Nicotine affects ethanol-conditioned taste, but not place, aversion in a simultaneous conditioning procedure Loney, Gregory C.; Pautassi, Ricardo Marcos; Kapadia, Delna; Meyer, Paul J. The conditioned taste aversion (CTA) induced by ethanol is a key factor limiting ethanol intake. Nicotine, a drug co-consumed with ethanol, may decrease this aversion by modulating the unconditioned effects of ethanol or by disrupting the association between ethanol and its associated cues. This study analyzed ethanol-induced CTA and conditioned place aversion (CPA) in Long-Evans rats with subchronic exposure to nicotine. The rats were treated with nicotine (0.0 or 0.4 mg/kg) three times before conditioning (on lickometer training sessions 3, 4, and 5) and across conditioning days. During the conditioning the rats were given ethanol (1.3 g/kg) preceded and followed by presentation of a taste (NaCl) and tactile (rod or hole floors) conditioned stimulus (CS+), respectively. On CS− conditioning days, the rats were given vehicle and exposed to alternative stimuli. Three CTA and CPA testing sessions were then conducted. It was found that nicotine reduced ethanol-induced CTA and enhanced locomotor activity, but did not significantly modify the magnitude of ethanol-induced CPA. The effects of nicotine on CTA were observed during both conditioning and testing sessions, and were specific to the NaCl CS+, having no effect on reactivity to water. The dissociation between the effect of nicotine on ethanol-induced CTA and CPA suggests that nicotine does not alter ethanol's motivational properties by generally increasing its positive rewarding effects, nor does it blunt all aversive-like responses to this drug. Instead, nicotine may impede ethanol-induced CTA induced by ethanol by disrupting the neural underpinnings of this specific form of associative learning.

Influence of temperature on liquid - liquid equilibrium of methanol + toluene + hexane ternary system at atmospheric pressure Veliz, Jonatan Hernan; Cases, Alicia Marta; Varas Gutierrez, Constanza Geraldine; Gramajo, Monica Beatriz Abstract Liquid-liquid equilibrium of methanol + toluene+ hexane ternary system at 278.15,283.15, 288.15 and 293.15 K are reported. The effect of the temperature on liquid-liquidequilibrium is discussed. All chemicals were quantified by gas chromatography using athermal conductivity detector. Experimental data for the ternary system are compared withvalues calculated by the NRTL and UNIQUAC equations. It is found that the UNIQUACequation fitted to the experimental data is more accurate than the NRTL model for thisternary system for all temperatures studied.

Rubbish dumps as invasive plant epicentres Plaza, Pablo; Speziale, Karina Lilian; Lambertucci, Sergio Agustin It is widely known that disturbed areas favour plant species invasion. However, the presence and impacts of introduced plants at rubbish dumps and landfills are less clear. We conducted a literature review to evaluate current knowledge on introduced plants species at these sites to assess their potential role as invasion epicentres. Most of the studies we found (91%) were observational and only described plant species presence in multiple landscapes, including rubbish dumps or landfills. A minority of studies (< 20%) specifically focused on plant species at these sites but did not evaluate their potential as invasion epicentres. The 215 introduced plant species belonging to 57 families recorded at rubbish dumps or landfills underestimates true numbers given that most studies do not report the full list of species. Most species are invasive (> 95%) and included in the Global Invasive Species Database or the DAISIE list. One species, Arundo donax, is among the 100 worst invasive species in the world and eight more are listed among the 100 worst invasive species in Europe. Invasive species present at these sites may alter fire regimens, produce toxic and allergen effects, outcompete native species, act as agricultural pests, and lead to economic losses. Our results are a first step to include rubbish dumps and landfills in the agenda of ecologists and managers that study invasive species, especially since compost from these sites are now being used in agricultural practices, thus possibly spreading invasive species propagules to distant locations.

