Reviewing theoretical and numerical models for PCM-embedded cementitious composites
Caggiano, Antonio; Mankel, Christoph; Koenders, Eddie
Accumulating solar and/or environmental heat in walls of apartment buildings or houses is a way to level-out daily temperature differences and significantly cut back on energy demands. A possible way to achieve this goal is by developing advanced composites that consist of porous cementitious materials with embedded phase change materials (PCMs) that have the potential to accumulate or liberate heat energy during a chemical phase change from liquid to solid, or vice versa. This paper aims to report the current state of art on numerical and theoretical approaches available in the scientific literature for modelling the thermal behavior and heat accumulation/liberation of PCMs employed in cement-based composites. The work focuses on reviewing numerical tools for modelling phase change problems while emphasizing the so-called Stefan problem, or particularly, on the numerical techniques available for solving it. In this research field, it is the fixed grid method that is the most commonly and practically applied approach. After this, a discussion on the modelling procedures available for schematizing cementitious composites with embedded PCMs is reported.
Shopping mall attraction and social mixing at a city scale
Beiro, Mariano Gastón; Bravo, Loreto; Caro, Diego; Cattuto, Ciro; Ferres, Leo; Graells-Garrido, Eduardo
In Latin America, shopping malls seem to offer an open, safe and democratic version of the public space. However, it is often difficult to quantitatively measure whether they indeed foster, hinder, or are neutral with respect to social inclusion. In this work, we investigate if, and by how much, people from different social classes are attracted by the same malls. Using a dataset of mobile phone network records from 387,152 devices identified as customers of 16 malls in Santiago de Chile, we performed several analyses to study whether malls with higher social mixing attract more people. Our pipeline, which starts with the socio-economic characterization of mall visitors, includes the estimation of social mixing and diversity of malls, the application of the gravity model of mobility, and the definition of a co-visitation model. Results showed that people tend to choose a profile of malls more in line with their own socio-economic status and the distance from their home to the mall, and that higher mixing does positively contribute to the process of choosing a mall. We conclude that (a) there is social mixing in malls, and (b) that social mixing is a factor at the time of choosing which mall to go to. Thus, the potential for social mixing in malls could be capitalized by designing public policies regarding transportation and mobility to make some malls strong social inclusion hubs.
Analysis of the Bitcoin blockchain: socio-economic factors behind the adoption
Parino, Francesco; Beiro, Mariano Gastón; Gauvin, Laetitia
As the first decentralized digital currency introduced in 2009 together with the blockchain, Bitcoin offers new opportunities both for developed and developing countries. Bitcoin peer-to-peer transactions are independent of the banking system, facilitating foreign exchanges with low transaction fees, such as remittances, and offering a high degree of anonymity. These opportunities together with other key factors led the Bitcoin to become extremely popular and caused its price to skyrocket during 2017 (Henry et al. in J Digit Bank 2(4):311–337, 2018). However, while the Bitcoin blockchain attracts a lot of attention, it remains difficult to investigate where this attention comes from, due to the pseudo-anonymity of the system, and consequently to appreciate its social impact. Here we make an attempt to characterize the adoption of the Bitcoin blockchain by country. In the first part of the work we show that information about the number of Bitcoin software client downloads, the IP addresses that act as relays for the transactions, and the Internet searches about Bitcoin provide together a coherent picture of the system evolution in different countries. Using these quantities as a proxy for user adoption, we identify several socio-economic indexes such as the GDP per capita, freedom of trade and the Internet penetration as key variables correlated with the degree of user adoption. In the second part of the work, we build a network of Bitcoin transactions between countries using the IP addresses of nodes relaying transactions and we develop an augmented version of the gravity model of trade in order to identify socio-economic factors linked to the flow of Bitcoin between countries. In a nutshell our study provides a new insight on Bitcoin adoption by country and on the potential socio-economic drivers of the international Bitcoin flow.
