Dimensionamento de uma estrutura de contenção de terras flexível com vários níveis de apoio

O presente trabalho, no âmbito de projeto final de curso de metrado em Engenharia da Construção, teve como objetivo o estudo do comportamento de estruturas de suporte de terras flexíveis multi-apoiadas (com diferentes tipos de apoio) para dois tipos solos homogéneos. Recorreu-se às teorias clássicas, como a de Rankine, desenvolvidas para estruturas de suporte de terras rígidas. Às teorias semi-empíricas de Terzaghi & Peck que culminaram nos diagramas de Terzaghi & Peck. Apesar de os digramas de Terzaghi & Peck serem diagramas de pressões de terras a usar em estruturas de suporte de terras flexíveis, apresentam algumas limitações importantes, como a sua aplicação apenas em solos heterogéneos, com presença ou não de níveis freáticos, e sem fornecer distribuição das pressões de terras na zona passiva (zona enterrada). Como na atualidade os modelos de elementos finitos permitem simular de modo muito mais rigoroso os problemas da engenharia. O presente trabalho esteve focado em analisar um caso prático em diferentes solos e com diferentes tipos de apoios. Será estudado mediante os métodos analíticos usando as teorias clássicas e posteriormente métodos numéricos (com diferentes programas de cálculo). Finalmente serão comparados os resultados obtidos mediante os diferentes métodos usados. As estruturas foram inicialmente pré-dimensionadas usando os métodos clássicos. Assim foram usados os diagramas de pressões de terras de Terzaghi & Peck para a zona ativa (zona em escavação) e a teoria de Rankine para conhecer as pressões de terras na zona enterrada da cortina (parede moldada) e recorrendo ao software Ftool para a obtenção dos parâmetros de dimensionamento de estruturas de suporte de terras objeto de estudo. Posteriormente utilizaram-se os programas de cálculo automático CYPE 2015 k, e o programa de cálculo de elementos finitos PLAXIS Introductory 2010. Estes programas permitem simular o faseamento construtivo do muro. Para estudar a influência de algúns parâmetros no comportamento da Resumo IV cortina o estudo foi realizado com dois solos distintos, um solo argiloso mole e um solo arenoso denso. Assim como para dois tipos de apoios distintos, ancoragens ativas e escoras passivas. Foram analisados diferentes parâmetros na estrutura de suporte; pressões horizontais das terras, deslocamentos horizontais, esforço axial, transverso e momento fletor.

Improving photofermentative hydrogen production through metabolic engineering and DOE (Design of Experiments)

