Clinical characteristics and comorbidities of elderly asthmatics who attend allergy clinics Yáñez, Anahí; Soria, Marcela; de Barayazarra, Norma Susana; Recuero, Nancy; Rovira, Francisco; Jares, Edgardo; Stok, Ana María; Nemirovsky, Sergio Ivan; Bueno, Carlos Alberto Background: To date, few studies have focused on the clinical and allergic characteristics of asthma in the elderly, defined as asthma in people aged 60 or over. Thus, we propose to identify and study the clinical and allergic characteristics and comorbidities of patients with asthma among the elderly.Methods: A retrospective, observational, descriptive study was developed in five clinics and hospitals in Argentina. Allergy Physicians analyzed their patients? medical records in 2014 and included those adults over the age of 60, who had been diagnosed with asthma according to the GINA guidelines. Clinical and allergic characteristics were analyzed.Results: A total of 152 patients diagnosed with asthma, of whom 73% were women and 11% ex-smokers, were included in this study, with a mean age of 66 years. Only 10.5% of the participants had onset asthma past the age of 60. Regarding asthma severity, 74.3% were diagnosed with moderate persistent asthma, and 7.2% with severe persistent asthma. Eighty-four percent of the patients were treated with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) along with a long-acting β 2-adrenergic agent (LABA). More than half of the patients had two or more comorbidities simultaneously. Allergic comorbidities were the most frequent comorbidities, followed by arterial hypertension. Among allergic comorbidities, most patients presented allergies at the nasal level. There were no significant differences between the subpopulations of patients with late-onset asthma (LOA) and asthma with onset before the age of 60, i.e. early onset asthma (EOA) in most of their clinical characteristics. However, it was observed that EOA accounted for a higher percentage of patients with nasal allergies as compared to LOA (71% vs 46%, p < 0.05).It is worth mentioning that almost half of the patients with LOA had allergies at the nasal level.Conclusion: These results may provide a better understanding of the clinical characteristics of asthma in the elderly in Argentina, thus, enabling the development of future therapeutic strategies and a better quality of life for our elderly asthma patients.

Anticuerpos anti-B13 en infectados crónicos por Trypanosoma cruzi y su asociación con la cardiopatía chagásica Olivera, Lorena Veronica; Bizai, María Laura; Arias, Evelyn; Suasnábar, Santiago Martín; Marcipar, Iván Sergio; Fabbro, Diana Lucrecia La proteína B13 inmunodominante de Trypanosoma cruzi, presenta una secuencia homóloga (AAAGDK) a la cadena pesada de miosina cardíaca humana (AAALDK) asociada a mimetismo molecular, posible mecanismo patogénico en la enfermedad de Chagas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar, en adultos infectados crónicos con Trypanosoma cruzi, la asociación entre los niveles de anticuerpos anti-B13 y desarrollo de cardiopatía chagásica.Se realizó un estudio transversal en 89 pacientes con infección crónica por Trypanosoma cruzi distribuidos en: 34 infectados sin patología demostrable (grupo A); 42 infectados con cardiopatía chagásica crónica de diferente severidad (grupo B) y; 13 infectados con miocardiopatía chagásica y factores de riesgo cardiovasculares asociados (grupo C). Como grupo control se estudiaron 46 personas no infectadas con Trypanosoma cruzi: 16 con cardiopatía (grupo D) y 30 sanas (grupo E). Además en 13 pacientes del grupo B, edad promedio de 43,3±13,2 años, se realizó un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo con seguimiento de 12,6±6,5 años, a fin de correlacionar el nivel de respuesta anti-B13 y la progresión de la cardiopatía. Estos pacientes no presentaron cambios en los niveles de anticuerpos anti-B13 a través del tiempo, independientemente de la evolución clínica.No se observaron diferencias significativas entre los grupos A, B y C tanto en la presencia de anticuerpos anti-B13 (A=91,1%, B=80,8% y C=84,6%), como en el nivel de respuesta de los mismos. Sin embargo, en los pacientes del grupo B con alto compromiso cardíaco los niveles de anticuerpos anti-B13 fueron más elevados.Los pacientes del grupo control con cardiopatía, 50% fueron positivos para anticuerpos anti-B13 aunque con muy escasa reactividad, mientras las personas sanas no presentaron respuesta a esta proteína.Si bien no se encontró asociación entre el nivel de anticuerpos anti-B13 y cardiopatía chagásica, se observaron valores más altos en los infectados con compromiso cardíaco severo, sin variación en el tiempo.Estos resultados sugieren que los anticuerpos anti-B13 podrían ser utilizados como marcadores de progresión clínica en lo pacientes con cardiopatía chagásica crónica.

