Paleoambientes de la Formación Puncoviscana (Neoproterozoico - Cámbrico inferior), en el sector oriental de la Quebrada de León, provincia de Jujuy; Palaeoenvironments of the Puncoviscana Formation (Neopro- Terozoic-Early Cambrian) en the Eastern sector of the Leon Creek, Jujuy province Chiliguay, Walter José; López, Vanina Lucrecia; Zamponi, Mauricio Oscar; Azarevich, Miguel Basilio; Muñoz, Alba La Formación Puncoviscana (Neoproterozoico-Cámbrico inferior), aflorante en Río León, provincia de Jujuy, fue reconocida en cuatro perfiles sedimentológicos con litofacies de conglomerados calcáreos, cuarcitas, meta-areniscas y metapelitas. La secuencia registra restos fósiles de medusoides (Beltanelloides sp.), Cnidarios (Corymorpha) y trazas fósiles de Helminthoidichnites, Planolites isp., Archaeonassa isp, Palaeophycustubularis, Nereites isp., que permiten asignar un dominio marino y una edad mínima Cámbrico inferior (Fortuniano). Las estructuras sedimentarias asociadas que definen ondulitas asimétricas y linguoides, artesas y estructuras hummocky, así como también las arquitecturas de paleocanales con clastos imbricados y calcos de flujo, son diagnósticas de paleoambientes someros dominados por olas, mareas y corrientes mareales de reflujo con aporte de clastos calcáreos desde el este. Las estructuras heterolíticas (flaser, ondulítica y lenticular) y la presencia de ritmitas mareales son indicativas de estuarios dominados por mareas, mientras que las ondulitas de interferencia indican paleoambientes afectados por interacción de procesos mareales y corrientes litorales. La integración de la asociación facial sugiere una cuenca somera en la cual se desarrollaron planicies mareales y estuarios con abundantes nutrientes y luz solar que avalaron la proliferación de la actividad biológica de diverso tipo (bentónicos y plantónicos). La evolución de la cuenca Puncoviscana representa un cambio de dominio carbonático (Formación Volcán hacia el este) hacia dominio clástico (Formación Puncoviscana) a partir del inicio del Cámbrico.; The Puncoviscana Formation (Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian), cropping out in Leon creek, Jujuy province, was recognized in four sedimentological profiles with lithofacies of calca- reous conglomerates, quartzites, meta-sandstones and meta-pelites. The sequence registers fossil mate- rial of medusoids (Beltanelloides sp.), Cnidaria (Corymorpha) and trace fossils of Helminthoidichnites, Plano- lites isp., Archaeonassa isp., Palaeophycustubularis, Nereites isp., which allow to assign a marine domain and a minimum Early Cambrian (Fortunian) age. The associated sedimentary structures that define asymme- tric and linguoid ripples, through and hummocky, as well as palaeochannel architectures with imbricated clasts and flute casts, are diagnostic of shallow palaeoenvironments dominated by waves, tides and ebb tidal currents with a source of calcareous clasts from the east. The heterolithic structures (flasser, ondu- litic and lenticular) and the presence of tidal rhythmites are indication of estuaries dominated by tides, whereas the interference ripples indicate palaeoenvironments affected by interaction of tidal and litoral current’s process. The integration of facies associations suggest a shallow basin in which tidal flats and estuaries were developed, with abundant nutrients and sun light that support the proliferation of the biological activity of diverse type (bentonic and planktonic). The evolution of the Puncoviscana basin represents a change from a carbonate domain (Volcán Formation to the east) towards a clastic domain (Puncoviscana Formation) from the beginning of Cambrian.

Modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation for frequency-dependent nonlinear profiles of arbitrary sign Bonetti, Juan Ignacio; Linale, Nicolás Martín; Sánchez, Alfredo Daniel; Hernández, Sebastián Marcelo; Fierens, Pablo Ignacio; Grosz, Diego Fernando In recent times, materials exhibiting frequency-dependent optical nonlinearities, such as nanoparticle-doped glasses and other metamaterials, have gathered significant interest. The simulation of the propagation of intense light pulses in such media, by means of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE), poses the problem in that straightforward inclusion of a frequency-dependent nonlinearity may lead to unphysical results, namely, neither the energy nor the photon number is conserved in general. Inspired by a simple quantum-mechanical argument, we derive an energy- and photon-conserving NLSE (pcNLSE). Unlike others, our approach relies only on the knowledge of the frequency-dependent nonlinearity profile and a generalization of Miller’s rule for nonlinear susceptibility, enabling the simulation of nonlinear profiles of arbitrary frequency dependence and sign. Moreover, the proposed pcNLSE can be efficiently solved by the same numerical techniques commonly used to deal with the NLSE. Relevant simulation results supporting our theoretical approach are presented.