A l’heure actuelle, les biocarburants renouvelables et qui ne nuit pas à l'environnement sont à l'étude intensive en raison de l'augmentation des problèmes de santé et de la diminution des combustibles fossiles. H2 est l'un des candidats les plus prometteurs en raison de ses caractéristiques uniques, telles que la densité d'énergie élevée et la génération faible ou inexistante de polluants. Une façon attrayante pour produire la H2 est par les bactéries photosynthétiques qui peuvent capter l'énergie lumineuse pour actionner la production H2 avec leur système de nitrogénase. L'objectif principal de cette étude était d'améliorer le rendement de H2 des bactéries photosynthétiques pourpres non sulfureuses utilisant une combinaison de génie métabolique et le plan des expériences. Une hypothèse est que le rendement en H2 pourrait être améliorée par la redirection de flux de cycle du Calvin-Benson-Bassham envers du système de nitrogénase qui catalyse la réduction des protons en H2. Ainsi, un PRK, phosphoribulose kinase, mutant « knock-out » de Rhodobacter capsulatus JP91 a été créé. L’analyse de la croissance sur des différentes sources de carbone a montré que ce mutant ne peut croître qu’avec l’acétate, sans toutefois produire d' H2. Un mutant spontané, YL1, a été récupéré qui a retenu l'cbbP (codant pour PRK) mutation d'origine, mais qui avait acquis la capacité de se développer sur le glucose et produire H2. Une étude de la production H2 sous différents niveaux d'éclairage a montré que le rendement d’YL1 était de 20-40% supérieure à la souche type sauvage JP91. Cependant, il n'y avait pas d'amélioration notable du taux de production de H2. Une étude cinétique a montré que la croissance et la production d'hydrogène sont fortement liées avec des électrons à partir du glucose principalement dirigés vers la production de H2 et la formation de la biomasse. Sous des intensités lumineuses faibles à intermédiaires, la production d'acides organiques est importante, ce qui suggère une nouvelle amélioration additionnel du rendement H2 pourrait être possible grâce à l'optimisation des processus. Dans une série d'expériences associées, un autre mutant spontané, YL2, qui a un phénotype similaire à YL1, a été testé pour la croissance dans un milieu contenant de l'ammonium. Les résultats ont montré que YL2 ne peut croître que avec de l'acétate comme source de carbone, encore une fois, sans produire de H2. Une incubation prolongée dans les milieux qui ne supportent pas la croissance de YL2 a permis l'isolement de deux mutants spontanés secondaires intéressants, YL3 et YL4. L'analyse par empreint du pied Western a montré que les deux souches ont, dans une gamme de concentrations d'ammonium, l'expression constitutive de la nitrogénase. Les génomes d’YL2, YL3 et YL4 ont été séquencés afin de trouver les mutations responsables de ce phénomène. Fait intéressant, les mutations de nifA1 et nifA2 ont été trouvés dans les deux YL3 et YL4. Il est probable qu'un changement conformationnel de NifA modifie l'interaction protéine-protéine entre NifA et PII protéines (telles que GlnB ou GlnK), lui permettant d'échapper à la régulation par l'ammonium, et donc d'être capable d'activer la transcription de la nitrogénase en présence d'ammonium. On ignore comment le nitrogénase synthétisé est capable de maintenir son activité parce qu’en théorie, il devrait également être soumis à une régulation post-traductionnelle par ammonium. Une autre preuve pourrait être obtenue par l'étude du transcriptome d’YL3 et YL4. Une première étude sur la production d’ H2 par YL3 et YL4 ont montré qu'ils sont capables d’une beaucoup plus grande production d'hydrogène que JP91 en milieu d'ammonium, qui ouvre la porte pour les études futures avec ces souches en utilisant des déchets contenant de l'ammonium en tant que substrats. Enfin, le reformage biologique de l'éthanol à H2 avec la bactérie photosynthétique, Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009 a été examiné. La production d'éthanol avec fermentation utilisant des ressources renouvelables microbiennes a été traitée comme une technique mature. Cependant, la plupart des études du reformage de l'éthanol à H2 se sont concentrés sur le reformage chimique à la vapeur, ce qui nécessite généralement une haute charge énergetique et résultats dans les émissions de gaz toxiques. Ainsi le reformage biologique de l'éthanol à H2 avec des bactéries photosynthétiques, qui peuvent capturer la lumière pour répondre aux besoins énergétiques de cette réaction, semble d’être plus prometteuse. Une étude précédente a démontré la production d'hydrogène à partir d'éthanol, toutefois, le rendement ou la durée de cette réaction n'a pas été examiné. Une analyse RSM (méthode de surface de réponse) a été réalisée dans laquelle les concentrations de trois facteurs principaux, l'intensité lumineuse, de l'éthanol et du glutamate ont été variés. Nos résultats ont montré que près de 2 moles de H2 peuvent être obtenus à partir d'une mole d'éthanol, 33% de ce qui est théoriquement possible.

Análisis de la estática para la síntesis de furfural por destilación reactiva

Hoy día, se presta la atención a los derivados de furano y a los procesos catalíticos alrededor de éstos para la conversión de los azúcares contenidos en la biomasa lignocelulósica. En este sentido, el furfural también recibe una especial atención como potencial químico para la producción de bioproductos y biocombustibles. Debido a las dificultades presentadas en la separación del furfural en el proceso convencional, en este trabajo se presenta el análisis de la separación para obtener furfural de alta pureza a partir de xilosa deshidratada por destilación reactiva como proceso no convencional, aplicando la teoría básica de análisis estático para obtener la mejor información del proceso de destilación reactiva, obteniendo un esquema tecnológico que permite alcanzar una fracción molar de furfural de aproximadamente 0.9.