First record of a macroraptorial sperm whale (Cetacea, physeteroidea) from the miocene of Argentina Piazza, David Sebastián; Agnolin, Federico Lisandro; Lucero, Sergio Raptorial sperm whales of the genus Livyatan were described from the Miocene of Peru and Chile. Revision of paleontological collections resulted in the finding of isolated teeth belonging to aff. Livyatan sp. coming from Early-Middle Miocene strata from Bajo del Gualicho area, Río Negro Province, Argentina. These specimens represent the first finding of this genus in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean and indicate that Livyatan-like forms were more widespread than previously thought. The reasons of the extinction of such predatory whales are still uncertain, but it is not improbable that it may be correlated with competition for food resources with globicephaline delphinids. This hypothesis still rests on weak evidence and should be evaluated through findings of new specimens, as well as detailed analysis of the fossil record.

Signaling network involved in the GPC3-induced inhibition of breast cancer progression: role of canonical Wnt pathway Fernández, Dolores; Guereño, Macarena; Lago Huvelle, María Amparo; Cercato, Magalí Cecilia; Peters, María Giselle Purpose: We have shown that GPC3 overexpression in breast cancer cells inhibits in vivo tumor progression, by acting as a metastatic suppressor. GPC3-overexpressing cells are less clonogenic, viable and motile, while their homotypic adhesion is increased. We have presented evidences indicating that GPC3 inhibits canonical Wnt and Akt pathways, while non-canonical Wnt and p38MAPK cascades are activated. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether GPC3-induced Wnt signaling inhibition modulates breast cancer cell properties as well as to describe the interactions among pathways modulated by GPC3. Methods: Fluorescence microscopy, qRT-PCR microarray, gene reporter assay and Western blotting were performed to determine gene expression levels, signaling pathway activities and molecule localization. Lithium was employed to activate canonical Wnt pathway and treated LM3-GPC3 cell viability, migration, cytoskeleton organization and homotypic adhesion were assessed using MTS, wound healing, phalloidin staining and suspension growth assays, respectively. Results: We provide new data demonstrating that GPC3 blocks—also at a transcriptional level—both autocrine and paracrine canonical Wnt activities, and that this inhibition is required for GPC3 to modulate migration and homotypic adhesion. Our results indicate that GPC3 is secreted into the extracellular media, suggesting that secreted GPC3 competes with Wnt factors or interacts with them and thus prevents Wnt binding to Fz receptors. We also describe the complex network of interactions among GPC3-modulated signaling pathways. Conclusion: GPC3 is operating through an intricate molecular signaling network. From the balance of these interactions, the inhibition of breast metastatic spread induced by GPC3 emerges.

The Ammonium Channel NOD26 is the Evolutionary Innovation that Drives the Emergence, Consolidation, and Dissemination of Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis in Angiosperms Frare, Romina Alejandra; Ayub, Nicolás Daniel; Alleva, Karina Edith; Soto, Gabriela Cynthia Increasing evidence indicates that N-fixing symbiosis has evolved several times in the N-fixing clade of angiosperms and that this evolution is driven by a single evolutionary innovation. However, the genetics of this ancestral predisposition to N-fixing symbiosis remains unclear. A natural candidate for such molecular innovation is the ammonium channel NOD26, the main protein component of the symbiosome membrane, which facilitates the plant uptake of the nitrogen fixed by symbiotic bacteria. Here, in concordance with the emergence of N-fixing symbiosis in angiosperms but not in ancestral plants, phylogenetic analysis showed that NOD26 belongs to an angiosperm-exclusive subgroup of aquaporins. Integrated genomic, phylogenetic, and gene expression analyses supported NOD26 occurrence in the N-fixing clade, the increase in the NOD26 copy number by block and tandem duplications in legumes, and the low-copy number or even the loss of NOD26 in non-legume species of the N-fixing clade, which correlated with the possibility to lose N-fixing symbiosis in legume and non-legume lineages. Metabolic reconstructions showed that retention of NOD26 in N-fixing precursor could represent an adaptive mechanism to bypass energy crisis during anaerobic stress by ammonium detoxification. Finally, we discuss the potential use of NOD26 to transfer N-fixation to non-N-fixing crops as cereals.