Evidence for the associated production of the Higgs boson and a top quark pair with the ATLAS detector Aaboud, M.; Aad, G.; Abbott, B.; Abdinov, O.; Abeloos, B.; Alconada Verzini, María Josefina; Alonso, Francisco; Arduh, Francisco Anuar; Dova, Maria Teresa; Hoya, Joaquín; Monticelli, Fernando Gabriel; Wahlberg, Hernan Pablo; Bossio Sola, Jonathan David; Daneri, María Florencia; Devesa, Maria Roberta; Marceca, Gino; Otero y Garzon, Gustavo Javier; Piegaia, Ricardo Nestor; Sacerdoti, Sabrina; Zinonos, Z.; Zinser, M.; Ziolkowski, M.; Živković, L.; Zobernig, G.; Zoccoli, A.; Zoch, K.; Nedden, M. zur; Zorbas, T. G.; Zou, R.; Zwalinski, L.; The ATLAS Collaboration A search for the associated production of the Higgs boson with a top quark pair (ttH¯ ) is reported. The search is performed in multilepton final states using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at a center-of-mass energy √ s = 13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. Higgs boson decays to WW∗ , ττ, and Z Z∗ are targeted. Seven final states, categorized by the number and flavor of charged-lepton candidates, are examined for the presence of the Standard Model Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV and a pair of top quarks. An excess of events over the expected background from Standard Model processes is found with an observed significance of 4.1 standard deviations, compared to an expectation of 2.8 standard deviations. The best fit for the ttH¯ production cross section is σ(ttH¯ ) = 790+230 −210 fb, in agreement with the Standard Model prediction of 507+35 −50 fb. The combination of this result with other ttH¯ searches from the ATLAS experiment using the Higgs boson decay modes to bb¯, γγ and Z Z∗ → 4`, has an observed significance of 4.2 standard deviations, compared to an expectation of 3.8 standard deviations. This provides evidence for the ttH¯ production mode.

En busca del calor perdido: Efecto Seebeck y materiales termoeléctricos Cornaglia de la Cruz, Pablo Sebastian La generación y el uso racional de la energía constituyen una problemática de importancia central en Argentina y en el mundo. Los desafíos consisten en administrar las fuentes no renovables de energía, disminuir los costos y mejorar la eficiencia en el uso de un recurso esencial para la actividad industrial y la calidad de vida. Un aspecto muy importante para mejorar la eficiencia en el uso de la energía es reducir las altas pérdidas en forma de calor residual que se producen al utilizar combustibles fósiles. En el caso de los automóviles, sus motores aprovechan menos de un tercio de la energía disponible en la nafta. Los dos tercios restantes se pierden en forma de calor en los gases del escape y en el sistema de refrigeración del motor. En la Argentina dos tercios de la energía eléctrica se genera a partir de la combustión de gas natural y las centrales térmicas más modernas sólo logran aprovechar poco más de la mitad de la energía disponible del gas. Aprovechar el calor residual es un desafío para científicos y tecnólogos con motivaciones tanto económicas como ambientales.En ese sentido ha resurgido el interés en los materiales llamados termoeléctricos que pueden ser utilizados para generar electricidad a partir de una fuente de calor (como el caño de escape de un auto que emite gases a alta temperatura). Los dispositivos construidos en base a estos materiales no tienen partes móviles, como las que hay en el alternador de un auto, y por lo tanto son silenciosos y no necesitan de mantenimiento ya que en ellos no se produce desgaste mecánico. Además, al tener un peso y tamaño reducidos, es posible utilizarlos en autos o aviones. En los últimos años ha resurgido la búsqueda de nuevos materiales termoeléctricos con el fin de disminuir su costo y mejorar su eficiencia para lograr una utilización masiva de los mismos.