Mujeres afroargentinas y el proyecto Certificar nuestra existencia: Una experiencia de trabajo multidisciplinar en Ciudad Evita (Gran Buenos Aires); Afro-Argentine Women and the Research Project Certifying our Existence: A multidisciplinary research experience in Ciudad Evita (Greater Buenos
Geler, Lea Natalia; Egido, Alejandra; Recalt, Rosario; Yannone, Carmen
Este trabajo presenta los primeros resultados de la investigación Certificar nuestra existencia, llevada a cabo por la Asociación de Mujeres Afrodescendientes en la Argentina durante el año 2016 en La Matanza. Su objetivo era conocer acerca de la vida de las mujeres afrodescendientes de la zona. El proyecto es pionero en el país porque focaliza en un grupo que se considera “desparecido”, y por su metodología. Se utilizaron métodos cualitativos –arte y antropología– y cuantitativos –toma de encuestas– para realizar un abordaje más complejo que tuviera en cuenta las necesidades de las propias mujeres afroargentinas. Se describen los desarrollos de las distintas etapas de trabajo y se exponen resultados obtenidos.; The article introduces the multidisciplinary research project titled Certifying our Existence carried out by TES, Association of Women of African Descent in Argentina, in 2016. Its main objective was to know about the life of Afro-Argentine women from the area. This is a pioneering work in Argentina because of its methodology and because it focuses on a group considered no longer existent in the country. The research made use of qualitative methodology- art and anthropology- and also of quantitative methodology- surveys and statistical data. It centers on the different stages of the research process and presents preliminary results.
Crystallization and initial X-ray diffraction analysis of the multi-domain Brucella blue light-activated histidine kinase LOV-HK in its illuminated state
Rinaldi, Jimena Julieta; Fernandez, Ignacio; Poth, Lucia Milagros; Shepard, William E.; Savko, Martin; Goldbaum, Fernando Alberto; Klinke, Sebastian
The pathogenic bacterium Brucella abortus codes for a multi-domain dimeric cytoplasmic histidine kinase called LOV-HK, which is a key blue light-activated virulence factor in this microorganism. The structural basis of the light activation mechanism of this protein remains unclear. In this work, full-length LOV-HK was cloned, expressed and purified. The protein was activated by light and crystallized under a controlled illumination environment. The merge of 14 individual native data sets collected on a single crystal resulted in a complete X-ray diffraction data set to a resolution of 3.70 Å with over 2 million reflections. Crystals belong to space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 95.96, b = 105.30, c = 164.49 Å with a dimer in the asymmetric unit. Molecular replacement with Phaser using the individual domains as search models allowed for the reconstruction of almost the whole protein. Very recently, improved LOV-HK crystals led to a 3.25-Å resolution dataset. Refinement and model building is underway. This crystal model will represent one of the very few examples of a multi-domain histidine kinase with known structure.
Regulation and function of p53: A perspective from Drosophila studies
Ingaramo, María Clara; Sánchez, Juan Andrés; Dekanty, Andres
Tp53 is a central regulator of cellular responses to stress and one of the most frequently mutated genes in human cancers. P53 is activated by a myriad of stress signals and drives specific cellular responses depending on stress nature, cell type and cellular context. Additionally to its classical functions in regulating cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and senescence, newly described non-canonical functions of p53 are increasingly coming under the spotlight as important functions not only for its role as a tumour suppressor but also for its non-cancer associated activities. Drosophila melanogaster is a valuable model to study multiple aspects of normal animal physiology, stress response and disease. In this review, we discuss the contribution of Drosophila studies to the current knowledge on p53 and highlight recent evidences pointing to p53 novel roles in promoting tissue homeostasis and metabolic adaptation.
