piloted with the use of vessels from the Volosovo-Danilovo cemetery ascribed to the Fatyanovo culture, analyzing the Balanovo ceramic assemblage, the author singled out 15 potters who made pots, three craftsmen who produced amphora-like vessels and one potter who made bowls. The paper suggests that from 4 to 5 craftsmen worked in one generation. The examined materials help reconstruct the mixing process of two population groups of different origin, i.e. the Balanovo population and the Atlikasy population, which was quite deep due to sustainable marriage contacts. The dualism of the studied society’s social structure manifested itself in vessels brought for the deceased by relatives belonging to different cultures. However, both population groups continued to maintain their cultural specifics. The very fact that the same craftsman would make vessels according to different cultural traditions (both the Balanovo and the Atlikasy traditions) as well as the number of potters demonstrate that we deal with custom-tailored pottery production.

Interrelation between Rheumatic Autoimmune Disease, Autohemolitic Anemia and Cancer Arising as Epiphenomenon on Paraneoplastic Syndrome

There are hemolytic anemias of different origin. For instance, these states may be induced by me­ans of so­­me exogenic hemolytic factors: by different organic and unorganic hemolytic toxins (phospho­rus, phe­nyl­hydrazin, saponins, arsenicum, lead and biotoxins – snake venom, mushroom poisons, mycotoxins, etc.), so­me medical preparations, radiations, some infectious agents and haevy burns. Besides, in some ca­ses, he­molytic anemias are induced by antibodies and immunocompetent cells against own tissues (auto­immune hemolytic anemia).

Defensive strategies of Norway spruce and Kurile larch heartwood elucidated on the micron-level

To decarbonize the building sector, the use of durable wood materials must be increased. Inspiration for environmentally benign wood protection systems is sought in durable tree species depositing phenolic extractives in their heartwood. Based on the hypothesis that the micro-distribution of extractives influences durability, we compared the natural impregnation patterns of non-durable, but readily available Norway spruce to more durable Kurile larch by mapping the distribution of heartwood extractives with Confocal Raman Imaging and multivariate data decomposition. Phenolics of both species were associated with hydrophobic oleoresin, likely facilitating diffusion through the tissue. They accumulated preferentially in lignin-rich sub-compartments of the cell wall. Yet, the distribution of extractives was found not to be the same. The middle lamellae contained flavonoids in larch and aromatic waxes in spruce, which was also found in rays and epithelial cells. Spruce-lignans were tentatively identified in all cell types, while larch-flavonoids were not present in resin channels, hinting at a different origin of synthesis. Larch-oleoresin without flavonoids was only found in lumina, indicating that the presence of phenolics in the mixture influences the final destination. Together our findings suggest, that spruce heartwood-defense focuses on water regulation, while the more efficient larch strategy is based on antioxidants.

Reversible Slow Desensitization of the Acid-Sensing Ion Channel (ASIC) 1a

Among the proton-activated channels of the ASIC family, ASIC1a exhibits a specific tachyphylaxis phenomenon in the form of a progressive decrease in the response amplitude during a series of activations. This process is well known, but its mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated a partial reversibility of this effect by long-term whole-cell recording of CHO cells transfected with rASIC1a cDNA. Long but infrequent acidifications provided the same recovery time course as short acidifications of the same frequency. Steady-state desensitization is not related to the slow desensitization and attenuates the development of the slow desensitization. Consequently, we found that drugs, which facilitate ASIC1a activation (e.g., amitriptyline), cause an enhancement of slow desensitization, while inhibition of ASIC1a by 9-aminoacridine attenuates the slow desensitization. In summary, for influences of vastly different origin, including increase of calcium concentration, different pH conditions, and action of modulating drugs, we found a correlation between the effect on response amplitude and on development of slow desensitization. Thus, our results prove that a slow desensitization requires the open ion-permeable state.

Homolateral symptoms in brain tumors.

Homolateral symptoms in brain tumors have been described by a number of authors.LB Litvak believes that homolateral symptoms in supratentorial tumors can have a different origin. They can be associated with the dislocation and occlusion of the cerebrospinal fluid systems.