Mutations involving the SRY-related gene SOX8 are associated with a spectrum of human reproductive anomalies Portnoi, Marie-France; Dumargne, Marie Charlotte; Rojo, Sandra; Witchel, Selma F; Duncan, Andrew J; Eozenou, Caroline; Bignon Topalovic, Joelle; Yatsenko, Svetlana A; Rajkovic, Aleksandar; Reyes Mugica, Miguel; Almstrup, Kristian; Fusee, Leila; Srivastava, Yogesh; Chantot Bastaraud, Sandra; Hyon, Capucine; Louis Sylvestre, Christine; Validire, Pierre; de Malleray Pichard, Caroline; Ravel, Celia; Christin Maitre, Sophie; Brauner, Raja; Rossetti, Raffaella; Persani, Luca; Charreau, Eduardo Hernan; Dain, Liliana Beatriz; Chiauzzi, Violeta Alicia; Mazen, Inas; Rouba, Hassan; Schluth Bolard, Caroline; Mac Gowan, Stuart; Mc Lean, W. H. Irwin; Patin, Etienne; Rajpert De Meyts, Ewa; Jauch, Ralf; Achermann, John C.; Siffroi, Jean Pierre; Mc Elreavey, Ken; Bashamboo, Anu SOX8 is an HMG-box transcription factor closely related to SRY and SOX9. Deletion of the gene encoding Sox8 in mice causes reproductive dysfunction but the role of SOX8 in humans is unknown. Here, we show that SOX8 is expressed in the somatic cells of the early developing gonad in the human and influences human sex-determination. We identified two individuals with 46,XY disorders/differences in sex development (DSD) and chromosomal rearrangements encompassing the SOX8 locus and a third individual with 46,XY DSD and a missense mutation in the HMG-box of SOX8. In-vitro functional assays indicate that this mutation alters the biological activity of the protein. As an emerging body of evidence suggests that DSDs and infertility can have common etiologies, we also analyzed SOX8 in a cohort of infertile men (n = 274) and two independent cohorts of women with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI; n = 153 and n = 104). SOX8 mutations were found at increased frequency in oligozoospermic men (3.5%; p<0.05) and POI (5.06%; p=4.5x10-5) as compared to fertile/normospermic control populations (0.74%). The mutant proteins identified altered SOX8 biological activity as compared to the wild-type protein. These data demonstrate that SOX8 plays an important role in human reproduction and SOX8 mutations contribute to a spectrum of phenotypes including 46,XY DSD, male infertility and 46,XX POI.

Estimación del consumo en rumiantes en pastoreo utilizando redes neuronales artificiales Uhrig, Mariela Noelia; Galli, Julio Ricardo; Rufiner, Hugo Leonardo; Milone, Diego Humberto Accurate and rapid measurement of forage intake in ruminants is important for efficient management livestock and forage resources, as well as for animal health and welfare in production systems. The use of intelligent signal processing algorithms to extract relevant information from the sound emitted by ruminants is a promising method to predict the intake of ruminants in grazing conditions. In this work, multilayer perceptrons and extreme learning machines, are used as non-linear multivariate regression models to predict intake. The results show that these non-linear regression techniques can significantly reduce the error in the estimation of forage intake in ruminants.

