Ética y política. Reflexiones en torno a la relación entre ética del discurso y democracia deliberativa Prono, Santiago Nicolas

La teoría de la democracia deliberativa, como la ética del discurso, constituye una derivación teórica del enfoque de la racionalidad discursiva. En este sentido este artículo analiza la relación que se plantea entre ambas teorías. Se trata de una tarea pendiente, porque para algunos de los exponentes de esta teoría ética, ella parece asumir el rol de conducir y guiar de un modo exclusivo las decisiones políticas, lo cual implica una reducción de la Filosofía política al campo de la ética.

Preliminares de la traducción: dos antologías de poesía francesa cruzadas Venturini, Santiago Este trabajo realizará un trabajo comparativo entre dos antologías de poesía francesa publicadas en Argentina durante los último 30 años: "Poetas franceses contemporáneos" (1974), compilada por el poeta Raúl Gustavo Aguirre y "Poesía francesa contemporánea" (1997), preparada por el poeta Jorge Fondebrider. El análisis del dispositivo paratextual (prefacios, introducciones, notas) de cada una de estas publicaciones resaltará la intervención determinante del traductor, que construye un marco de lectura y le asigna valores específicos a los textos que traduce.

Thin films of cubic mesoporous aluminophosphates modified by silicon and manganese Cecowski, Sasa; Tusar, Natasa Novak; Rangus, Mojca; Mali, Gregor; Soler Illia, Galo Juan de Avila Arturo; Kaucic, Venceslav Mesoporous aluminophosphate thin films and xerogels with ordered three-dimensional pore arrangement, modified by silicon or silicon and manganese, were synthesized. Aluminophosphate reaction mixtures were templated with non ionic polymer surfactant Pluronic F127 and deposited as thin layers of precursor solution on Petri dishes for xerogels and on glass substrates for thin films. Surfactant removal was investigated by thermal analysis. Small Angle X-ray Scattering measurements showed that calcined silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) and manganese silicoaluminophosphate (MnSAPO) thin films have highly ordered mesostructures, which remain stable up to at least 400°C. The mesostructures exhibit cubic symmetry described by an Im3̄m space group. Cubic mesostructure was confirmed also by TEM, SEM and AFM microscopy. Incorporation of silicon and manganese into the aluminophosphate framework was studied by solid-state NMR and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Silicon-rich domains were detected in calcined SAPO and MnSAPO xerogels and in MnSAPO thin films. The observation of Si(OSi)3(OAl) framework units at the border of such domains suggests that acid sites might be included within silicoaluminophosphate walls. Mn3+ and Mn2+ cations are present in the MnSAPO frameworks of calcined xerogels and thin films in the molar ratio of 40%/60%. Manganese cations are coordinated to four oxygen atoms, suggesting that they are incorporated within the framework and that they can act as framework redox sites.

Characterisation of two South American food and medicinal plants by chemometric methods based on their multielemental composition Cantarelli, Miguel Angel; Pellerano, Roberto Gerardo; del Vitto, Luis Angel; Marchevsky, Eduardo Jorge; Camiña, José Manuel Introduction - The chemometric characterisation of two plants frequently used as food and medicinal species, Achyrocline satureioides and Achyrocline venosa (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae), was carried out based on their mineral composition. Both species, known by the common name of 'marcelas', are very similar in their morphological features but they have different medicinal and food properties.Objective - To develop multivariate models for the classification of A. satureiodes and A. venosa based on their mineral content.Methodology - The analytic determinations were made by means of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry from aerial parts of the plants. An internal standard was used to evaluate the accuracy in the sample treatment and the recovery of toxic elements was studied. The multivariate methods used include principal components analysis, cluster analysis and linear discriminant analysis.Results - Classification for both A. satureioides and A. venosa was successful in all cases using only four variables: aluminium, iron, magnesium and sulphur content. The concentrations of the following elements were determined: Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sr, Ti, V, Y and Zn.Conclusions - This method is useful to identify both species in raw material in order to detect eventual errors of selection. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.The characterization of two plants, frequently used as food and medicinal species from South America, Achyrocline satureioides and Achyrocline venosa (Asteraceae:Gnaphalieae), was carried out based on their multielemental composition. Twenty five elements, including toxic elements, were analyzed by means of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) from aerial parts of the plants. Recovery of toxic elements was study. For characterization, the multivariate methods used include Principal Components Analysis, Cluster Analysis and Linear Discriminant Analysis.