Predicting protein targets for drug-like compounds using transcriptomics
Pabon, Nicolas A.; Xia, Yan; Estabrooks, Samuel K.; Ye, Zhaofeng; Herbrand, Amanda K.; Süß, Evelyn; Biondi, Ricardo Miguel; Assimon, Victoria A.; Gestwicki, Jason E.; Brodsky, Jeffrey L.; Camacho, Carlos J.; Bar-Joseph, Ziv
An expanded chemical space is essential for improved identification of small molecules for emerging therapeutic targets. However, the identification of targets for novel compounds is biased towards the synthesis of known scaffolds that bind familiar protein families, limiting the exploration of chemical space. To change this paradigm, we validated a new pipeline that identifies small molecule-protein interactions and works even for compounds lacking similarity to known drugs. Based on differential mRNA profiles in multiple cell types exposed to drugs and in which gene knockdowns (KD) were conducted, we showed that drugs induce gene regulatory networks that correlate with those produced after silencing protein-coding genes. Next, we applied supervised machine learning to exploit drug-KD signature correlations and enriched our predictions using an orthogonal structure-based screen. As a proof-of-principle for this regimen, top-10/top-100 target prediction accuracies of 26% and 41%, respectively, were achieved on a validation of set 152 FDA-approved drugs and 3104 potential targets. We then predicted targets for 1680 compounds and validated chemical interactors with four targets that have proven difficult to chemically modulate, including non-covalent inhibitors of HRAS and KRAS. Importantly, drug-target interactions manifest as gene expression correlations between drug treatment and both target gene KD and KD of genes that act up- or down-stream of the target, even for relatively weak binders. These correlations provide new insights on the cellular response of disrupting protein interactions and highlight the complex genetic phenotypes of drug treatment. With further refinement, our pipeline may accelerate the identification and development of novel chemical classes by screening compound-target interactions.
Las primeras ocupaciones en el alero Potrok Aike 1 (Santa Cruz): evidencias líticas, óseas y paleoambientales; First human occupations in Potrok Aike 1 rockshelter (Santa Cruz): stone tools, bones and paleoenvironmental data
Charlin, Judith Emilce; Borrero, Luis Alberto; Gomez Otero, Julieta
En este trabajo se presenta información inédita sobre los materiales líticos y óseos de los niveles más tempranos (97-152 cm de profundidad) de la cuadrícula C del alero Potrok Aike 1 (sur de Santa Cruz, campo volcánico Pali Aike). La misma es puesta en relación con las evidencias paleoambientales disponibles a partir del estudio de núcleos de sedimentos de la laguna Potrok Aike. Los resultados señalan cambios y continuidades en diferentes aspectos relacionados con el uso de los recursos faunísticos y de las materias primas líticas entre las ocupaciones más tempranas (≤2300≥1300 años AP) y más tardías del alero (<1300 años AP), como así también en la intensidad de uso del sitio en concordancia con las variaciones climáticas. Finalmente, a partir de una comparación con los estudios arqueológicos previos se evalúa el significado de los hallazgos realizados en el alero en las escalas del sitio, la localidad y la región.; Unpublished information from the lower levels of Potrok Aike 1 Rockshelter, Santa Cruz, Pali Aike Volcanic Field is presented. Lithic and archaeofaunal materials were recovered between 97 and 152 cm at Square C of the rockshelter. This evidence is related with available paleoenvironmental information from deep cores obtained in the Potrok Aike lagoon. Results indicate changes and continuities in the use of faunal remains and lithic raw materials between the older (≥2300≥1300 years BP) and recent (<1300 years BP) occupations. Also changes in the intensity of use of the site concordant with climatic variation were identified. Finally, by comparison with previous archaeological results, the significance of the human occupations recovered at the Potrok Aike Rockshelter is evaluated at the scale of the site, the locality and the region.
