Scientia

Fiddler crab (Brachyura: Ocypodidae) inventory from the Parita Gulf, Panama

Roberto C. Lombardo González — 2025-01-06

We present the most recent inventory of fiddler crabs for the Gulf of Parita, covering both ecological and tourist sites of interest. Six sites in the gulf were sampled, where 22 species were identified. The most represented genus was Leptuca with 12 species. The inventory includes the new report of Leptuca tallanica, increasing the total number of fiddler crab species in the Panamanian Pacific to 32 and to 39 for the country.

care and management of the white billed parakeet (Brotogeris Jugularis), Panama,2023

Félix Camarena — 2025-01-06

Year after year, at the beginning of the dry season in the Los Santos area, hundreds of Brotogeris jugularis nests are opened, and the chicks are removed from their nests and taken to the breeders' homes. The objective of this research is to analyze the care and management applied to the species of white-billed parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis) captured in the Los Santos region, Republic of Panama. The population is made up of young breeders, between 12 and 18 years old, from various educational institutions in the province of Los Santos. The study subjects are specifically the white-billed parakeets (orange-chinned), and the sample focuses on 50 students from these schools, representing part of the community of breeders of this species.The type of sample selected to define the observation group was non-random. Non-probabilistic sampling was used, since the selection of individuals was done directly and at convenience, given that the population of breeders of these birds is small and some do not provide the required information. The results reflect that 90% prefer to raise white-billed parakeets, 48% responded that they raise 1 to 3 individuals, and 46% of those surveyed reported that 1 to 3 parakeets die. The current state of conservation of the white-billed parakeet in the Los Santos region is vulnerable, so it is proposed to implement an environmental education plan in a timely manner.

Effect of CCL1 (I-309) overexpression on dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons

Lorena L. Adames-Torres — 2025-01-06

Abnormal accumulation of ?-amyloid (A?), hyperphosphorylated tau protein, and neuroinflammation are factors that affect neuronal function in Alzheimer´s Disease (AD). AD-associated neuroinflammation could cause synaptic damage itself or exacerbate the damage caused by A? accumulation. The cytokine CCL1 (I-309) has been detected increased in the peripheral blood serum of people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and AD, so it is proposed that it may be useful as a biomarker for the diagnosis of MCI and AD. The general objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of overexpression of the CCL1(I-309) in the dendritic spines of neurons located in the hippocampus. Sprague Dawley (N=6) were used as an animal model, in which stereotaxic surgeries were performed to inoculate CCL1 overexpression. Golgi staining was performed on the brains of the rats, a cryostat was used to make the histological sections and the density of dendritic spines was evaluated by optical microscopy. The one-way ANOVA did not show significant differences (p>0.05) between the CCL1 overexpression group when compared to the control group and the A?_1-42+ CCL1 overexpression group. It was concluded that CCL1 overexpression does not significantly modify the density of dendritic spines in the hippocampus.

Leptospirosis outbreak in the community of Nuevo Vigía, province of Darién, june - july 2022

José Ángel Hernández Ortiz — 2025-01-06

Leptospirosis is one of the most widespread zoonoses in the world, caused by a spirochete of the genus Leptospira. This research was carried out with the aim of describing an outbreak of Leptospirosis, in Darién, in the community of Nuevo Vigía, during the months of June to July 2022. It is a descriptive study, a series of cases, defining a confirmed case: residents of Nuevo Vigía, suspected of leptospirosis, with a positive Leptospira test by Elisa IgM. A survey was conducted among residents of the index case's house and neighbors within a 100-meter radius with symptoms compatible with the suspected case: resident of Nuevo Vigía with sudden onset fever, headache, myalgia and/or one or more of the symptoms: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and arthralgia since June 15, 2022. Men were the most affected, headache was the most common symptom, and risk factors include: water stored without protection, the presence of mice and food on the floor.

Assessment of endophytic fungi associate with the vegetation of senderos in the El Montoso Forest Reserve, Tres Punta’s, Herrera, Panama

Alexis De La Cruz — 2025-01-06

Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that inhabit plants, being a diverse and polyphyletic group, whose ecological relationship with plants is mutualistic and in other cases is negative for the plant. This study presents quantitative data from the evaluation of endophytic fungi in vegetation in the Senderos Río La Villa, El Montuoso Forest Reserve. The El Montuoso Forest Reserve is located in the district of Las Minas, province of Herrera, Republic of Panama. For this reason, the occurrence of mycelial endophytic fungi in vegetation and their relationship in anurans was evaluated by means of leaf sampling and anuran swabs along the trails, and consequent isolation of strains for taxonomic identification. For this, it was sampled in the Senderos Río La Villa. 10 genera were identified: Alternaria sp., Lecythophora sp., Aureobasidium sp., Scedosporium sp., Exophiala sp., Rhinocladiella sp., Curvularia sp., Phialophora sp.The Binomial test to establish a difference in the frequency of occurrence of mycelial endophytic fungi yielded a value of Z = -2.6458, p < 0.05. Of 2 different anuran samples, only 1 presented Helminthosporium sp. and Lecythophora sp. spores. It is concluded that the genus Lecythophora was predominant in the results taken and that the anurans have the capacity to transport spores of endophytic fungi.

The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys Coriacea) a giant from pacific Panama in danger

Eric E. Flores Coiba — 2025-01-06

The leatherback turtle is the largest sea turtle and is distinguished by its soft shell. Its main diet consists of jellyfish and zooplankton, which makes it vulnerable to plastic ingestion. Leatherback turtle populations face significant threats, especially in the Pacific, where illegal egg harvest and bycatch are serious problems. The Eastern Tropical Pacific subpopulation is critically endangered according to the IUCN, mainly due to the decrease in nesting sites and human and animal predation of nests. Despite conservation efforts, populations have declined dramatically in recent decades. Therefore, this essay gives an overview of the current situation of the leatherback turtle in the Panamanian Pacific. Currently, Panama plays a crucial role in the conservation of the species mainly on its Atlantic coasts, and to a lesser extent on the Pacific coast, including artificial nurseries and conservation networks. However, better coordination among institutions and greater enforcement of existing regulations is needed. Citizen science and ongoing monitoring are essential to identify and protect remaining nesting sites, while environmental education is crucial to engage local communities in long-term conservation. This scenario underscores the urgency of coordinated actions at regional and local levels to prevent the extinction of the Leatherback turtle by protecting its critical habitats and reducing human and environmental threats.

Emergent physics

Eduardo Xavier Amador — 2025-01-06

In this essay we present a brief critical scrutiny of some popular theoretical models developed by the scientific community within the framework of Fundamental Physics. These models develop the hypothesis that it is possible that current physical laws can be derived or emerge from much more fundamental physical entities than those studied to date, which constitutes another way to achieve the Unification of said laws within a single common conceptual structure. We expose String-nets of Condensed Matter Physics, Loop Quantum Gravity, Superstrings and Branes, Entropic Gravity, the BCJ model, Stochastic Quantum Mechanics, Matrix Statistical Quantum Mechanics, and AdS/CFT Duality. These models are a small sample of an important trend that is gaining strong momentum within the scientific community.

Editorial

Jaime A. Rivera Solís — 2025-01-06