Low-dose radiation employed in diagnostic imaging causes genetic effects in cultured cells Ponzinibbio, Maria Virginia; Crudeli, Cintia; Peral Garcia, Pilar; Seoane, Analia Isabel Background: Exposure to environmental, diagnostic, and occupational sources of radiation frequently involves low doses. Although these doses have no immediately noticeable impact on human health there is great interest in their long-term biological effects. Purpose: To assess immediate and time-delayed DNA damage in two cell lines exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation by using the comet assay and micronucleus test, and to compare these two techniques in the analysis of low-dose induced genotoxicity. Material and Methods: CHO and MRC-5 cells were exposed to 50 milliSievert (mSv) of ionizing radiation and assayed immediately after irradiation and at 16 or 12 passages post-irradiation, respectively. Comet assay and micronucleus test were employed. Results: The comet assay values observed in 50 mSv-treated cells were significantly higher than in the control group for both sample times and cell lines (P < 0.001). Micronuclei frequencies were higher in treated cells than in the control group (P < 0.01, CHO cells passage 16; P < 0.05, MRC-5 cells immediately after exposure; P < 0.01 MRC-5 cells passage 12). Correlation analysis between the two techniques was statistically significant (correlation coefficient 0.82, P < 0.05 and correlation coefficient 0.86, P < 0.05 for CHO and MRC-5 cells, respectively). Cells scored at passages 12 or 16 showed more damage than those scored immediately after exposure in both cell lines (no statistically significant differences). Conclusion: Cytomolecular and cytogenetic damage was observed in cells exposed to very low doses of X-rays and their progeny. A single low dose of ionizing radiation was sufficient to induce such response, indicating that mammalian cells are exquisitely sensitive to it. Comet and micronucleus assays are sensitive enough to assess this damage, although the former seems to be more efficient.

Metáforas en el discurso periodístico Romano, María Belén La metáfora es un recurso lingüístico presente en variados discursos sociales: literario, periodístico, pedagógico, humorístico, etc. La función que cumple en todos ellos no es siempre la misma: en algunos predomina su función estética, en otros explicativa, en otros, persuasiva y polémica. Este trabajo analiza los modos cómo se utiliza la metáfora en el discurso periodístico como vehículo para la formación de representaciones sociales y la transmisión de ideologías que responden a determinados intereses corporativos. Consideramos este tropo desde la Pragmática, especialmente tenemos en cuenta los aportes de Grice (1975) y de Reyes (1998). El corpus está formado por textos periodísticos del diario La Nación que categorizan el gobierno de Néstor Kirchner. Nuestro análisis permite reforzar la idea de la importante función de la prensa en las sociedades democráticas modernas como productora y reproductora de representaciones sociales y como actor político que ejerce poder en y por el discurso.