Stability and Local Toxicity Evaluation of a Liposomal Prilocaine Formulation

This study reports a physicochemical stability evaluation of a previously reported liposomal prilocaine (PLC(LUV)) formulation (Cereda el al. J. Pharm. Pharmaceut. Sci. 7:235, 2004) before and after steam sterilization as well as its local toxicity evaluation. Prilocaine (PLC) was encapsulated into extruded unilamellar liposomes (LUVs) composed by egg phosphatidylcholine:cholesterol:alfa-tocopherol (4:3:0.07, mole %). Laser light-scattering analysis (p > 0.05) and thiobarbituric acid reaction (p > 0.05) were used to evaluate the liposomes physical (size) and chemical (oxidation) stability, respectively. The prilocaine chemical stability was followed by (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance. These tests detected no differences on the physicochemical stability of PLC or PLCLUV, sterilized or not, up to 30 days after preparation (p > 0.05). Finally, the paw edema test and histological analysis of rat oral mucosa were used to assess the possible inflammatory effects of PLC(LUV). PLC(LUV) did not evoke rat paw edema (p > 0.05), and no significant differences were found in histological analysis, when compared to the control groups (p > 0.05). The present work shows that PLC(LUV) is stable for a 30-day period and did not induce significant inflammatory effects both in the paw edema test and in histological analysis, giving supporting evidence for its safely and possible clinical use in dentistry.

Pharmacological and local toxicity studies of a liposomal formulation for the novel local anaesthetic ropivacaine

This study reports an investigation of the pharmacological activity, cytotoxicity, and local effects of a liposomal formulation of the novel local anaesthetic ropivacaine (RVC) compared with its plain solution. RVC was encapsulated into large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) composed of egg phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and a-tocopherol (4:3:0.07, mole %). Particle size, partition coefficient determination and in-vitro release studies were used to characterize the encapsulation process. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the tetrazolium reduction test using sciatic nerve Schwann cells in culture. Local anaesthetic activity was assessed by mouse sciatic and rat infraorbital nerve blockades. Histological analysis was performed to verify the myotoxic effects evoked by RVC formulations. Plain (RVCPLAIN) and liposomal RVC (RVCLUV) samples were tested at 0.125%, 0.25% and 0.5% concentrations. Vesicle size distribution showed liposomal populations of 370 and 130 nm (85 and 15%, respectively), without changes after RVC encapsulation. The partition coefficient value was 132 26 and in-vitro release assays revealed a decrease in RVC release rate (1.5 fold, P < 0.001) from liposomes. RVCLUV presented reduced cytotoxicity (P < 0.001) when compared with RVCPLAIN Treatment with RVCLUV increased the duration (P < 0.001) and intensity of the analgesic effects either on sciatic nerve blockade (1.4-1.6 fold) and infraorbital nerve blockade tests (1.5 fold), in relation to RVCPLAIN. Regarding histological analysis, no morphological tissue changes were detected in the area of injection and sparse inflammatory cells were observed in only one of the animals treated with RVCPLAIN or RVCLUV at 0.5%. Despite the differences between these preclinical studies and clinical conditions, we suggest RVCLUV as a potential new formulation, since RVC is a new and safe local anaesthetic agent.

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome : a review with six clinical cases

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária

Uma "Viagem ao Algarve" a duas vozes

Depois de ler o livro de Diego Mesa, vêm à memória desta cronista uns versos de Camões: «Transforma-se o amador na cousa amada/ por virtude do muito imaginar». Ao ler o livro de José Saramago, Viagem a Portugal (1981), o mesmo terá acontecido a Diego Mesa, escritor natural de Ayamonte e grande apaixonado pelo nosso país, que mantém um blogue intitulado http://aulajosesaramago. wordpress.com, onde divulga o trabalho que se vai fazendo em prol da disseminação da obra do Nobel da Literatura português, que o inspirou a refazer os seus passos. Escrito na terceira pessoa, Saramago designa a personagem que percorre o país de lés a lés como «o viajante». E este viajante vai ser, para Diego Mesa, «o outro viajante», já que, assumindo uma personagem equivalente, adota um estilo e retórica reconhecíveis para o leitor. Tomando como ponto de partida o último capítulo, «De Algarve e sol, pão seco e pão mole», que ocupa 18 páginas na edição da Viagem a Portugal, do Círculo de Leitores, e fazendo dele o seu guia de viagem, um novo viajante percorre esta terra, de uma ponta a outra, de carro e de comboio, revisitando os lugares ali mencionados. Naturalmente que, passados mais de 30 anos desde a 1ª edição daquela obra, muitas coisas se alteraram e é bom saber que, na sua maioria, para melhor. Os passos citados de José Saramago aparecem em itálico no texto de Diego Mesa, que muito bem os enquadra. Não se pense, porém, que este novo viajante apenas repete o que o outro visitou. É verdade que o usa como guia, mas também faz dele a sua inspiração para novos percursos, como a visita mais demorada a Portimão ou a viagem de comboio entre Vila Real de Santo António e Lagos. Além disso, a Viagem ao Algarve tem algumas breves (e úteis) notas de rodapé e, no final, uma boa bibliografia que poderá ajudar o leitor interessado em aprofundar mais o assunto. Para que fique perfeito, só falta que a próxima edição tenha uma boa revisão de texto. Precisando de selecionar alguns excertos para aqui constarem, deixou-se esta cronista levar pelo seu interesse especial por ruínas e museus, apresentando dois apontamentos sobre estes tipos de espaços.