Mimosa chacoënsis (Leguminosae), nueva cita para la flora Argentina; Mimosa chacoënsis (Leguminosae), new record for the flora of Argentina Morales, Matías; Fortunato, Renée Hersilia Mimosa chacoënsis, perteneciente a la sección Habbasia serie Rojasianae del género Mimosa, es citada por primera vez para la Argentina, en la provincia de Formosa. Esta especie, endémica de la ecorregión del Chaco Seco, previamente había sido registrada sólo para Bolivia y Paraguay. Como resultado de este trabajo se eleva a 56 el número de especies conocidas de Mimosa para la Flora Argentina. Se presenta para esta especie una descripción morfológica detallada y observaciones, una ilustración, un mapa de distribución y una discusión de la ecología de la especie. Asimismo, se incluye una clave de identificación de las especies de Mimosa sección Habbasia de la Argentina.; Mimosa chacoënsis, belonging to the section Habbasia series Rojasianae of genus Mimosa, is cited for the first time to Argentina, in the Formosa province. This species, endemic of the Dry Chaco ecoregion, has been previously registered only from Bolivia and Paraguay. As a result of this work the number of known species of Mimosa from the Argentine Flora increases to 56. A detailed morphological description and observations, an illustration, a distribution map, and a discussion of the ecology of this species are presented. Likewise, an identification key to species of Mimosa section Habbasia in Argentina is included.

Toxoplasmosis congénita: Diagnóstico serológico, RPC, aislamiento y caracterización molecular de Toxoplasma gondii. Carral, Liliana; Kaufer, Federico; Pardini, Lais Luján; Durlach, Ricardo; Moré, Gastón Andrés; Venturini, María C.; Freuler, Cristina Congenital toxoplasmosis diagnosis in the newborn is a very important issue due to the need for early treatment to prevent future sequels. Aim: To compare available methods at the institution for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. Material and Methods: In this study we have evaluated the different diagnostic tests used in 67 congenital exposed newborns, including serological tests, PCR, parasite isolation and molecular characterization. Results: The ISAGA IgM and IgA tests showed sensitivity (Se) of 87 and 91%, respectively, and specificity (Sp) of 100%. When ISAGA IgM and IgA were performed simultaneously, the Se increased to 98% and the Sp was 100%. The presence of IgE contributed to the diagnosis when it was detected in the child?s serum but not in maternal blood. In four congenital infected children the parasite was isolated and genotyped: one was genotype II and the other three were ?atypical? genotypes. No parasite was isolated in children without congenital toxoplasmosis. Discussion: Overall, serological tests showed a good diagnostic performance although in one case they were all negative and isolation was the only tool to identify the infection. We conclude that it is essential to use all diagnostic tests in every single exposed child, including if possible, molecular characterization due to its epidemiological implication.