PM IRRAS spectroelectrochemistry of layer-by-layer self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayers Tagliazucchi, Mario Eugenio; Méndez de Leo, Lucila Paula; Cadranel, Alejandro; Baraldo Victorica, Luis Mario; Volker, Edgar; Bonazzola, Cecilia; Calvo, Ernesto Julio; Zamlynny, Vlad In situ polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM IRRAS) has been used to study layer-by-layer self-assembled films made of a novel redox polymer bearing an osmium pentacyano pyridine complex (PAH-OsCN) and polyacrylic acid at different electrode potentials and solution compositions. PM IRRAS provides information on the oxidation state of the osmium complex, the fraction of protonated carboxylates and the content of IR-active counterions (such as nitrate) as well as water content (hydratation of the multilayer). It has an advantage over SNIFTIRS because it measures the absolute IR-signal arising from the molecular species at the interface rather than its variation with respect to a reference state. For instance, we show that only a fraction of the total number of redox sites responds to changes in the electrode potential as expected from the Nernst equation. The remaining sites are trapped in the Os(II) or Os(III) states and can only be oxidized/reduced by chemical agents in solution. We also present spectroscopic evidence that nitrate ions enter into the film during oxidation and leave during reduction. The number of these anions involved in the first process is larger than that participating in the latter and hence nitrate accumulates within the film. This finding is analyzed in terms of two possible mechanisms. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Intra- and interspecific divergence in the nuclear sequences of the clock gene period in species of the Drosophila buzzatii cluster; Divergencia inter y intraespecifica en las secuencias nucleares del gene period en las especies del “cluster”Drosophila buzzatii Franco, Fernando Faria; Silva Bernardi, Erica Cristina Carvalho; Sene, Fabio Melo; Hasson, Esteban Ruben; Manfrin, Maura Helena We have measured nucleotide variation in the CLOCK/CYCLE heterodimer inhibition domain (CCID) of the clock X-linked gene period in seven species belonging to the Drosophila buzzatii cluster, namely D. buzzatii, Drosophila koepferae, Drosophila antonietae, Drosophila serido, Drosophila gouveai, Drosophila seriema and Drosophila borborema. We detected that the purifying selection is the main force driving the sequence evolution in period, in agreement with the important role of CCID in clock machinery. Our survey revealed that period provides valuable phylogenetic information that allowed to resolve phylogenetic relationships among D. gouveai, D. borborema and D. seriema, which composed a polytomic clade in preliminary studies. The analysis of patterns of intraspecific variation revealed two different lineages of period in D. koepferae, probably reflecting introgressive hybridization from D. buzzatii, in concordance with previous molecular data.

Spatially explicit inference for open populations: Estimating demographic parameters from camera-trap studies Gardner, Beth; Reppucci, Juan Ignacio; Lucherini, Mauro; Royle, Andrew J. We develop a hierarchical capture-recapture model for demographically open populations when auxiliary spatial information about location of capture is obtained. Such spatial capture-recapture data arise from studies based on camera trapping, DNA sampling, and other situations in which a spatial array of devices records encounters of unique individuals. We integrate an individual-based formulation of a Jolly-Seber type model with recently developed spatially explicit capture-recapture models to estimate density and demographic parameters for survival and recruitment. We adopt a Bayesian framework for inference under this model using the method of data augmentation which is implemented in the software program WinBUGS. The model was motivated by a camera trapping study of Pampas cats Leopardus colocolo from Argentina, which we present as an illustration of the model in this paper. We provide estimates of density and the first quantitative assessment of vital rates for the Pampas cat in the High Andes. The precision of these estimates is poor due likely to the sparse data set. Unlike conventional inference methods which usually rely on asymptotic arguments, Bayesian inferences are valid in arbitrary sample sizes, and thus the method is ideal for the study of rare or endangered species for which small data sets are typical.