Positive outcomes between crop diversity and agricultural employment worldwide Garibaldi, Lucas Alejandro; Pérez Méndez, Néstor Understanding the links between biodiversity-friendly landscapes and human wellbeing is key for supporting policy agendas from local to global scales. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals propose full employment (SDG 8) and crop diversity (SDG 2), but it is unclear if there are trade-offs between these goals across rural landscapes worldwide. We tested this idea with agricultural and socio-economic data for 44 countries from all continents during a 15-year period (1999–2013). We show that countries where crop diversity increased also supported more agricultural jobs. Such effects were independent of differences among countries in the size of the agricultural sector or fertilizer use (a proxy for the investment in external inputs and technology incorporation). Greater crop diversity was also compatible with improved crop yields and was not confounded with changes in socio-economic development or economic growth. In general, we found no evidence that the jobs lost in the rural areas were incorporated into other sectors of the economy. Unemployment is a major concern affecting livelihoods all over the world; policies to enhance crop diversity and prevent the loss of associated agricultural jobs are urgently needed.

Age-, sex- and tactic-specific kleptoparasitic performance in a long-lived seabird García, Germán Oscar; Paterlini, Carla Ángela; Favero, Marco; Becker, Peter H.; Bouwhuis, Sandra Kleptoparasitism is an exploitative foraging strategy used across taxa, but factors underlying variation in the foraging performance of individuals using it have not often been addressed. Using longitudinal data on Common Terns stealing food from conspecifics during breeding, we show that variation in the energetic reward of kleptoparasitic behaviour is explained by interactive effects of sex and the attack tactic used by the parasite, as well as by age. Males obtain a higher reward when using an aerial than a terrestrial attack tactic, with decomposition analyses showing that this is due to the energy content of chased after prey items being higher in their aerial attacks. On the other hand, females obtain a higher reward when attacking terrestrially, which is due to their success rate being higher on land than in the air. In addition, the birds show decelerating within-individual improvement with age, which is due to individuals chasing after prey with a higher energy content as they grow older. Our study not only pinpoints factors underlying variation in the foraging performance of kleptoparasites, but also illustrates the importance of modelling individual variation when analyzing foraging performance.

Evaluation of the efficacy and application timing of different fungicides for management of soybean foliar diseases in northwestern Argentina Reznikov, Sebastian; de Lisi, Vicente; Claps, María Paula; González, María Victoria; Devani, Mario Rodolfo; Castagnaro, Atilio Pedro; Ploper, Leonardo Daniel Diseases are among the main factors that reduce soybean yields in Tucuman and other provinces in northwestern Argentina. The main diseases that affect the foliage of soybean plants in this region are target spot (caused by Corynespora cassiicola), Cercospora leaf blight (Cercospora kikuchii), and Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi). The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficacy and application timing of different chemical fungicides for the management of these diseases in northwestern Argentina. Field trials were conducted during three growing seasons (2014/2015, 2015/2016, and 2016/2017). The fungicide treatments that presented statistical differences (P < 0.05) for target spot control compared to the untreated control in all growing seasonswere those that included pyraclostrobin þ epoxiconazole þ fluxapyroxad (applied at R3, R5 and R3 þ R5) and pyraclostrobin þ epoxiconazole and azoxystrobin þ cyproconazole at R3. For Cercospora leaf blight control, all treatments differed statistically from the untreated control in the 2014/2015 crop season, except for azoxystrobin þ cyproconazole and azoxystrobin þ benzovindiflupyr applied at R3 and pyraclostrobin þ epoxiconazole at R5. Only azoxystrobin þ cyproconazole at R3 in 2015/2016 and all the fungicide treatments in 2016/2017 differed statistically from the untreated controls. Soybean rust severity at R6 was low, 1.0% and 3.0% in the untreated control during 2014/2015 and 2015/2016, respectively, but increased to 54.2% in 2016/2017.Treatments that showed the lowest soybean rust severity values in the latter season were pyraclostrobin þ epoxiconazole þ fluxapyroxad (R3 þ R5 and R5, with 17.4 and 17.1%, respectively), and azoxystrobin þ benzovindiflupyr (R3 and R5, with 20.2 and 15.0%, respectively). Overall in this season, the efficacy of eachfungicide for ASR control was better when applied at R5 than at R3. The treatments pyraclostrobin þ epoxiconazole þ fluxapyroxad applied at R3, R5 and R3þ R5 and treatments azoxystrobin þ benzovindiflupyr and pyraclostrobin þ epoxiconazole at R5 yielded significantly higher than the untreated control during all three seasons. These results should help improve management of soybean foliar diseases in northwestern Argentina.