Saberes botánicos en el talar: utilización de plantas silvestres con fines medicinales y alimenticios en el Parque Costero del Sur (partidos de Magdalena y Punta Indio, Buenos Aires, República Argentina); Conhecimento botânico no talar: uso de plantas silvestres com fins medicinais e alimentícios no Parque Costero del Sur (Região de Magdalena e Punta Indio, Buenos Aires, República Argentina); Botanical knowledge of talar: use of wild plants for medicinal and food purposes in Parque Costero del Sur (Regions of Magdalena and Punta Indio, Buenos Aires, Argentina) Ghiani Echenique, Naiquen Martina; Doumecq, María Belén; Pochettino, María Lelia La Reserva de Biosfera "Parque Costero del Sur" (PCS) se encuentra ubicada en los partidos de Magdalena y Punta Indio, en el noreste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Esta figura de protección se fundamenta en su riqueza en biodiversidad, donde la presencia del bosque costero, constituido por talares, se conjuga con ambientes de bañados y playa. Resulta de interés indagar la diversidad vegetal del PCS y su aprovechamiento por parte de los habitantes locales con miras a su constitución como patrimonio intangible. En este sentido, desde un enfoque etnobotánico se plantea caracterizar la utilización de recursos vegetales silvestres con fines alimenticios y medicinales en el Parque Costero del Sur. Mediante entrevistas a los pobladores locales se relevaron 54 especies vegetales utilizadas, se abordaron las prácticas y saberes relacionados, como así los modos de utilización y las condiciones en que tiene lugar su obtención y consumo. El análisis del conocimiento botánico local permite reflexionar sobre la valoración de estas especies vegetales como alimento y/o medicamento y su importancia para la población actual, así como indagar la posibilidad de una valoración diferencial de la recolección de plantas medicinales respecto de las alimenticias. Con los resultados obtenidos se propone fomentar la participación de los pobladores en actividades de capacitación sobre recursos vegetales locales, y contribuir mediante la realización de un material informativo a distribuirse entre pobladores y visitantes del PCS.; Reserva da Biosfera “Parque Costero del Sur” (PCS) situa-se em região de Magdalena e Punta Indio, no nordeste da província de Buenos Aires. Esta unidade de proteção baseia-se na sua riqueza em biodiversidade, onde a presença da floresta costeira, constituída pelo talar, combina com ambientes de praia e zonas úmidas. É interessante a investigação da diversidade vegetal do PCS e sua utilização pela população local, tendo em vista a sua constituição como patrimônio imaterial. Neste sentido, a partir de um enfoque etnobotânico caracterizou-se a utilização dos recursos de plantas selvagem para fins alimentícios e medicinais em PCS. Entrevistando os moradores locais, 54 espécies vegetais utilizadas foram registradas, e as práticas e conhecimentos relacionados, foram abordados bem como os modos de utilização e as condições em que tem lugar a recolha e o consumo. A análise do conhecimento botânico local para refletir sobre a valorização dessas plantas como alimento ou medicamento e sua importância para a população atual, bem como para investigar a possibilidade de uma avaliação diferencial da colheita de plantas medicinais e para a comida. Com os resultados obtidos pretende-se promover a participação dos residentes em ações de formação sobre os recursos locais e contribuir com a produçao de um folheto para ser distribuído para os moradores e visitantes dos PCS.; “Parque Costero del Sur” Biosphere Reserve (PCS) is located in the region of Magdalena and Punta Indio, northeast of Buenos Aires province. This protected unit is based on its richness in biodiversity, where the coastal forest, constituted by the talar, combines with wetland environments and beach. It is of interest to research the plant diversity of the PCS and its utilization by local people with regards to become an intangible heritage. Therefore, from ethnobotanical point of view, the use of wild plant resources for food and medicinal purposes in PCS was characterized. By interviewing local residents, 54 used plant species have been recorded, as well as the related knowledge and practices together with the modes of use and the conditions under which harvest and consumption take place. The analysis of local botanical knowledge allowed us to reflect the assessment of these species as food or medicine and its importance to the present population, as well as to inquire about the possibility of a different evaluation of medicinal and food plants harvest. The obtained results propose to promote the participation of residents in training activities on local plant resources. In this respect, a booklet will be produced and distributed to the residents and visitors of the PCS as well

History of German Philology in Argentina (Chapter 2); Geschichte der argentinischen germanistik. Bujaldon, Lila Estela Diese Studie zur Geschichte der Germanistik in Argentinien befasst sich mit der Zeitspanne zwischen der Mai-Revolution 1810 -d.h. der Zeit nach der Unabhängigkeit von Spanienund den 50er Jahren. Die Studie setzt das Augenmerk auf die Geschichte des Studiengangs an der Universität Buenos Aires. Als erstes wird die Wissenschaftsgeschichte der Germanistik dargestellt. Daran anschließend wird die Entwicklung der Fremdsprachenlehre –u.a. der deutschen Sprache– von der Kolonialzeit bis zu den ersten Jahren des 20. Jahrhunderts untersucht. Ein Kapitel ist der lokalen Bezeichnung der Germanistik gewidmet: „Literatur des nördlichen Europa“. Auch die Biographien der ersten Professoren Deutscher Literatur an der Universität Buenos Aires –Mauricio Nirenstein, Albert Haas und Juan Carlos Probst– werden in weiteren Kapiteln eingehend untersucht. Das Schlusskapitel stellt darüber hinaus die Arbeit von Werner Bock, Ilse M. de Brugger und Gúnter Ballin vor. Alle haben während des Deutschen Exils 1933 in Argentinien Zuflucht gefunden und gaben die Deutsche Literatur in der akademischen und intellektuellen Szene bekannt.; This study of the history of German philology in Argentina describes and analyses the period of time between the Revolution of May 1810, which means after the independence of Argentina from Spain, and the 1950s. The study has its focus on the history of the degree program of the University of Buenos Aires. In the first chapter, the history of the science of German language and literature studies and the development of foreign language studies are addressed (among other things, German language), covering the period from the colonial era until the first years oft he 20th century.