Impact of Ibrutinib in Quality of Life (QoL) in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): Preliminary Results of Real-World Experience Mela Osorio, Maria Jose; Pavlovsky, Carolina; Pavlovsky, Astrid; Fernandez, Isolda; Massa, Federico Sackmann; Ferrari, Luciana; Juni, Mariana; Riddick, Maximiliano Luis; Pavlovsky, Miguel A. Context: Clinical data from controlled trials report an improvement in QoL in patients with CLL in ibrutinib monotherapy. Reallife evidence is necessary to confirm this data. Objective: The disease control when treatment is initiated could lead to decreasedfatigue. It is likely that treatment with ibrutinib could result in animprovement in QoL in our real-world population. Primaryobjective: evaluate impact of ibrutinib treatment in QoL. Wedefined a clinically meaningful improvement 3 points in FACITfatigue score. Secondary Endpoints: Detect a 10% improvement byEQ5D VAS. Correlate baseline and follow-up hemoglobin levels(meaningful improvement 1g/dL). Design: This is a prospective,longitudinal, single arm study enrolling consecutive CLL patientsunder ibrutinib monotherapy either as first or further line oftreatment. Median follow-up was 7 months (range 1-28). Setting:Patients are recruited in an academic referral center in BuenosAires. Interventions: QoL was explored with FACIT-fatigue andEQ5D visual-analogue-scale (VAS) questionnaires (with copyrightpermission). Assessment by results reported by patient questionnaires are completed on months 0-1-3-6 and 12 since the beginningof treatment. Main Outcomes Measures: We are reporting preliminary results after 3 months of treatment compared to baseline.Statistical Analysis: data was analyzed with the Sign Test (BinomialTest). Results: A total of 21 CLL patients who started ibrutinibbetween 2016 and 2018 were included. Median age was 75 years(range 57-84); 12 patients (57%) were males. Ibrutinib was first-linetherapy in 7 patients (33%), second-line in 7 patients (33%) and 7patients (33%) received 3 previous lines. After 3 months oftreatment, the median change in FACIT-fatigue score 3 pointswas reached in 13 patients (62%) as compared to baseline(p=0.024). After 3 months of treatment there was no evidence of amedian change >10% on the EQ5D VAS (p=0.593) nor a significant improvement on hemoglobin level (p=0.105).Conclusions: These results suggest an early improvement of fatiguewithin the first 3 months of treatment with ibrutinib. Longerfollow-up and larger number of patient are necessary to confirm thisdata and determine the further improvements of QoL withcontinuous treatment and correlation with hemoglobin changes.

Encapsulation of cactus ( Opuntia megacantha ) betaxanthins by ionic gelation and spray drying: A comparative study Otalora Rodriguez, Maria Carolina; Carriazo, José G.; Osorio, Coralia; Nazareno, Mónica Azucena The encapsulation of betaxanthins from orange Opuntia megacantha fruits was performed as a stabilisation strategy for these natural pigments. Betaxanthin-rich extract (BE) was encapsulated by two methodologies, spray drying (SD) and ionic gelation (IG). Encapsulates were obtained by using two encapsulating agents (EA), a mixture of maltodextrin-cactus cladode mucilage and sodium alginate (SA) for SD and IG, respectively. Their properties were compared with the freeze-dried cactus fruit pulp (CP) as control. Total betaxanthin content, moisture content, water activity (aw), particle size, morphology by SEM, colour parameters (CIELab), and thermogravimetric properties were analysed in the encapsulates. Additionally, the antioxidant activity, total dietary fibre content, and pigment stability of encapsulates under two relative humidity conditions were also evaluated. The results showed that the encapsulation technique, EA concentration, and the BE/EA ratio affected the particle size and morphology, the glass transition temperature, and the mass loss of encapsulated materials. The best pigment stabilisation was obtained for the SD capsules, although both encapsulation techniques allowed improving the pigment stability in comparison with the CP taken as control. These results provided evidence that betaxanthins from Opuntia megacantha have the potential to be used as natural pigments, soluble in water, with functional properties for the food industry.