Comparison of three molecular subtyping techniques for Listeria monocytogenes Comparación de tres técnicas para subtipificación molecular de Listeria monocytogenes Londero, Alejandra; Costa, Magdalena; Sucari, Adriana; Leotta, Gerardo Anibal Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen. The recent alert for L. monocytogenes in vegetables from Argentina warns about the importance of reinforcing its isolation, characterization and subtyping in food, clinical and environmental samples. The aim of the present study was to compare the discriminatory power of enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR), automated ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to subtype strains of L. monocytogenes isolated from Argentine meat and environmental samples. Simpson's Diversity Index (DI) was calculated on the basis of based on the dendrograms obtained in the by cluster analysis, showing the following discriminatory power: ApaI-PFGE (0.980), AscI-PFGE (0.966), ribotyping (0.912), ERIC-PCR (0.886). The ID values between ApaI- and AscI-PFGE and between ribotyping and ERIC-PCR were not significantly different. Of the three techniques evaluated, PFGE showed the highest discriminatory power. However, the subtyping techniques should be accompanied by effective food monitoring strategies and reliable clinical and epidemiological studies.

Counter-complementarity control of the weak exchange interaction in a bent {Ni(ii)3 complex with a μ-phenoxide-μ-carboxylate double bridge Fiorini, Guillermo; Carrella, Luca; Rentschler, Eva; Alborés, Pablo We have prepared and structurally characterized a novel {Ni3} bent complex bearing a double μ-phenoxide-μ-carboxylate bridge. Both terminal Ni(ii) sites are symmetry related, offering a simplified exchange interaction scheme. DC magnetic data is consistent with a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the central and terminal Ni(ii) ions. As expected for a Ni(ii) system, local zero-field splitting is observed, which can be experimentally established. Broken symmetry quantum chemical calculations, as well as ab initio CASSCF-SA-SOC computations that support the magnetic experimental data, were also performed. From the analysis of other reported closely related Ni(ii) systems, a counter-complementarity effect exerted by the carboxylate bridge is proposed, which might explain the weaker exchange interactions compared to those observed in double μ-phenoxide bridged Ni(ii) compounds.

Impact of permeabilization and pH effects in the electrochemical treatment of tumors: Experiments and simulations Maine Calzado, Enaide; Schinca, Herman; Bergues Cabrales, Luis Enrique; García, F.M.; Turjanski, Pablo Guillermo; Olaiz, Nahuel Manuel Electrochemical treatment is used in the local control of solid tumors in preclinical and clinical studies. We study pH fronts, permeabilization, electrical field and concentration of four chemical species in a tissue under electrochemical treatment by means of in vitro and in silico modeling. The in vitro model uses a piece of potato (solanum tuberosum L.) as analogy of tumor tissue, due to the characteristics of the potato tissue and the way in which it reacts against pH and potential. The in silico model solves the two-dimensional Nernst-Planck equations for ionic transport in a four-ion electrolyte. Modeled ions demonstrate the diffusive regime of ionic transport and show the little influence of the low electric field applied on this phenomenon. This work evidences that extreme pH fronts affect the permeabilization of the tissue and consequently its destruction. We also evaluate different shapes of electrode arrays by means of simulated and in vitro models. We concluded that the higher area of necrotic tissue was achieved for the greater separation between electrodes.