Making it possible to measure knowledge, experience and intuition in diagnosing lung injury severity: A fuzzy logic vision based on the Murray score D'negri, Carlos Eduardo; de Vito, Eduardo Background. Murray score is the result of an equation that gives all its variables the same linear contribution and weight and makes use of consented cut-offs. Everyday physicians' vocabulary is full of terms (adjectives) like: little, small, low, high, etc. that they handle in an intuitive and not always linear way to make therapeutic decisions. The purpose of this paper is to develop a fuzzy logic (FL) vision of Murray's score variables to enable the measurement of physicians' knowledge, experience and intuition in diagnosing lung injury and test if they followed Murray's equation predictions. Methods. For a prospective survey carried out among a team of professionals (aged 29 to 53) in a University Hospital Intensive Care Unit, twelve physicians filled in two questionnaires. In the first one they had to define the ranks which should be categorized as normal, moderate and severe for three of four Murray variables. In another questionnaire, which represented all probable combinations of those categories, they had to tick the pulmonary condition as: no injury, mild, moderate, and ARDS. This procedure gave rise to a Fuzzy Inference System designed to provide the degree of severity as sensed by the group. Results. The survey showed fuzzy frontiers for the categories and fuzzy diagnosis. In all, 45% of the hypothetical patients (n 18,013) were equally diagnosed by the survey and Murray's equation, whereas another 51% was overestimated in one level by the survey. Physicians agreed with 96.5% of ARDS cases according to Murray's test but only 11.6% of its mild cases were equally diagnosed by the survey. Nonlinearity of the survey reasoning (high relevance to gas exchange and chest film) was apparent. Conclusions. The contiguous categories of the variables confirm the existence of fuzzy frontiers. An overestimation was found in the surveyed group's interpretation of severity. This overestimation was mainly due to the different weight assigned to PO2/FiO2and chest film variables. The FL approach made it possible to measure knowledge, experience and intuition as they appear in physicians' thinking. FL methodology could overcome a series of restrictions that current tests have due to cut-offs. © 2010 D'Negri and De Vito; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Biological and clinical response to desmopressin (DDAVP) in a retrospective cohort study of children with low von Willebrand factor levels and bleeding history Sánchez Luceros, Analía Gabriela; Meschengieser, Susana S.; Woods, Adriana Inés; Chuit, Roberto; Turdó, Karina; Blanco, Alicia; Lazzari, María Ángela The diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease (VWD) in paediatrics is challenging. Our aim was to review patient's characteristics related to biological and clinical response to DDAVP in children with low von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels and bleeding history from a single institution. We included a retrospective cohort of 221 children (median age 11 years; 137 females): 27 type 1 (VWF levels within 15-30 IU dL-1) and 194 possible type 1 (VWF levels within 31-49 IU dL-1). The DDAVP infusion-test was performed in 214/221 children, 93.4% of whom showed good response. Patients with type 1 were at higher risk of DDAVP-test failure: 9/26 (34.6%) vs. 18/188 (9.6%) with possible type 1 (RR 3.44, 1.75-6.79; p= 0.002, Fisher's exact test). In 68 children, the clinical response to DDAVP was evaluated 87 times: i) to stop bleeding: menorrhagia (13), mucocutaneous (12), haemarthrosis (1); and ii) to prevent surgical bleeding: adenotonsillectomy (17), major (15) and minor surgery (10); and dental procedures (19). No major adverse events or bleeding were observed. The treatment was effective with one single dose of DDAVP in almost all patients, without antifibrinolytic or local therapy, except in a girl with severe haemorrhage during menarche who required replacement therapy. In conclusion, patients with VWD type 1 were at higher risk of no response to DDAVP infusion-test. In this series, one dose of DDAVP proved effective and safe for children with VWD. Since this is a safe, effective and affordable therapy, we consider that a wider use should be promoted, especially in developing countries.

O2 and O3 regeneration of PtReSn/Al2O 3 and PtReGe/Al2O3 naphtha reforming catalysts prepared by catalytic reduction D'Ippolito, Silvana A.; Especel, Catherine; Epron, Florence; Marécot, Patrice; Pieck, Carlos Luis The deactivation and regeneration of naphtha reforming PtReGe/Al 2O3 and PtReSn/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by catalytic reduction were studied. The extent and nature of coke deposition as determined by TPO were related to catalyst properties such as dispersion, acidity and Cl content. The PtReSn catalyst was the most resistant to coke deactivation. Regeneration was performed by calcination in oxygen at 450 °C or ozone at 125 °C at variable regeneration times. Regenerated catalysts were evaluated by cyclopentane hydrogenolysis, cyclohexane dehydrogenation and n-heptane reaction tests. Regeneration by oxygen burning-off was the most effective for decoking. However, oxygen combustion produced more segregation of the metal function than ozone regeneration. With the regeneration conditions used in this work, the original acidity of the catalysts cannot be recovered.

Isobutane Alkylation with Solid Catalysts based on Beta-Zeolite Dalla Costa, Bruno Oscar; Querini, Carlos Alberto The isobutane alkylation with butenes is a reaction in which the substitution of mineral acids, such as sulphuric and hydrofluoric acids, by solid acid catalysts is highly desirable. Solid catalysts with good activity and selectivity for this reaction have been previously reported. However, bad stability is a major drawback in most cases. In this work, catalysts based on beta zeolite, exchanged with lanthanum were studied. It was found that these catalysts have lower activity than the Y zeolite both, in the protonic form, or with lanthanum in replacement of protons. EDX analyses showed that lanthanum is practically fully removed from the zeolite structure during an exchange with ammonium nitrate, even though the catalyst was precalcined. The total acidity as measured by pyridine temperature-programmed desorption is similar in the beta and the Y zeolites. However, the former zeolite has stronger acid sites, and because of this, the deactivation process occurs faster. Pulses of 1-butene at different temperatures can be used as a technique to predict the catalytic behavior of acid catalysts in the alkylation reaction. Using this technique, it was possible to determine that the beta zeolite is deactivated during the alkylation reaction by pore mouth plugging. The addition of platinum to the beta zeolite is useful in order to regenerate the catalyst using hydrogen at 80 °C, although long times are needed to accomplish this regeneration. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.