Hybrid mineral@silsesquioxane particles for water remediation: synthesis, characterization and application as adsorbent of As(V) and other water pollutants Waiman, Carolina Vanesa; Dell'Erba, Ignacio Esteban; Chesta, Carlos Alberto; Gomez, María Lorena Mineral-coated silsesquioxane particles of approximately 600 nm diameter were synthesized from the hydrolytic co-condensation of N-[3-trimethoxysilyl]-propyl]ethylenediamine (DAS) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The hybrid particles involve nanocomposites with a mineral core (montmorillonite—MMT—or goethite—Gt—nanoparticles) and coated with a silsesquioxane shell containing hydroxyl and amine groups. These particles were specially designed (exposing amino groups) to be highly efficient for the removal of As(V) and to enhance the adsorption properties of the minerals employed in this work. They were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, zeta potential, dynamic light scattering and thermogravimetric techniques such as dynamic scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The characteristics found in the composite particles compared with pure organosilane DAS/TEOS or with the unmodified minerals proved the effectiveness of the silanization process. As result, hybrid nanocomposite materials were obtained, denoting versatility in their adsorption properties of different types of pollutants. Moreover, all synthesized particles showed a high arsenic retention capacity; experimental results demonstrated that superficial modification of the minerals is the preponderant factor that determines their adsorbent properties, favoring the versatility of these materials making them suitable for the removal of pollutants of diverse charge and nature.

Chemically modified alginate bead matrix for efficient adsorptive recovery of trypsin from fresh bovine pancreas Aravena, Pilar; Brassesco, Maria Emilia; Bosio, Bárbara; Picó, Guillermo Alfredo; Woitovich Valetti, Nadia The adsorption of commercial trypsin (Try) onto epichlorohydrin cross-linked alginate–guar gum matrix has been studied at equilibrium in batch and in fixed bed column. Experiments were conducted to study the effect of ionic strength, temperature and to obtain a thermodynamic characterization of the adsorption process. The resulting adsorption isotherm fitted the Hill equation. Experimental breakthrough curve profiles were compared with the theoretical breakthrough profiles obtained from the mathematical model, bed depth service time. At pH 5.0, 1.0 g hydrated matrix adsorbed 480.0 milligram of Try per gram of dried bed. The desorption process showed 80% of Try recovery in 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.00—500 mM NaCl—20% propylene glycol. The obtained results were applied to an adsorption/washing/desorption process with fresh pancreas homogenate yielded 20% of recovery and 5.7 purification factor of Try. The matrix remained functional until the fifth cycle of repeated batch enzyme adsorption.

First report of chrysodeixis includens nucleopolyhedrovirus (ChinNPV) infecting chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Argentina Arneodo Larochette, Joel Demián; Dami, Luciana Cecilia; Jakubowicz, Violeta; Alzogaray, Raúl Adolfo; Taibo, Catalina Beatriz Summary Typical baculovirus infection symptoms were observed in Chrysodeixis includens Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae from a laboratory rearing in Tucumán, Argentina. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the occurrence of polyhedral occlusion bodies displaying a heterogeneous morphology. Amplification, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of conserved polyhedrin, lef-8 and lef-9 genes identified the pathogen, for the first time in Argentina, as a variant of Chrysodeixis includens nucleopolyhedrovirus (ChinNPV). The biocontrol potential of this new isolate is worthy of future research.