First characterization of a canine parvovirus causing fatal disease in coatis (Nasua nasua) Bucafusco, Danilo; Argibay, Hernán Darío; Diaz, Leandro; Vega, Celina Guadalupe; Minatel, Leonardo; Postma, Gabriela; Rinas, Miguel; Bratanich, Ana Cristina A canine parvovirus (CPV)-like virus was detected by PCR and isolated from dead coatis in Argentina. Analysis of the full-length genome sequence revealed that it resembled CPV-but also contained a mutation in the VP2 protein (Arg377Ser) that has not been described previously. This is the first report of a CPV-like virus producing clinical disease in coatis. Genetic similarity to CPV-2c viruses detected in Brazil suggests a strong relationship between these viruses. Although the pathogenic potential of CPV- and feline panleukopenia virus (FPV)-like strains in wild animals is still not completely understood, this study highlights the importance of parvoviruses as a threat to wildlife if proper conditions are present.

Inhibitory Processes Training for School-age Children: Transfer Effects Aydmune, Yésica; Introzzi, Isabel Maria; Lipina, Sebastián Javier Inhibition refers to a basic executive component that can be conceptualized as consisted of different inhibitory processes (i.e., perceptual, cognitive and response inhibition). These processes emerge during the first years of life, and since then are involved in different relevant every day activities. Different individual and contextual factors can modulate their developmental trajectories. The possibility of train in separate ways each inhibitory process is a subject of analysis. In such a context, the aims of this work were: (a) to design, implement and evaluate training of perceptual, cognitive and response inhibition processes, in a sample of school-aged children (6 to 8 years old); and (b) to analyze near, far, short- and long-transfer effects. An experimental design with three training groups (one for each inhibitory process) and an active control group was implemented. Near transfer effects were not observed. We found effects on a visuospatial working memory task in the short term, after the training in the response and cognitive inhibition, and effects on a fluid intelligence task in both the short and long term after the training in cognitive inhibition. The results contribute to a conceptualization of multidimensional inhibitory processes and the plausibility of training them during childhood.

La suspensión estoica del sentido de justicia: Estrategias y dificultades; The Stoic suspension of the sense of justice: Strategies and difficulties Braicovich, Rodrigo Sebastián El objetivo del artículo consistirá en analizar las distintas estrategias que encontramos en las fuentes del estoicismo imperial destinadas a poner en suspenso nuestro sentido de justicia, el cual es considerado implícitamente por los estoicos del período como responsable de algunas actitudes no deseables en nuestra búsqueda de la eudaimonía. Organizaré las estrategias de acuerdo a dos grandes grupos: aquellas que atacan la idea de que una injusticia ha sido cometida, y aquellas que apuntan a la idea de que, aun cuando una injusticia haya sido cometida, existen actitudes más convenientes para exhibir ante la misma que la demanda de castigo o el deseo de venganza. Finalizaré enfatizando la dificultad de conciliar los dos conjuntos de estrategias y sugeriré una posible forma de explicar las razones de dicha dificultad.; The aim of the paper will be to analyze the different strategies that the Stoics of the Imperial times designed in order to put our sense of justice on hold, due to the fact that it is deemed responsible for certain attitudes which do not contribute to our search for eudaimonía. I will organize such strategies in two groups: the first one corresponds to the strategies that target the idea that an injustice has been committed; the second one corresponds to the ones that aim to show that there are more convenient attitudes towards injustice than the demand for punishment or the desire for revenge. I will end by pointing at the difficulty of reconciling both sets of strategies, and I will suggest a possible way to account for that difficulty.