El registro lítico en la costa del golfo San Matías (Argentina): Análisis comparativo de los materiales líticos provenientes de depósitos de superficie, enterrados y concheros de la costa rionegrina; The lithic materials from San Matías Gulf coast (Argentina): Comparative analysis of the lithic artifacts from surface, buried deposits and shell middens from the Río Negro province coast
Alberti, Jimena; Cardillo, Marcelo
En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de los análisis comparativos realizados sobre los materiales líticos provenientes de contextos de concheros, enterrados y superficie de la costa rionegrina del golfo San Matías (Patagonia argentina). Para la comparación se utilizaron variables como el porcentaje de corteza, el grado de fragmentación de los conjuntos, la materia prima y la calidad de las rocas para la talla. También se confrontaron los atributos métricos de las piezas. Los resultados indican que existen diferencias significativas dependiendo de los contextos de recuperación (concheros o superficie). Esta tendencia no estaría relacionada con procesos de formación de los sitios, sino que estaría vinculado a conductas diferenciales de descarte dentro de los mismos espacios.; In this paper we present the results of the comparative analyses carried out on the lithic materials coming from shell middens, buried and surface contexts from San Matías Gulf, on the Río Negro province coast (Argentine Patagonia). For the comparison, we have used variables such as cortex percentage, the fragmentation degree of the assemblages, the raw materials that appear and the quality of the rocks. The metric attributes of the pieces were also compared. The results indicate that there are significant differences depending on the contexts of recovery (shell middens or surface). This trend would be related to the formation processes of the sites, but also it would be linked to differential discard behaviors within the same spaces.
Inter rectores et pastores: Thietmar de Merseburg y la acción episcopal; Inter rectores et pastores: Thietmar of Merseburg and episcopal action
Neyra, Andrea Vanina
Hace ya algunas décadas, el trabajo de Timothy Reuter generó una serie de cuestionamientos al sistema de la iglesia imperial o Reichskirchensystem, concepto que había prevalecido en la historiografía alemana para explicar la estrecha unión entre obispos y reyes/emperadores de la era otoniana. Aquella mirada estática entendía a las figuras episcopales como meros ejecutores de funciones específicas dentro de dicho sistema. En las últimas décadas han surgido perspectivas más dinámicas que se preguntan por el tipo de oficio surgido de la acción concreta.En el último libro del Chronicon, el cronista y obispo Thietmar de Merseburg reflexiona sobre la tarea del buen pastor y pretende elaborar una serie de consejos para los lectores y sucesores en la silla episcopal. Las sugerencias que se encuentran allí involucran las acciones del mundo terrenal, la administración de la diócesis y el cuidado de las almas, moviéndose entre lo esperado del status episcopal y la construcción y desarrollo personal de la función.Proponemos, entonces, pensar en la figura episcopal manifiesta en la obra de Thietmar a partir del posicionamiento entre esos dos mundos, el secular y el espiritual, y las tensiones involucradas entre los mismos, no sólo en vinculación con la construcción y el ejercicio de la autoridad y la función, sino también con las relaciones con el resto de los poderes.; Some decades ago, Timothy Reuter challenged the imperial church system or Reichskirchensystem, a long-lasting notion in German historiography used to explain the close union between bishops and kings/emperors of the Ottonian era. Following this static view, bishops were considered mere performers of specific functions within said system. Over the last decades, more dynamic perspectives have emerged, inquiring about the type of office rising from concrete actions. In the last book of his Chronicon, the chronicler and Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg reflects on the tasks of the good shepherd and he intends to offer some advice to readers and/or prospect bishops. Suggestions include earthly matters, the administration of the diocese and pastoral care; tackling what is expected as to episcopal status and how the office is personally constructed and developed. This article proposes to analize both the episcopal figure in Thietmar’s Chronicle by placing the bishop in the middle of two worlds: secular and spiritual¸and the tensions deriving from this, not only regarding the construction and exercise of authority, but also in relation with the rest of the (secular) powers.