Role of the wetting layer in the enhanced responsivity of InAs/GaAsSb quantum dot infrared photodetectors

InAs/GaAs1−xSbx Quantum Dot (QD) infrared photodetectors are analyzed by photocurrent spectroscopy. We observe that the integrated responsivity of the devices is improved with the increasing Sb mole fraction in the capping layer, up to 4.2 times for x = 17%. Since the QD layers are not vertically aligned, the vertical transport of the carriers photogenerated within the QDs takes place mainly through the bulk material and the wetting layer of the additional QD regions. The lower thickness of the wetting layer for high Sb contents results in a reduced capture probability of the photocarriers, thus increasing the photoconductive gain and hence, the responsivity of the device. The growth of not vertically aligned consecutive QD layers with a thinner wetting layer opens a possibility to improve the performance of quantum dot infrared photodetectors.

Um sistema para a inferência de variáveis usando redes neurais artificiais

This work aims to obtain a low-cost virtual sensor to estimate the quality of LPG. For the acquisition of data from a distillation tower, software HYSYS ® was used to simulate chemical processes. These data will be used for training and validation of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). This network will aim to estimate from available simulated variables such as temperature, pressure and discharge flow of a distillation tower, the mole fraction of pentane present in LPG. Thus, allowing a better control of product quality

Business Process Management and Process Mining within a Real Business Environment: An Empirical Analysis of Event Logs Data in a Consulting Project

Il presente elaborato esplora l’attitudine delle organizzazioni nei confronti dei processi di business che le sostengono: dalla semi-assenza di struttura, all’organizzazione funzionale, fino all’avvento del Business Process Reengineering e del Business Process Management, nato come superamento dei limiti e delle problematiche del modello precedente. All’interno del ciclo di vita del BPM, trova spazio la metodologia del process mining, che permette un livello di analisi dei processi a partire dagli event data log, ossia dai dati di registrazione degli eventi, che fanno riferimento a tutte quelle attività supportate da un sistema informativo aziendale. Il process mining può essere visto come naturale ponte che collega le discipline del management basate sui processi (ma non data-driven) e i nuovi sviluppi della business intelligence, capaci di gestire e manipolare l’enorme mole di dati a disposizione delle aziende (ma che non sono process-driven). Nella tesi, i requisiti e le tecnologie che abilitano l’utilizzo della disciplina sono descritti, cosi come le tre tecniche che questa abilita: process discovery, conformance checking e process enhancement. Il process mining è stato utilizzato come strumento principale in un progetto di consulenza da HSPI S.p.A. per conto di un importante cliente italiano, fornitore di piattaforme e di soluzioni IT. Il progetto a cui ho preso parte, descritto all’interno dell’elaborato, ha come scopo quello di sostenere l’organizzazione nel suo piano di improvement delle prestazioni interne e ha permesso di verificare l’applicabilità e i limiti delle tecniche di process mining. Infine, nell’appendice finale, è presente un paper da me realizzato, che raccoglie tutte le applicazioni della disciplina in un contesto di business reale, traendo dati e informazioni da working papers, casi aziendali e da canali diretti. Per la sua validità e completezza, questo documento è stata pubblicato nel sito dell'IEEE Task Force on Process Mining.