Los adolescentes de la zona oeste: Construcción de identidades y producción de subjetividad; Teenagers from the west: Identities construction and subjetivities production Pagnoni, Anahí Guadalupe; Bais, Paulina Antonela El siguiente escrito tiene como objetivo dar a conocer el trabajo realizado en el proyecto de extensión: “Problemáticas en torno a las identidades y los derechos en los/las jóvenes de barrios vulnerados de la ciudad”, durante 2016 y 2017 en la ciudad de Rosario. Surge a partir de los registros escritos y visuales de los coordinadores al finalizar la experiencia. Nos interesamos, por un lado, en conocer la forma de relación e integración de los adolescentes con el barrio y los diferentes espacios que lo constituyen. Por otro lado, en explorar las formas de producción de subjetividades y la construcción de identidades de las adolescencias de la zona oeste de la ciudad. Priorizando su forma de ver, estar, pensar y percibir el mundo. Esta experiencia apostó a la construcción colectiva de conocimientos, entendiendo esta como una práctica implicada. En ella son puestas en juego nuestras inquietudes y el modo en que estas son interpeladas, siendo este un posicionamiento político y ético. Este proyecto fue desarrollado por estudiantes, graduados y docentes de las carreras de Ciencia Política, Historia y Psicología, sumándose a participar estudiantes de periodismo y nutrición referentes del barrio, así como también colaboradores miembros del club. Esta multiplicidad de campos participantes permitió, no sólo un enriquecimiento mutuo en cada experiencia compartida, sino también afianzar los vínculos entre la universidad y los barrios de la ciudad. Siendo la universidad parte de la comunidad, tiene como deber fomentar las relaciones de ésta con la sociedad.; This text was written with the goal to make public the work done in the extension project called: “Troubles about the identities and the rights of young people from shanty towns”, during 2016 and 2017 in Rosario. This project comes from the written and visual records of the coordinators when they finished the experience. At first, we were interested on understand the relationship ante teenager´s way of integration with the town, and different spaces that from it. In the other hand, we were interested on explore the patters of production of subjectivities and the construction of teenager´s identities from west zone of the city. Giving priority to their point of view, their way to be, they way of thinking, and how perceive the word. This experience bets on the collective building of knowledges, and it is understood as an involved practice, in which is put at stake our concerns and the way to interpellate them. Therefore it is an ethical and political position. The present project was developed by students, graduates and teachers from politics sciences, history and psychology career. Were added journalism and nutrition students town´s mentors, helpers and members of the club. Those multiple fields gave us not only a mutual improvement with each shared experience, but also strengthen links between the university and the towns of the city. Being the last mentioned part of the community; it should promote the relationship between itself and the society.

Un análisis de las empresas TIC desde una perspectiva financiera: Evidencia para las pymes de software y videojuegos; Analysis of ICT companies from a financial perspective: evidence for software and video games SMEs; Análise das empresas TIC sob uma perspectiva financeira: Evidência para as PMEs de software e videogames Guercio, María Belén; Martinez, Lisana Belén; Vigier, Hernan Pedro El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar las decisiones de financiamiento de dos sub­sectores específicos del segmento de tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC): el de desarrollo de videojuegos (VG) y el de software y servicios informáticos (SSI). Los datos utilizados incluyen 80 empresas argentinas relevadas durante el 2017. Los resultados muestran que la fuente principal de financiamiento en las diferentes etapas del ciclo de negocio son los fondos propios para todas las empresas de la muestra. Sin embargo, la participación de dichos fondos se reduce a medida que las empresas transitan las etapas de start up y de crecimiento. Además, se encuentra que la tipología de las fuentes externas con las que sustituyen el financiamiento propio difiere de acuerdo con el subsector analizado. En la etapa de start up, las empresas de SSI sustituyen fondos propios por subsidios públicos, a diferencia de las empresas de VG que utilizan el financiamiento de prestamistas privados. En la etapa de crecimiento, las empresas de SSI utilizan en mayor proporción financiamiento bancario, y las empresas de VG, subsidios públicos.; This work seeks to evaluate the financing decisions of two specific subsectors of the information and communication technologies (ICT) segment: video games development (VG) and software and computer services (SCS). The data used includes 80 Argentinian companies surveyed during 2017. Results show that the main financing source at the different stages of the business cycle is the company’s own funds for all the busi­nesses in the sample. However, the participation of these funds is reduced as companies go through the start-up and growth stages. In addition, it is found that the typology of external sources with which they replace their own financing differs according to the subsector. In the start-up stage, SCS companies substitute their own funds for public subsidies, unlike VG companies, which use financing from private lenders. In the growth stage, SCS companies use bank financing to a greater extent, while VG companies request public subsidies.; O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar as decisões de financiamento de dois subsetores específicos do setor de tecnologias da informação e da comunicação (TIC): o desenvolvimento de videogames e o de software e ser­viços informáticos (SSI). Os dados utilizados incluem 80 empresas argen­tinas e foram levantados durante 2017. Os resultados mostram que a fonte principal de financiamento nas diferentes etapas do ciclo de negócio são os fundos próprios para todas as empresas da amostra. Contudo, a parti­cipação desses fundos é reduzida à medida que as empresas passam pelas etapas de start up e de crescimento. Além disso, verifica-se que a tipologia das fontes externas com as quais substituem o financiamento próprio di­fere de acordo com o subsetor analisado. Na etapa de start up, as empresas de ssi substituem fundos próprios por incentivos públicos, à diferença das empresas de videogames que utilizam o financiamento de organismos de crédito privados. Na etapa de crescimento, as empresas de ssi utilizam, em maior proporção, financiamento bancário, e as empresas de videogames, in­centivos públicos.