Cementoin-SLPI fusion protein binds to human monocytes and epithelial cells and shows higher biological activity than SLPI
Maffia, Paulo Cesar; Guerrieri, Diego; Villalonga, Ximena Soledad; Caro, Fiorella Yanina; Gómez, Sonia Alejandra; Tateosian, Nancy Liliana; Bogado, Betiana P.; Sánchez, Mercedes Leonor; Ambrosi, Nella Gabriela; Chuluyan, Hector Eduardo
Secretory Leukocyte Proteinase Inhibitor (SLPI) is an antiinflammatory peptide that blocks the activity of serine proteases, primarily the neutrophil elastase. In an attempt to direct the activity of SLPI on inflamed sites, a chimera consisting of the transglutaminase II substrate domain of trappin 2 (cementoin), and the mature SLPI protein was constructed. Cell attachment and biological activity were compared between SLPI and this chimera. By using whole cell ELISA, fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry assays we observed that the cementoin-SLPI fusion protein (FP) but not SLPI attached to a human lung epithelial cell line and monocytes. A maximum attachment was achieved 15 min after FP was added to the cell cultures. In an elastase activity assay, we observed that FP retained its antiprotease activity and that at equimolar amount of proteins, FP was more efficient than SLPI in the inhibition. Both, FP and SLPI inhibits IL-2-induced lymphocyte proliferation, however, lower amounts of FP were required to achieve this inhibition. Furthermore, FP binds to mycobacteria and maintained the bactericidal activity observed for SLPI. Overall, these results show that this new chimera is able to attach to the cell surfaces retaining and improving some biological activities described for SLPI.
Crosstalk Between Nitric Oxide and Endocannabinoid Signaling Pathways in Normal and Pathological Placentation
Aban, Cyntia Estefania; Accialini, Paula Lucia; Etcheverry, Tomás; Leguizamon, Gustavo Federico; Martinez, Nora Alicia; Farina, Mariana
Endocannabinoids are a group of endogenous lipid mediators that act as ligands of cannabinoid and vanilloid receptors, activating multiple signal transduction pathways. Together with enzymes responsible for their synthesis and degradation, these compounds constitute the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is involved in different physiological processes in reproduction. The placenta, which is essential for the success of gestation and optimal fetal growth, undergoes constant tissue remodeling. ECS members are expressed in trophoblast cells, and current evidence suggests that this system is involved in placental development, apoptosis, and syncytialization. Impairment of endocannabinoid signaling has been associated with several pathological conditions such as intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia. Both clinical entities are characterized by dysregulation on vascular perfusion where nitrergic system performs a pivotal role. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent local vasodepressor that exerts a critical role in the regulation of hemodynamic flow, contributing to the maintenance of low vascular resistance in the feto-placental circulation. NO production could be affected by different factors and growing evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid mediators may regulate nitrergic signaling. Herein, we review emerging knowledge supporting ECS-mediated regulation of NO production in normal placentation. Finally, we discuss how alterations in these systems could affect homoeostasis and contribute to the occurrence of placental-mediated pregnancy complications. Given the impact on women and perinatal heath, we will focus on current knowledge regarding the effects of ECS on nitrergic system in normal and pathological placentation.
An optimization approach for multiperiod production planning in a sawmill
Vanzetti, Nicolás Andrés; Broz, Diego Ricardo; Corsano, Gabriela; Montagna, Jorge Marcelo
Forest industry plays an important role in the national economic and social context, due to the production volume with significant impact in the region where it is located (northeast of Argentina). Sawmill production planning is a key factor for the development of this industry with serious challenges taking into account the involved interrelated tasks. Assuming a multiperiod perspective, several elements can be considered and more interesting results can be attained. The appropriate procurement of logs is an important part of the problem costs and logging can be improved if the sawmill consumption can be foreseen in advance through an integrated approach. In this work, a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model for the optimal multiperiod planning in sawmills is proposed. An efficient solution is obtained considering a set of cutting patters (CP) for each type of log that optimize raw material yield. As a result of this optimization, appropriate procurement, distribution policy and stock management of logs can be achieved, as well as suitable production plan along the considered periods in order to fulfil the demand, with significant impact on the sawmill performance and profitability.
