Browsing by Autor "Edgard O. Espinoza"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Chemical differentiation of Bolivian Cedrela species as a tool to trace illegal timber trade
(Oxford University Press, 2018) Kathelyn Paredes-Villanueva; Edgard O. Espinoza; Jente Ottenburghs; Mark G. Sterken; Frans Bongers; Pieter A. Zuidema
Combating illegal timber trade requires the ability to identify species and verify geographic origin of timber. Forensic techniques that independently verify the declared species and geographic origin are needed, as current legality procedures are based on certificates and documents that can be falsified. Timber from the genus Cedrela is among the most economically valued tropical timbers worldwide. Three Cedrela species are included in the Appendix III of CITES: C. fissilis, C. odorata and C. angustifolia (listed as C. lilloi). Cedrela timber is currently traded with false origin declarations and under a different species name, but tools to verify this are lacking. We used Direct Analysis in Real Time Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (DART-TOFMS) to chemically identify Cedrela species and sites of origin. Heartwood samples from six Cedrela species (the three CITES-listed species plus C. balansae, C. montana and C. saltensis) were collected at 11 sites throughout Bolivia. Mass spectra detected by DART-TOFMS comprised 1062 compounds; their relative intensities were analysed using Principal Component Analyses, Kernel Discriminant Analysis (KDA) and Random Forest analyses to check discrimination potential among species and sites. Species were identified with a mean discrimination error of 15–19 per cent, with substantial variation in discrimination accuracy among species. The lowest error was observed in C. fissilis (mean = 4.4 per cent). Site discrimination error was considerably higher: 43–54 per cent for C. fissilis and 42–48 per cent for C. odorata. These results provide good prospects to differentiate C. fissilis from other species, but at present there is no scope to do so for other tested species. Thus, discrimination is highly species specific. Our findings for tests of geographic origin suggest no potential to discriminate at the studied scale and for the studied species. Cross-checking results from different methods (KDA and Random Forest) reduced discrimination errors. In all, the DART-TOFMS technique allows independent verification of claimed identity of certain Cedrela species in timber trade.
Compartment Syndrome: Recognizing The Hidden Emergency and When to Intervene – Case Report
(2025) José Ángel Díaz Arias; Onix Reyes; M. Cruz; Aurelio Vicente Stangue de Lara; Edgard O. Espinoza; E. Peña Vallejo; Isabel Leticia Rios Chagoya; R Ibarra; Alejandra Valeria Paniagua Morochi; María Jiménez Jiménez
Compartment syndrome secondary to deep burns constitutes a surgical emergency that threatens the function and viability of the affected limb. We present the case of a 37-year-old male patient who suffered an explosion resulting in deep second-degree and third-degree burns on the right upper extremity, developing progressive edema, severe pain, paresthesia, and decreased distal perfusion, findings consistent with compartment syndrome. Intracompartmental pressure measurement confirmed the need for immediate decompression, leading to a combined fasciotomy of the anterior and posterior compartments of the forearm, preserving neurovascular structures and optimizing hand function. Postoperative management included pain control, wound care, delayed coverage of deep burns with partial-thickness skin grafts, and early physical rehabilitation. Clinical evolution was favorable, with full recovery of mobility, strength, and sensation of the limb, minimal scar contracture, and satisfactory aesthetic outcomes. This case highlights the importance of early detection of burn-related compartment syndrome, precise indication for fasciotomy, and a multidisciplinary approach in plastic and reconstructive surgery to achieve optimal functional and aesthetic outcomes.
The Timber Tracking Tool Infogram. Overview of wood identification methods' capacity.
(Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 2019) Hans Beeckman; José Antonio Cabezas; M. Cervera; Edgard O. Espinoza; Juan Fernandez Golfin; Peter Gasson; John C. Hermanson; Marysol Jaime Arteaga; Gerald Koch; Frederic Lens
This is a guide to choose the best timber traceability verification method in the context of fighting against international illegal timber trade. The methods covered are 1) wood anatomy; 2) genetics; 3) stable isotopes; 4) direct analysis in real time - time-of-flight mass spectrometry (DART TOFMS); 5) near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS); 6) Machine vision