Assessment of the Occurrence and Potential Risks of Antibiotics and their Metabolites in South Florida Waters Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

An automated on-line SPE-LC-MS/MS method was developed for the quantitation of multiple classes of antibiotics in environmental waters. High sensitivity in the low ng/L range was accomplished by using large volume injections with 10-mL of sample. Positive confirmation of analytes was achieved using two selected reaction monitoring (SRM) transitions per antibiotic and quantitation was performed using an internal standard approach. Samples were extracted using online solid phase extraction, then using column switching technique; extracted samples were immediately passed through liquid chromatography and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. The total run time per each sample was 20 min. The statistically calculated method detection limits for various environmental samples were between 1.2 and 63 ng/L. Furthermore, the method was validated in terms of precision, accuracy and linearity. The developed analytical methodology was used to measure the occurrence of antibiotics in reclaimed waters (n=56), surface waters (n=53), ground waters (n=8) and drinking waters (n=54) collected from different parts of South Florida. In reclaimed waters, the most frequently detected antibiotics were nalidixic acid, erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole and ofloxacin (19.3-604.9 ng/L). Detection of antibiotics in reclaimed waters indicates that they can’t be completely removed by conventional wastewater treatment process. Furthermore, the average mass loads of antibiotics released into the local environment through reclaimed water were estimated as 0.248 Kg/day. Among the surface waters samples, Miami River (reaching up to 580 ng/L) and Black Creek canal (up to 124 ng/L) showed highest concentrations of antibiotics. No traces of antibiotics were found in ground waters. On the other hand, erythromycin (monitored as anhydro erythromycin) was detected in 82% of the drinking water samples (n.d-66 ng/L). The developed approach is suitable for both research and monitoring applications. Major metabolites of antibiotics in reclaimed wates were identified and quantified using high resolution benchtop Q-Exactive orbitrap mass spectrometer. A phase I metabolite of erythromycin was tentatively identified in full scan based on accurate mass measurement. Using extracted ion chromatogram (XIC), high resolution data-dependent MS/MS spectra and metabolic profiling software the metabolite was identified as desmethyl anhydro erythromycin with molecular formula C36H63NO12 and m/z 702.4423. The molar concentration of the metabolite to erythromycin was in the order of 13 %. To my knowledge, this is the first known report on this metabolite in reclaimed water. Another compound acetyl-sulfamethoxazole, a phase II metabolite of sulfamethoxazole was also identified in reclaimed water and mole fraction of the metabolite represent 36 %, of the cumulative sulfamethoxazole concentration. The results were illustrating the importance to include metabolites also in the routine analysis to obtain a mass balance for better understanding of the occurrence, fate and distribution of antibiotics in the environment. Finally, all the antibiotics detected in reclaimed and surface waters were investigated to assess the potential risk to the aquatic organisms. The surface water antibiotic concentrations that represented the real time exposure conditions revealed that the macrolide antibiotics, erythromycin, clarithromycin and tylosin along with quinolone antibiotic, ciprofloxacin were suspected to induce high toxicity to aquatic biota. Preliminary results showing that, among the antibiotic groups tested, macrolides posed the highest ecological threat, and therefore, they may need to be further evaluated with, long-term exposure studies considering bioaccumulation factors and more number of species selected. Overall, the occurrence of antibiotics in aquatic environment is posing an ecological health concern.

High-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry for measurement of steroid entrapment in nebulised liposomes generated from proliposomes

A novel approach to the determination of steroid entrapment in the bilayers of aerosolised liposomes has been introduced using high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Proliposomes were dispersed in water within an air-jet nebuliser and the energy produced during atomisation was used to hydrate the proliposomes and generate liposome aerosols. Proliposomes that included the steroid beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) produced lower aerosol and lipid outputs than steroid-free proliposomes. Size analysis and transmission electron microscopy showed an evidence of liposome formation within the nebuliser, which was followed by deaggregation and size reduction of multilamellar liposomes on nebulisation to a two-stage impinger. For each formulation, no difference in thermal transitions was observed between delivered liposomes and those remaining in the nebuliser. However, steroid (5 mole%) lowered the onset temperature and the enthalpy of the pretransition, and produced a similar onset temperature and larger enthalpy of the main transition, with broadened pretransition and main transitions. This indicates that BDP was entrapped and exhibited an interaction with the liposome phospholipid membranes. Since the pretransition was depressed but not completely removed and no phase separation occurred, it is suggested that the bilayers of the multilamellar liposomes can entrap more than 5 mole% BDP. Overall, liposomes were generated from proliposomes and DSC investigations indicated that the steroid was entrapped in the bilayers of aerosolised multilamellar vesicles.