La Iniciativa Ciudadana de Referéndum: lineamientos para su reforma Linares, Sebastián; Welp, Yanina La iniciativa ciudadana de referéndum (ICR) permite a la ciudadanía someter a votación popular un proyecto de ley, la validación o veto de una ley sancionada por el Congreso (o un decreto del Ejecutivo), o un proyecto de reforma constitucional. En un escenario de creciente desencanto ciudadano con la capacidad transformadora de la política y con los políticos, las ICR están especialmente preparadas para ofrecer canales de refuerzo en ambas direcciones: poniendo limitaciones al poder y dando herramientas a la ciudadanía para intervenir en la toma de decisiones. Y, en principio, su regulación se ha expandido en los países de América Latina. Sin embargo, su desempeño es muy pobre y dista de derivar en los resultados esperados. Partiendo de esta evidencia este documento identifica las reformas necesarias para que las ICR no sean letra muerta.

A putative novel strain of Ehrlichia infecting Amblyomma tigrinum associated with Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) in Esteros del Iberá ecoregion, Argentina Eberhardt, María Ayelen Teresita; Fernández, Camilo; Fargnoli, Lucía; Beldomenico, Pablo Martín; Monje, Lucas Daniel The current work evaluated road-killed Pampas foxes (Lycalopex gymnocercus) and their ticks for the presence of vector-borne agents in the ecoregion Esteros del Iberá in northeastern Argentina. Spleen, lung and blood samples and Amblyomma tigrinum adult ticks collected from the foxes were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays targeting bacteria of the genera Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Rickettsia. All foxes tested were negative for the three genera, but evidence of Ehrlichia and Rickettsia infection was detected in the ticks. One A. tigrinum (out of 12 tested) was infected by an ehrlichial agent, here named Ehrlichia sp. strain Iberá, related to ehrlichial agents recently detected in platypuses in Tasmania (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and in voles (Myodes rutilus and Myodes rufocanus) and shrews (Sorex araneus) in the Russian Far East. Regarding Rickettsia, all A. tigrinum ticks (100%) were infected by ´Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae´, a member of the spotted fever group rickettsia of unknown pathogenicity. Further research is necessary to unveil the ecology of Ehrlichia sp. strain Iberá as well as its zoonotic relevance. The species of the genus Ehrlichia are known to be pathogenic to mammals, including humans and domestic animals, thus the presence of this ehrlichial agent in A. tigrinum is a potential risk for veterinary and public health, as the adults of A. tigrinum are common parasites of dogs in rural and peri-urban environments, and humans are also frequently bitten by this tick species.

Improved Electrochemical Performance of NCM Cathode Materials Based on the Modification of the Salt Content in the Electrolyte Ortiz, Mariela Gisela; Čech, O.; Sedlaríková, M. In this work, NCM cathode materials, for Li-ion batteries, weresynthesized via a solid-state reaction routine, in which manganese(IV) dioxide, nickel (II) oxide, cobalt (II) hydroxide and lithiumhydroxide monohydrate were employed as metal precursors withdifferent calcination temperature. The prepared materials wereused as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries and theelectrochemical performance was studied by galvanostatic chargedischargecycling, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedancespectroscopy and rate capability, in which as electrolyte, 1M and1.5M LiPF6 in a mixture of ethylene carbonate and dimethylcarbonate (EC:DMC- 1:1 w/w and 1:2 w/w, respectively) wereemployed.