Cinodontes triásicos y mamíferos del tiempo de los dinosaurios Martinelli, Agustín Guillermo; Soares, Marina; Forasiepi, Analia Marta Cómo eran los mamíferos que coexistieron con los dinosaurios y sobrevivieron a la extinción de estos, y cómo eran sus ancestros inmediatos, los cinodontes, de los que se diferenciaron hace unos 210Ma.

Validation of the subtle and blatant prejudice scale towards indigenous people in Argentina Ungaretti, Joaquín; Etchezahar, Edgardo Daniel; Barreiro, Alicia Viviana The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the subtle and blatant prejudice scale toward indigenous people inArgentina and its relationship with right wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, tolerance for disagreement, ideologicalpoliticalself-positioning, sex and age.Asample of 304 participants from Buenos Aireswas selected using a non-probabilistic incidentalmethod. Participants were aged from 18 to 41 years and they were asked to fill a self-report questionnaire including an Argentineanversion of the subtle and blatant prejudice toward indigenous people scale together with right wing authoritarianism scale, socialdominance orientation scale, tolerance for disagreement scale, ideological-political self-positioning scale.We found adequate psychometricsproperties for the subtle and blatant prejudice scale, as well as significant and positive correlations with right wing authoritarianism,tolerance for disagreement, social dominance orientation and political self-placement. These findings may indicate thatprejudice towards indigenous people in Argentina is a complex problem that cannot be explained only by considering intergrouprelations, because different socio-psychological variables are related with its consolidation and maintenance.

Archaeological science in southern South America: An introduction Morales, Marcelo Raul; Tessone, Augusto; Barberena, Ramiro The approach that can be succinctly described as ‘archaeological science’ has grown beyond any predictions made during the last four decades. Recently published data helps to illustrate the magnitude of this evolution. In 1982 the Journal of Archaeological Science published four issues with 28 articles that occupied 409 pages, while in 2014 it published 12 issues containing 480 articles spanning 5128 pages (Torrence et al., 2015, 1–2). This is the historical context of the discipline where the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports emerged in 2015 as a sister publication aimed at disseminating the ever-growing “… results of the application of scientific methods to archaeological problems and debates, as well as providing a forum for reviews and discussion of issues in scientific archaeology and their impact in the wider subject” (Hunt and Howard, 2015, 1).

Characterization and cancer risk assessment of VOCs in home and school environments in gran La Plata, Argentina Colman Lerner, Jorge Esteban; Gutierrez, María de Los Angeles; Mellado, Daniela; Giuliani, Daniela Silvana; Massolo, Laura Andrea; Sánchez, Érica Yanina; Porta, Atilio Andrés Three areas are highlighted in Gran La Plata, Argentina: industrial, urban, and residential. In this work, the levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air of homes and schools in those areas were analyzed, through the use of passive monitors. The study period is between 2007 and 2010. Higher levels of VOCs were found in homes and schools in the industrial zone, higher than the levels corresponding to urban and residential. Taking into account the relationship between indoor and outdoor levels of VOCs, they have ratios (I/O) between 1.5 and 10 are evidenced contributions of emission sources of VOCs both indoor and outdoor. Complementarily, we estimated the life time cancer risk (LCR) for benzene, styrene, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene in children who spend their time mostly in such indoor environments. The results show high LCR values for benzene, which exceed acceptable values for the US EPA.

Severe plastic deformation by equal channel angular pressing and rolling: The influence of the deformation path on strain distribution Kliauga, Andrea M.; Sordi, Vitor L.; de Vincentis, Natalia Soledad; Bolmaro, Raul Eduardo; Schell, Norbert; Brokmeier, Heinz-Günter The present work compares two deformation techniques, rolling and Equal Channel Angular pressing (ECAP), and the response offered by three different materials that differ in Stacking Fault Energy (SFE): AA1010 Al, commercially pure Cu, and an austenitic stainless steel. The objective of this investigation is to study the effect of each deformation mode on tensile behavior, deformation mechanism, texture, and microstructure and to establish the influence of the stacking fault energy on said effects. The results show that the different strain paths of ECAP and rolling do not affect the strength, but rolling leads to an accentuated texture and thus to elastic and plastic anisotropy. This finding has practical relevance for micro manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, it is observed that lower SFE results in smaller domain size and higher dislocation density, which are microstructural details related to strength and to the work hardening capacity. Finally, both techniques are able to produce a high amount of high angle grain boundaries, a feature that characterizes refined microstructures. These processes operate at different strain rates; thus, in low SFE materials, a more effective grain fragmentation by deformation-induced twins is observed after the ECAP process.