Niveles de burnout y engagement en teleoperadores de un call center de la ciudad de Mar del Plata, Argentina; Telemarketer´s burnout and engagement levels at a Mar del Plata, Argentina call center
Silva Peralta, Yamila Fernanda; Caminos, Matías; Pereyra, Mayra; Pérez Villar, Marianela
Se presenta una investigación descriptiva transversal que tiene como objetivoevaluar niveles de burnout y engagement en teleoperadores de un call center dela ciudad de Mar del Plata, Argentina. Se aplicaron el Maslach Burnout Inventory(MBI) y el Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) a 76 teleoperadores.Estadísticos descriptivos y pruebas de contraste no paramétricas según sexo,edad y antigüedad en la organización fueron calculados. Los resultados muestranniveles bajos de burnout y engagement, sólo se encontraron niveles críticos enrelación a la dimensión de burnout agotamiento emocional al contrastar losgrupos femenino y masculino.; The aim of this descriptive transactional research was to assess telemarketers' burnout and engagement levels at a Mar del Plata call center. Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) were applied to 76 telemarketers. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests considering sex, age, and seniority were calculated. Results show low burnout and engagement levels; only critical levels related to the emotional exhaustion burnout dimension were found when comparing female to male groups.
Induction of uterine hyperplasia after cafeteria diet exposure
Gastiazoro, Maria Paula; Guerrero Schimpf, Marlise Luciana; Durando, Milena de Lourdes; Lazzarino, Gisela Paola; Andreoli, Maria Florencia; Zierau, Oliver; Luque, Enrique Hugo; Ramos, Jorge Guillermo; Varayoud, Jorgelina Guadalupe
Our aim was to evaluate whether chronic administration of CAF affects the uterus and induces the morphological and molecular changes associated with endometrial hyperplasia. Female Wistar rats exposed to CAF from weaning for 20 weeks displayed increased energy intake, body weight and fat depots, but did not develop metabolic syndrome. The adult uteri showed an increase in glandular volume fraction and stromal area. The epithelial proliferation rate and protein expression of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) were also increased. The CAF diet enhanced leptin serum levels and the long form of leptin receptor (Ob-Rb) mRNA expression in the uterus. No changes were detected in either insulin serum levels or those of insulin growth factor I (IGF-I) mRNA expression. However the levels of IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) mRNA were lower in CAF-fed animals. Overall, the results indicate that our rat model of the CAF diet produces morphological and molecular changes associated with uterine hyperplasia and could predispose to endometrial carcinogenesis.
Desempeño de un femento adjunto de Lacobacillus aracasei 90 en condiciones de corte de cadena de frío en queso Cremoso
Peralta, Guillermo Hugo; Bergamini, Carina Viviana; Costabel, Luciana Maria; Pérez Audero, María Eugenia; Perotti, Maria Cristina; Hynes, Erica Rut
Los cortes en la cadena de frío pueden conducir a la aparición de defectos enqueso Cremoso, principalmente por desarrollo de bacterias no fermento osobreacidificación. La incorporación de cultivos adjuntos es una de las estrategias utilizadas para controlar la microflora adventicia y mejorar la calidad de quesos; sin embargo, no hay estudios que evalúen la efectividad de estos cultivos en condiciones de pérdida de la refrigeración. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue valorar si Lactobacillus paracasei 90 (Lp90), un fermento que en estudios previos mostró un impacto favorable en quesos madurados en condiciones óptimas de salado y enfriamiento, cumplía un desempeño aceptable en condiciones de corte de cadena de frío.Se comprobó que los cortes en la cadena de frío afectaron la fermentación de la lactosa y la calidad microbiológica de los quesos. Asimismo, Lp90 controló la concentración de galactosa, pero esto derivó en una mayor acidificación. Eladjunto no provocó defectos en los quesos con corte de cadena de frío.