A katG S315T or an ahpC promoter mutation mediate Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to 2-thiophen carboxylic acid hydrazide, an inhibitor resembling the anti-tubercular drugs Isoniazid and Ethionamide Franceschelli, Jorgelina Judith; Belardinelli, Juan Manuel; Tong, Ping; Loftus, Brendan; Recio Balsells, Alejandro Iván; Labadie, Guillermo Roberto; Gordon, Stephen V.; Morbidoni, Héctor Ricardo Clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis are differentially susceptible to 2-Thiophen Hydrazide (TCH); however its mechanism of action or the reasons for that difference are unknown. We report herein that under our experimental conditions, TCH inhibits M. tuberculosis in solid but not in liquid medium, and that in spite of resembling Isoniazid and Ethionamide, it does not affect mycolic acid synthesis. To understand the mechanisms of action of TCH we isolated M. tuberculosis TCH resistant mutants which fell into two groups; one resistant to TCH and Isoniazid but not to Ethionamide or Triclosan, and the other resistant only to TCH with no, or marginal, cross resistance to Isoniazid. A S315T katG mutation conferred resistance to TCH while katG expression from a plasmid reduced M. tuberculosis MIC to this drug, suggesting a possible involvement of KatG in TCH activation. Whole genome sequencing of mutants from this second group revealed a single mutation in the alkylhydroperoxide reductase ahpC promoter locus in half of the mutants, while the remaining contained mutations in dispensable genes. This is the first report of the genetics underlying the action of TCH and of the involvement of ahpC as the sole basis for resistance to an anti-tubercular compound.

Association between levels of synovial anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies and neutrophil response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis Gorlino, Carolina Virginia; Dave, Mabel Noemí; Blas, Rodrigo; Crespo, Maria Ines; Lavanchy, Alicia; Tamashiro, Héctor; Pardo Hildalgo, Rodolfo; Pistoresi, Maria Cristina; Di Genaro, Maria Silvia Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by the presence of anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPAs) and neutrophils infiltrating the synovial fluid (SF) of the affected joints. The aim of this work was to analyze whether the presence of ACPAs in SF is associated with neutrophil infiltration and with their phenotype in the inflamed joints of RA patients. We found that in the presence of ACPAs, the number of synovial neutrophils correlated with severe disease activity. The SF were divided according to synovial ACPA levels in negative- (<25 U/mL), low- (25–200 U/mL) and high level (˃200 U/mL; ACPA high ). We observed that IL-6, IL-17, and IL-8 were significantly elevated in ACPA high SF and that IL-8 levels correlated positively with neutrophil counts and with worse clinical manifestations. Additionally, in vitro incubation of neutrophils with ACPA high SF resulted in an increased ROS production and extracellular DNA release compared to neutrophils incubated with ACPA-negative SF. These exacerbated effector functions were associated with a fraction of ICAM-1-positive neutrophils, which were induced by ACPA high SF. Likewise, in in vivo, we could also detect this subset among neutrophils present in ACPA high SF. In conclusion, the data presented here shed light on the role of SF-ACPAs as inductors of a proinflammatory profile in neutrophils.

Redescription of two species of Coelotanypus (Kieffer) 1913 (Diptera: Chironomidae) in rivers of the Parano-Platense basin (Argentina, South America). Paggi, Analia Constancia; Zilli, Florencia Lucila Male imagos of Coelotanypus delpontei (Edwards) are redescribed and newly figured and the immature stages are described and figured for the first time. During this study, male imagos of C. mendax (Lynch Arribalzaga) are also redescribed.The specimens were collected from the Paraná and near Uruguay rivers in the Parano-Platense basin.