Effect of structure, morphology and chemical composition of Zn-Al, Mg/Zn-Al and Cu/Zn-Al hydrotalcites on their antifungal activity against A. niger Velázquez Herrera, Franchescoli Didier; Fetter, Geolar; Rosato, Vilma Gabriela; Pereyra, Andrea Marisa; Basaldella, Elena Isabel Zn-Al, MgZn-Al and CuZn-Al hydrotalcites were prepared by the co-precipitation method, using the conventional hydrothermal crystallization or ultrasonic irradiation methods The samples were characterized by XRD, FT-IR and SEM, which confirmed the formation of a layered double hydroxide phase. Afterwards, the effects of composition and texture of the synthesized samples on their biocidal behavior against A. niger were evaluated by using traditional cultivation techniques. Among the different samples examined, hydrotalcites containing Zn, Zn-Mg and Zn-Cu showed an inhibitory effect on A. niger growth. Samples synthesized by the conventional method showed a greater inhibitory capacity than those synthesized by ultrasonication, but their biocidal activity was mainly determined by the presence of biocidal cations. The biocidal characteristics of zinc and/or copper in conjunction with the alkalinity of these materials were favorable for preventing fungal spread. The ZnAl hydrotalcite, the more eco-friendly material of the analyzed series, showed a good biocide performance, while the best antifungal behavior was observed for copper-containing hydrotalcites.

Generalized One-Band Model Based on Zhang-Rice Singlets for Tetragonal CuO Hamad, Ignacio Javier; Manuel, Luis Oscar; Aligia, Armando Ángel Tetragonal CuO (T-CuO) has attracted attention because of its structure similar to that of the cuprates. It has been recently proposed as a compound whose study can give an end to the long debate about the proper microscopic modeling for cuprates. In this work, we rigorously derive an effective one-band generalized t-J model for T-CuO, based on orthogonalized Zhang-Rice singlets, and make an estimative calculation of its parameters, based on previous ab initio calculations. By means of the self-consistent Born approximation, we then evaluate the spectral function and the quasiparticle dispersion for a single hole doped in antiferromagnetically ordered half filled T-CuO. Our predictions show very good agreement with angle-resolved photoemission spectra and with theoretical multiband results. We conclude that a generalized t-J model remains the minimal Hamiltonian for a correct description of single-hole dynamics in cuprates.

A DFT Approach for Methanol Synthesis via Hydrogenation of CO on Gallia, Ceria and ZnO surfaces Reimers, Walter Guillermo; Zubieta, Carolina Edith; Baltanas, Miguel Angel; Branda, Maria Marta A systematic theoretical study of the consecutive hydrogenation reactions of the CO molecule for the methanol synthesis catalyzed by different oxides of Zn, Ce and Ga is reported in this work. First, the CO hydrogenation with the formation of formyl species (HCO) was analyzed, followed by the successive hydrogenations that lead to formaldehyde (H2CO), methoxy (H3CO) and, finally, methanol (H3COH). The co-adsorption with H, in almost all the intermediate species, allows the corresponding hydrogenation reaction. Oxygen vacancies promote the reactivity in the generation of both formaldehyde and methoxy species. The formation of these species involves an important geometric difference between the initial and the final states, leading to high activation barriers. Comparing the surfaces studied in this work, we found that ZnO (0001)vacO has shown to be of a greater interest for methanol synthesis. However, the foregoing is not the most relevant of our results, but, instead, that the Brönsted Evans Polanyi (BEP) relationships between the initial or the final states and the transition states (TS) allowed to find a very good correlation between surface structure and reactivity.