Proximal composition, sensorial properties and effect of ascorbic acid and α - tocopherol on oxidative stability of bread made with whole flours and vegetable oils
Osuna, Mariana Beatriz; Romero, Cecilia Alejandra; Romero, Ana María; Judis, Maria Alicia; Bertola, Nora Cristina
Proximal composition, shelf-life, sensory properties and effects of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol on the oxidative stability of bread made with whole flours and vegetable oils were evaluated. Such effects were analyzed in two formulations: one with wheat flour + flaxseed flour + soybean flour + canola oil (F1), and the other with wheat flour + flaxseed flour + wheat bran + olive oil (F2). The proximal composition showed significant differences in moisture, fibre and carbohydrates due to the presence of wheat bran in one formulation. Omega 3 content in F1 was twice as high as that in F2, due to the contribution of flax meal and canola oil. Furthermore, both formulations presented good scores in the evaluated sensory attributes and a shelf-life of 2 days. The ascorbic acid in F1 produced a 40% reduction in primary lipid oxidation, while α-tocopherol as antioxidant for F2 produced a 50% reduction in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and exerted a greater inhibiting effect than butylhydroxyanisole. Therefore, the fortification of wheat bread with whole flour and vegetable oils is an effective tool that allows to obtain functional food and the addition of antioxidants would be a good option to prolong the stability of multigrain bread studied.
Peripheral neuroimmunoendocrine interactions: contribution of TNFRp55 to the circadian synchronization of progesterone and cytokine production in joints of mice in late pregnancy
Arias, Jose Luis; Mayordomo, Andrea Constanza; Silva, Juan Eduardo; Ragusa, Juan Antonio Vicente; Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrián; Anzulovich Miranda, Ana Cecilia; Di Genaro, Maria Silvia
Circadian rhythms are generated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus and involve rhythmic expression of clock genes and proteins. This rhythmicity is transferred to peripheral tissues by neural and hormonal signals. Late pregnancy is considered a state of inflammation which impacts on peripheral tissues such as joints. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mediates inflammatory and circadian responses through its p55 receptor (TNFRp55). Neuroimmunoendocrine interactions in joints have not been studied completely. The purpose of this study was to analyze these interactions, investigating the circadian rhythms of progesterone (Pg) and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the joints at the end of pregnancy (gestational day 18). Moreover, the impact of TNFRp55 deficiency on these temporal oscillations was explored.
Simultaneous co-immobilization of three enzymes onto a modified glassy carbon electrode to fabricate a high-performance amperometric biosensor for determination of total cholesterol
Rashidi, Khodabakhsh; Mahmoudi, Majid; Mohammadi, Ghobad; Zangeneh, Mohammad Mahdi; Korani, Shahla; Goicoechea, Hector Casimiro; Gu, Hui-Wen; Jalalvand, Ali R.
In this work, we have fabricated a novel amperometric cholesterol (CHO) biosensor because of the importance of determination of CHO levels in blood which is an important parameter for diagnosis and prevention of disease. To achieve this goal, cholesterol oxidase, cholesterol esterase and horseradish peroxidase were simultaneously co-immobilized onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with gold nanoparticles/chitin-ionic liquid/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole)/graphene-multiwalled carbon nanotubes-1,1′-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid-ionic liquid. Modifications applied to the bare GCE were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The biosensor detected CHO in linear ranges of 0.1–25 μM and 25–950 μM with a detection limit of 0.07 μM. The sensitivity of the biosensor was estimated to be 6.6 μA μM−1 cm−2, its response time was <5 s and Michaelis-Menten constant was calculated to be 0.12 μM. Results obtained in this study revealed that the biosensor was selective, sensitive, stable, repeatable and reproducible. Finally, the biosensor was successfully applied to the determination of CHO levels in rats plasma.