Evaluación de bancos naturales de invertebrados marinos comerciales, Región La Libertad-Perú, 2011

La evaluación de los bancos naturales, se realizó entre 07°10’27”S, 79°41’18”W (Punta Chérrepe) y 08°45’44,9”S, 78°47’42,2”W (Isla Chao), del 13 al 24 de diciembre 2011. Se evaluó ocho especies de invertebrados de importancia comercial en 15 bancos naturales. Las especies fueron: Platyxanthus orbignyi cangrejo violáceo, Stramonita chocolata caracol negro, Octopus mimus pulpo, Argopecten purpuratus concha de abanico, Semele sp. almeja, Emerita analoga muy muy, Pattalus molli pepino de mar, Donax sp. palabritas.

Evaluación del desempeño de pruebas diagnósticas de tuberculosis en pacientes VIH positivo en dos hospitales públicos de Bogotá

La tuberculosis TB es una de las principales causas de muerte en el mundo en individuos con infección por VIH. En Colombia esta coinfección soporta una carga importante en la población general convirtiéndose en un problema de salud pública. En estos pacientes las pruebas diagnósticas tienen sensibilidad inferior y la enfermedad evoluciona con mayor frecuencia hacia formas diseminadas y rápidamente progresivas y su diagnóstico oportuno representa un reto en Salud. El objetivo de este proyecto es evaluar el desempeño de las pruebas diagnósticas convencionales y moleculares, para la detección de TB latente y activa pacientes con VIH, en dos hospitales públicos de Bogotá. Para TB latente se evaluó la concordancia entre las pruebas QuantiFERON-TB (QTF) y Tuberculina (PPD), sugiriendo superioridad del QTF sobre la PPD. Se evaluaron tres pruebas diagnósticas por su sensibilidad y especificidad, baciloscopia (BK), GenoType®MTBDR plus (Genotype) y PCR IS6110 teniendo como estándar de oro el cultivo. Los resultados de sensibilidad (S) y especificidad (E) de cada prueba con una prevalencia del 19,4 % de TB pulmonar y extrapulmonar en los pacientes que participaron del estudio fue: BK S: 64% E: 99,1%; Genotype S: 77,8% E: 94,5%; PCRIS6110 S: 73% E: 95,5%, de la misma forma se determinaron los valores predictivos positivos y negativos (VPP y VPN) BK: 88,9% y 94,8%, Genotype S: 77,8% E: 94,5%; PCRIS6110 S: 90% y 95,7%. Se concluyó bajo análisis de curva ROC que las pruebas muestran un rendimiento diagnóstico similar por separado en el diagnóstico de TB en pacientes con VIH, aumentando su rendimiento diagnostico cuando se combinan

Geographical patterns of the species richness of helminth parasites of moles (Talpa spp.) in Spain: Separating the effects of sampling effort from those of other conditioning factors

We analysed the viscera of 534 moles (Ta l p a spp.) from 30 of the 47 provinces of peninsular Spain, including 255 individuals of T. europaea from eight provinces, 154 individuals of T. occidentalis from 20 provinces, and 125 unidentified Ta l p a individuals from two provinces. We identified their helminth parasites and determined parasite species richness. We related parasite species richness with sampling effort using both a linear and a logarithmic function. We then performed stepwise linear regressions to predict mole parasite species richness from a small set of selected predictor variables that included sampling effort. We applied the resulting models to forecast T. euro p a e a, T. occidentalis, and Ta l p a spp. parasite species richness in all provinces with recorded host presence, assuming different levels of sampling eff o r t . F i n a l l y, we used partial regression analysis to partition the variation explained by each of the selected variables in the models. We found that mole parasite species richness is strongly conditioned by sampling effort, but that other factors such as cropland area and environmental disturbance have significant independent effects.