Cambios en el Paisaje en un Valle del Oeste Catamarqueño durante el Holoceno Tardío. (Integrando Arqueología, Palinología y Geomorfologia); Late Holocene landscape changes in a western Catamarca Valley: integrating archaeology, palinology and geomorphology Meléndez, Ana Soledad; Kulemeyer, Julio José; Quesada, Marcos Nicolás; Lupo, Liliana Concepcion; Korstanje, María Alejandra El Valle de El Bolsón (Belén, Catamarca) se ubica entre dos áreas geográficas y culturales de gran interés en la arqueología del NOA. Por su ubicación, entre la Puna y los valles bajos, se presenta como un lugar desde donde estudiar los cambios ambientales a nivel local y su relación a las secuencias paleoambientales conocidas en la región.Estudios de polen fósil contenido en la secuencia sedimentaria de Laguna Cotaguainforman sobre los cambios en la vegetación a partir de los 5581 años cal AP. El estudio sedimentológico del mismo y de terrazas fluviales con materiales arqueológicos en estratigrafía evidencian abruptos cambios en la geomorfología del valle desde ca. 3000 años AP. El estudio geoarqueológico de los mismos aportó información para ordenar cronológicamente eventos de erosión y deposición de sedimentos que en alguna medida tuvieron impacto en las formas en que las poblaciones prehispánicas habitaron el valle.La finalidad de este trabajo es presentar la integración de estos datos a la información arqueológica disponible y aportar al corpus de datos paleoambientales del NOA.; The El Bolsón Valley (Belén, Catamarca Province) is located between two geographical and cultural areas of great interest for the region’s (Northwest Argentina - NOA) archaeology. Given its location – helmed by the Puna and the lower valleys – it constitutes an ideal place in which to study environmental changes at a local scale, elucidating its relationship with known paleoenvironmental sequences of the wider NOA region. Studies on fossilized pollen extracted from a Laguna Cotagua sedimentary sequence, identified changes in local vegetation dating to 5581 ± 40 years BP. Sedimentology studies of these sequences, as well as others from fluvial terraces containing archaeological material, show abrupt geomorphological changes in the valley from ca. 3,000 years BP, onwards. Geoarchaeological studies on these records, contributed data that allowed us to chronologically arrange sediment erosion and deposition events that impacted on the local Prehispanic population’s life-ways and settlement of the valley. The aim of this article is to integrate this data, with the available archaeological information, thereby contributing to the corpus of paleoenvironmental data for the NOA region.

Dietary fish oil ameliorates adipose tissue dysfunction in insulin-resistant rats fed a sucrose-rich diet improving oxidative stress, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and uncoupling protein 2 Selenscig, Dante Alejandro; Ferreira Cordoneda, Maria del Rosario; Chicco, Adriana Graciela; Bolzon, Yolanda Ana Rosa This work aimed to assess the possible beneficial effects of dietary fish oil (FO) on the preexisting adipose tissue dysfunction through the improvement or reversion of the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines in dyslipemic insulin-resistant rats. Wistar rats were fed a sucrose rich diet (SRD) for 6 months. After that half of the animals continued with the SRD until month 8 while in the other half corn oil was replaced by FO for 2 months (SRD+FO). A reference group consumed a control diet all the time. In epididymal fat pad we analyzed: antioxidant and oxidant enzymes activities; ROS content and glutathione redox state; the protein level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and the expression and protein levels of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) as well as oxidative stress biomarkers and TNF-α and IL-6 plasma levels. Besides, insulin sensitivity and the composition of fatty acid phospholipids of adipose tissue were measured. Compared with the SRD the SRD+FO fed group showed a decrease of fat pad weight and the antioxidant and oxidant enzyme activities and ROS content returned to control values as well as plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels. FO normalized both the decrease of PPARγ protein and the increase of protein and expression of UCP2. Furthermore, FO increased n-3/n-6 fatty acids ratio in the adipose tissue phospholipids and normalized dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Finally, these findings reinforce the view that dietary FO may exert a beneficial effect in ameliorating the dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in this animal model.