α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) reverses impairment of memory reconsolidation induced by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) hippocampal infusions Machado, Ivana Noelia; Gonzalez, Patricia Verónica; Schiöth, Helgi Birgir; Lasaga, Mercedes Isabel; Scimonelli, Teresa Nieves Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) significantly influences cognitive processes. Treatments which raise the level of IL-1β in the brain impair memory consolidation in contextual fear conditioning. However, the effect of IL-1β on memory reconsolidation has not yet been established. The melanocortin α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) exerts potent anti-inflammatory actions by antagonizing the effect of proinflammatory cytokines. Five subtypes of melanocortin receptors (MC1R–MC5R) have been identified, of which MC3R and MC4R are predominant in the central nervous system. The present experiments show that the injection of IL-1β (5 ng/0.25 μl) in dorsal hippocampus up to 30 min after re-exposition to the context decreases freezing during the contextual fear test. Impairment of memory reconsolidation was reversed by treatment with α-MSH (0.05 μg/0.25 μl). Administration of the MC4 receptor antagonist HS014 (0.5 μg/0.25 μl) blocked the effect of α-MSH. These results suggest that IL-1β may influence memory reconsolidation and that activation of central MC4R could lead to improve cognitive performance.

Reflexiones sobre la capacitación de profesores: la construcción de modelos y la práctica experimental como promotores de la discusión; Thinking about teachers training: model construction and experimental activities like discussion promoters Idoyaga, Ignacio Julio; Torti, Horacio; Barrado, Andrés; Spena, Diego; Lorenzo, Maria Gabriela El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar el estudio descriptivo sobre experiencias con modalidad de taller en donde se introduce el diseño de modelos como contenido conceptual, procedimental y actitudinal, central en la enseñanza de las ciencias en un marco constructivista. La construcción de conocimientos en alumnos universitarios y de nivel medio (al menos) puede articularse, del mismo modo en que avanza la ciencia, proponiendo modelos para explicar la experiencia. Dentro de las actividades encaradas por el Centro de Investigación y Apoyo a la Educación Científica (CIAEC), el grupo dicta periódicamente un taller destinado a la actualización de profesores de todos los niveles. El análisis del material producido por los capacitandos y las observaciones de los capacitadores muestran como principales logros la reflexión sobre el proceso de construcción de conocimiento; la incorporación del concepto de modelo; y la práctica en las tareas medición y comunicación de resultados.; The aim of this work is to describe the experiences in a workshop that presents modeling design as conceptual, procedimental and attitudinal contents. Modeling design is positioned in science teaching in a constructivist environment. The construction of knowledge in college and school pupils can be articulated in the same way that science improves, proposing models to explain the experiences. As one of the activities developed by the Research Center and Support to Scientific Education (CIAEC), the group periodically gives an actualization workshop for professors of all levels. The observation and the analysis of the work production of the assistants shows that manuality in the use of laboratory instruments, correct communication of results and reflection about how knowledge is constructed are the principal achieves of the workshop.