Do extrativismo neoliberal ao neoextrativismo progressivo? o caso da pesca marítima argentina (1989-2015); ¿Del extractivismo neoliberal al (neo)extractivismo progresista? El caso de la pesca marítima Argentina (1989-2015); From neoliberal extractivism toward progressive (neo)extractivism? The case of the Argentinean sea fishing (1989-2015)
Gómez Lende, Sebastián
Es un lugar común en la literatura académica especializada afirmar que, durante las últimas décadas, en América Latina se produjo una transición desde el paradigma extractivista ‘clásico’ neoliberal basado en el capital privado extranjero hacia un neo-extractivismo progresista donde el Estado impone controles más rigurosos, explota directamente la naturaleza, capta una porción sustancial de la renta y la redistribuye para legitimar socio-políticamente el modelo. Este artículo examina críticamente esa tesis y la contrasta empíricamente para la Argentina realizando un estudio comparativo de la pesca marítima durante el modelo neoliberal (1989-2001) y el régimen neo-desarrollista (2002-2015) a partir de cuatro dimensiones de análisis: desembarques, colapso del recurso y crisis pesquera; marco regulatorio, apertura al capital extranjero y estructura de la flota pesquera; boom exportador y apropiación estatal de la renta pesquera; y debilidad regulatoria, corrupción corporativo-institucional y depredación. Los resultados muestran que el Estado neo-desarrollista alentó la continuidad y maduración de la herencia neoliberal en el sector pesquero, consolidando la preexistente dinámica expoliadora, extranjerizante, privatista y extrovertida sin en contrapartida imponer controles públicos más estrictos, transparentes y eficaces, captar parte significativa de la renta ni implementar políticas que puedan ser juzgadas como ‘progresistas’; É um lugar comum na literatura acadêmica afirmar que, nas últimas décadas, na América Latina houve uma transição de paradigma neoliberal extrativo 'clássico' com base no capital privado estrangeiro para um neoextrativismo progressivo onde o Estado impõe controles mais rigorosos, explora diretamente a natureza, capta uma parte substancial da renda e a redistribui para legitimar politicamente o modelo. Este artigo examina criticamente esta tese e a contrasta empiricamente para Argentina através de um estudo comparativo da pesca marítima durante o modelo neoliberal (1989-2001) e o regime de neodesenvolvimentista (2002-2015) a partir de quatro dimensões de análise: desembarques de peixe, colapso do recurso e crisis do setor; enquadramento regulamentar, abertura ao capital estrangeiro e estrutura da frota pesqueira; boom de exportação e apropriação estadual da renta; e fraqueza regulatória, corrupção institucional-corporativa e depredação. Os resultados mostram que o Estado neo-desenvolvimentista incentivou a continuação e maturação de herança neoliberal no setor, reforçando a existente dinâmica de pilhagem, estrangeirização, privatização e extroversão sem, em contrapartida, impor controles públicos mais rigorosos, transparentes e eficazes, capturar parte significativa da renda ou implementar políticas “progressivas”.; During the last decades, the specialized academic literature has commonly stated that Latin America suffered a transition from the neoliberal classical extractive paradigm (i.e. based on foreign private capital) toward a progressive (neo)extractivism pattern where the State imposes more rigorous controls, directly exploits nature, captures a substantial portion of income, and redistribute it in order to politically legitimize such model. This article critically examines this thesis and empirically contrasts it for the Argentinean case by conducting a comparative study of sea fishing during the neoliberal model (1989-2001) and the neodevelopmentalist regime (2002-2015). Four dimensions of analysis were used: fish landings, the resource’s collapse, and the fishery crisis; regulatory framework, opening to foreign capital and the structure of the fishing fleet; exports boom and the state appropriation of fishing income; and regulatory weakness, corporate and institutional corruption and the resource’s depredation. The results show that the neodevelopmentalist State encouraged the continuity and maturation of the neoliberal heritage in the fishing sector by consolidating its preexisting dynamics (e.g. plundering, foreignization, privatization, extroversion, etc.) without, in return, imposing stricter, more transparent and effective controls, capturing a substantial piece of income or implementing any kind of ‘progressive’ policy