NIR- and thermo-responsive semi-interpenetrated polypyrrole nanogels for imaging guided combinational photothermal and chemotherapy Theune, Loryn E.; Buchmann, Jens; Wedepohl, Stefanie; Molina, María Alejandra; Laufer, Jan; Calderón, Marcelo Versatile, multifunctional nanomaterials for theranostic approaches in cancer treatment are highly on demand in order to increase therapeutic outcomes. Here, we developed thermo-responsive nanogels equipped with the efficient near-infrared (NIR) transducing polymer polypyrrole (PPY) for combinational photothermal and chemotherapeutic therapy along with photoacoustic imaging ability. Long-term stability and water-dispersibility of PPY was achieved using semi-interpenetration method for in situ polymerization of PPY into hydrophilic thermo-responsive nanogels. The semi-interpenetrated nanogels of spherical shape and with hydrodynamic sizes of around 200 nm retained the temperature response behaviour and exhibit excellent photothermal transducing abilities in the NIR region. The PPY nanogels served as photoacoustic contrast agents, which allowed determination of biodistribution profiles ex vivo. In addition, we developed a new method for biodistribution determination based on the photothermal response of the nanogels with an accuracy down to 12.5 μg/mL. We examined the ability of the nanogels as photothermal agents and drug delivery systems in vitro and in vivo. We showed that they efficiently inhibit tumor growth with combinational effects of chemotherapeutics and photothermal treatment. Our work encourages further exploration of nanogels as functional stabilizing matrix for photothermal transducers and their application as drug delivery devices in combination with photothermal therapy and imaging.

Insight into the Mechanism of Oxygen Reduction Reaction on Micro/Mesoporous Carbons: Ultramicropores versus Nitrogen-Containing Catalytic Centers in Ordered Pore Structure Barrera Diaz, Deicy Amparo; Florent, Marc; Sapag, Manuel Karim; Bandosz, Teresa J. Ordered mesoporous/microporous carbon was synthesized from sucrose. The carbon was oxidized and modified with urea at 600, 800, and 950 °C. The obtained carbons differed in the pore size distributions in the meso- and micropore ranges. The carbons, after an extensive surface characterization, were used as ORR catalysts in a KOH electrolyte. Kinetic current densities and n reached 12.5 mA cm-2 and 3.94, respectively. The results suggested that small micropores increased the efficiency of ORR. The density of surface oxygen in mesopores had also a positive effect on ORR by increasing the hydrophilicity and the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) and, thus, the accessibility of oxygen dissolved in the electrolyte to the pores of the highest adsorption potential. From the viewpoint of the number of electron transfers, current density, and onset potential, the carbons with small pore sizes and with only traces of nitrogen performed equally, or even better, in ORR process as those containing the catalytic nitrogen sites.

Interaction between β‑Lactoglobuline and Weak Polyelectrolyte Chains: A Study Using Monte Carlo Simulation Torres, Paola Beatriz; Quiroga, Evelina; Ramirez Pastor, Antonio Jose; Boeris, Valeria; Narambuena, Claudio Fabian Complexation between the β-lactoglobulin and a weak acid polyelectrolyte (PE) has been studied using Monte Carlo simulations. Different coarse-grained models were used to represent the system, and two different acidic constants were used on the PE model. The protein-PE interaction is quantified considering the average PE monomers adsorbed on the protein as a function of pH. A maximum in the interaction between macromolecules was found, which is explained as a function of the titration behavior of the β-lactoglobuline and weak PE. We also found that there was a direct relation between the pH range of monomers adsorbed and the change on dissociation profile of the protein and weak PE compared to isolated conditions. The complexation of protein-PE increased both the dissociation degree of the PE chain and the protein net charge. This benefits the monomer adsorption on the protein surface.

Optimization of RANS turbulence models using genetic algorithms to improve the prediction of wind pressure coefficients on low-rise buildings Gimenez, Juan Marcelo; Bre, Facundo Being associated with natural ventilation, the pressure distribution on surfaces is relevant for energy consumption, thermal comfort, and air quality in buildings. The aim of this work is to present a simulation-based optimization methodology to recalibrate the closure coefficients of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence models in order to improve the prediction of wind surface-averaged pressure coefficients on a wide range of isolated low-rise buildings. To accomplish this, genetic algorithms and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are dynamically coupled to find the closure coefficients set which minimize the CFD prediction error regarding wind-tunnel experimental data. The methodology is applied to two turbulence models, the renormalization group k-epsilon model (RNG) and the Spalart-Allmaras model (SA), considering as target cases buildings with different roof types (flat, gable and hip) and wind incidence angles. In order to show the strength of the novel optimal sets of closure coefficients obtained, an exhaustive validation is performed over other low-rise buildings (52 new cases) which were not calibrated against. Results validate using the optimal sets because the recalibrated RNG and SA models decrease the prediction error between 11-64% and 8?45%, respectively, regarding using the standard ones.