Clinical features of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy 2 De Greef, J. C.; Lemmers, R. J. L. F.; Camaño, P.; Day, J. W.; Sacconi, S.; Dunand, M.; Van Engelen, B. G. M.; Kiuru Enari, S.; Padberg, G. W.; Rosa, Alberto Luis; Desnuelle, C.; Spuler, S.; Tarnopolsky, M.; Venance, S. L.; Frants, R. R.; Van Der Maarel, S. M.; Tawil, R. Objective: In some 5% of patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), no D4Z4 repeat contraction on chromosome 4q35 is observed. Such patients, termed patients with FSHD2, show loss of DNA methylation and heterochromatin markers at the D4Z4 repeat that are similar to patients with D4Z4 contractions (FSHD1). This commonality suggests that a change in D4Z4 chromatin structure unifies FSHD1 and FSHD2. The aim of our study was to critically evaluate the clinical features in patients with FSHD2 in order to establish whether these patients are phenotypically identical to FSHD1 and to establish the effects of the (epi-) genotype on the phenotype. Methods: This cross-sectional study studied 33 patients with FSHD2 from 27 families, the largest cohort described to date. All patients were clinically assessed using a standardized clinical evaluation form. Genotype analysis was performed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and PCR; D4Z4 methylation was studied by methylation-sensitive Southern blot analysis. Results: FSHD2 is identical to FSHD1 in its clinical presentation. Notable differences include a higher incidence (67%) of sporadic cases and the absence of gender differences in disease severity in FSHD2. Overall, average disease severity in FSHD2 was similar to that reported in FSHD1 and was not influenced by D4Z4 repeat size. In FSHD2, a small effect of the degree of hypomethylation on disease severity was observed. Conclusions: Clinically, patients with FSHD2 are indistinguishable from patients with FSHD1. The present data suggest that FSHD1 and FSHD2 are the result of the same pathophysiologic process. METHODS: This cross-sectional study studied 33 patients with FSHD2 from 27 families, the largest cohort described to date. All patients were clinically assessed using a standardized clinical evaluation form. Genotype analysis was performed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and PCR; D4Z4 methylation was studied by methylation-sensitive Southern blot analysis. RESULTS: FSHD2 is identical to FSHD1 in its clinical presentation. Notable differences include a higher incidence (67%) of sporadic cases and the absence of gender differences in disease severity in FSHD2. Overall, average disease severity in FSHD2 was similar to that reported in FSHD1 and was not influenced by D4Z4 repeat size. In FSHD2, a small effect of the degree of hypomethylation on disease severity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically, patients with FSHD2 are indistinguishable from patients with FSHD1. The present data suggest that FSHD1 and FSHD2 are the result of the same pathophysiologic process.

Crystallographic and spectroscopic characterization of LnFeTeO6 (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm) materials Lavat, Araceli Elisabet; Mercader, Roberto Carlos; Baran, Enrique José Four mixed oxides of composition LnFeTeO6 (with Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm), belonging to a superstructure of the PbSb2O6 structural type, have been prepared by solid state reactions and their unit cell parameters determined by X-ray powder diffractometry. The infrared and Raman spectra of these materials were also recorded and briefly discussed, on the basis of a site-symmetry analysis. The 57Fe-Mössbauer spectra show that the FeIIIO6 octahedra present in these materials are not greatly distorted.

Digital Implementation of Method for Discontinuous Current Mode Compensation Of High-Performance Line-Commutated Converters Maestri, Sebastian Oscar; Benedetti, Mario; Uicich, Gustavo Cesar; Gomez Costa, Jose Luis; Petrocelli, Roberto Many high-performance power converters at CERN are implemented with thyristors, mostly in CCM (Continuous Conduction Mode) due to their better dynamic response. In DCM (Discontinuous Conduction Mode), the converter reduces its small-signal gain, producing a degraded time response which can lead to instability. Several of these converters use digital regulation, allowing the implementation of complex nonlinear control techniques. Therefore, a strategy to control the converters in DCM (Discontinuous Conduction Mode) can be implemented, bearing in mind that their standard operation (sampling time, measured signals, acquisition system) can not be drastically changed. This report presents the implementation of a new method to control line-commutated converters in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). The method is based on the modi cation of the thyristor's ring angle α using a linear approximation, yielding nearly the same dynamic performance as in continuous conduction mode. The ring angle is corrected by adding a supplementary angle ∆α, calculated by estimating the average output current. The proposed technique signi cantly reduces computational burden, being suitable for on-line calculation. Both, simulations and experimental results are presented on a 1kW laboratory prototype based on CERN GEREG crate.

Research priorities for neglected infectious diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean region Dujardin, Jean Claude; Herrera, Socrates; Rosario, Virgilio do; Arevalo, Jorge; Boelaert, Marleen; Carrasco, Hernán J.; Correa Oliveira, Rodrigo; García, Lineth; Gotuzzo, Eduardo; Gyorkos, Theresa W.; Kalergis, Alexis M.; Kouri, Gustavo; Larraga, Vicente; Lutumba, Pascal; Macías García, Maria Angeles; Manrique Saide, Pablo C.; Modabber, Farrokh; Nieto, Alberto; Pluschke, Gerd; Robello, Carlos; Rojas de Arias, Antonieta; Rumbo, Martín; Santos Preciado, Jose Ignacio; Sundar, Shyam; Torres, Jaime; Torrico, Faustino; Van der Stuyft, Patrick; Victoir, Kathleen; Olesen, Ole F. Neglected infectious diseases (NIDs) constitute a group of tropical infections which thrive among impoverished populations of developing countries, mainly tropical, in remote rural areas, urban slums and conflict zones (WHO & Carter Center 2008).  They include a range of chronic disabling or more acute infections due to protozoa, helminths, bacteria, viruses or fungi. Globally, NIDs cause an estimated 500,000 deaths each year and inflict severe physical disabilities, jeopardizing child growth and pregnancy outcomes. The aggregate disability-adjusted life year (DALY) tally for NIDs is 56.6 million, which exceeds the tally of malaria (46 million DALY) or tuberculosis (TB) (35 million DALY) (Hotez et al. 2007). By reducing economic productivity, NIDs hinder socioeconomic development in endemic countries and affect the quality of life at all levels. The concept of ‘neglect’ was evoked to signal both market and public sector failure in R&D for drug developement: on the one hand, NIDs affect a large number of people who are unable to pay for access to healthcare, and thus represent an uninteresting market for pharmaceutical companies, on the other hand, NIDs did not (for long) constitute a priority for governments and for funding agencies (Torreele et al 2004. A needs-based pharmaceutical R&D agenda for neglected diseases). When world leaders adopted the Millennium Declaration in September 2000, the fight against "HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases" was included as the sixth goal. This resulted in significant global support to combat the three major poverty-related diseases (HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB), whereas NIDs remained largely forgotten. This situation is currently changing, and the international community is increasingly becoming aware of the importance of confronting NIDs. The increased focus on NIDs runs along two tracks of activities. The first is focused on short term improvement of public health by control and elimination of NIDs using currently available tools and methodologies. The second line of activities is research into NIDs in order to develop new or improved products and methodologies for long-term disease control and elimination. Since then, the World Health Assembly (WHA) has established a working group on "needs-driven, essential health R&D", while the OECD countries have given political support to NID research in the Noordwijk agenda in June 2007. In the US, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has intensified its long-standing programme of research in NIDs, while several private charities such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have also increased their support to NID research.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Argentina: First record of infection in Hypsiboas cordobae and Odontophrynus occidentalis tadpoles, in San Luis province, Argentina Gutierrez, Flavia R.; Arellano, María Luz; Moreno, Liliana Elizabeth; Natale, Guillermo Sebastian On October 12th 2009, ten live larvae of Hypsiboas cordobae and Odontophrynus occidentalis were collected randomly in a pond during a field survey in the Strict Natural Reserve “Quebarada de las Higueritas” , San Luis province.The individuals were fixed in the field in 10% neutral buffered formaldehyde and then transferred to ethanol 70%. All oral structures of tadpoles were examined visually in the laboratory under a stereoscopic microscope. Samples of the queratinazed mouthparts were taken, which were dehydrated, paraffin-embedded and cut into five micron–thick sections for histological analysis. We identified anomalies in the keratinized mouthparts 5 of 10 individuals analyzed. The anomalies included mainly lack of pigmentation in upper and lower jaw sheaths, erosion of their cutting edge and absence of serrations, and some time lost of some labial teeth (Fig. 2). For histological analysis 7 of the 10 larvae analyzed were positive to Bd presence. Spherical and ovoid zoosporangia, empty or containing zoospores, were identified in the keratinized mouthparts. The sporangia ranged between 5 and 12 µm in diameter.