ECG parameters to predict left ventricular electrical delay Bonomini, Maria Paula; Ortega, Daniel F.; Barja, Luis D.; Logarzo, Emilio; Mangani, Nicolás; Paolucci, Analía Aims: Left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony lengthens the left ventricular electrical delay (LVED), measured from QRS onset to the first peak of the LV electrogram. We constructed an ECG model to predict LVED noninvasively. Methods: Intrapatient LVED was measured during a baseline vs nonselective His bundle pacing (nHBP) protocol. This setup provided paired synchronic/non-synchronic LVEDs, allowing intrapatient comparisons. Crosscorrelation of leads II and V 6 was accomplished and extracted features together with age and gender fed a linear mixed effects model to predict LVED. Results: Hemodynamic increments were consistent with LVED advances under nHBP in a subset of 17 patients (dP/dt max , baseline: 938.82 ± 241.95 mm Hg/s vs nHBP: 1034.94 ± 253.63 mm Hg/s, p = 6.24e-4). The inclusion of the area under V 6 (A V 6 ) and the time shift of R-peaks obtained from the crosscorrelation signal (Cor S ) grouped by patient significantly improved LVED estimation with respect to the model based only on QRS duration, age and gender (p = 1.7e-5). Conclusions: Interlead ECG changes explained LVED, providing clues about the electrical impulse conduction within the left ventricle noninvasively.

Objetivos y políticas para la inserción internacional de la Argentina Lopez, Andres Flavio; Pascuini, Paulo Daniel Existe consenso respecto de que la Argentina debe profundizar su integración en la economía mundial, aunque menos acuerdo sobre los objetivos y mecanismos específicos para alcanzar dicha integración. En particular, se requiere diversificar y mejorar la `calidad´ del patrón exportador, a la vez que proveer de tiempo y asistencia a los sectores que requieren una transformación en un escenario de mayor apertura. En un contexto caracterizado por profundas heterogeneidades en el aparato productivo local, las estrategias de integración deben atender las diferentes realidades de cada actividad en cuanto a la distancia con la frontera internacional, el tipo de agentes dominantes y las morfologías y formas de competencia en el mercado, entre otros factores. Dichas estrategias también han de considerar los impactos esperados no solo sobre el comercio exterior, sino también sobre la dinámica de la productividad y el cambio tecnológico, así como en el empleo y la equidad. Este trabajo apunta a contribuir al debate acerca de estos temas a través de la elaboración de un ?tablero de políticas? que identifica tanto los componentes de las estrategias disponibles para diferentes tipos de sectores, como sus posibles interacciones y jerarquías. Asimismo, aporta ideas acerca de los aspectos institucionales involucrados en la definición e implementación de una nueva estrategia de inserción internacional para la Argentina.; There is a broad consensus that Argentina must deepen its integration in the world economy, though less agreement exists on the specific objectives and mechanisms to achieve it. In particular it is necessary to diversify and improve the “quality” of the export basket, while simultaneously provide time and assistance to the sectors that require adapting their business to be able to compete in a more open economy. In a scenario characterized by a heterogeneous local productive structure, integration strategies must address the different realities of each activity in terms of the gap to the international frontier, the characteristics of dominant incumbent agents, markets morphologies and forms of competition, among other factors. These stra-tegies must consider the expected impacts not just on foreign trade, but also on the dynamics of productivity and technological change, as well as on employment and income distribution. This article aims to contribute to the debate on these issues through the elaboration of a “policy board” that identifies both, the different components of available strategies for different types of sectors, as well as the possible interactions and hierar-chies among the abovementioned components. It also provides ideas on the institutional conditions involved in the definition and implementation of a new strategy for Argentinaʼs integration in the world economy.

Paleomagnetismo del Grupo Santa Victoria en la sierra de Mojotoro, Salta: aportes a la reconstrucción paleogeográfica de Pampia en el Paleozoico Temprano Rodriguez Piceda Constanza; Franceschinis, Pablo Reinaldo; Escayola Mónica; Rapalini Augusto Estudios sedimentológicos, de magnetofábrica y paleomagnéticos fueron realizados en la Formación La Pedrera (Grupo Santa Victoria) de edad ordovícica temprana en la sierra de Mojotoro, provincia de Salta. Estos estudios tienen el objetivo de contribuir al conocimiento de la posición paleogeográfica del bloque de Pampia durante el Paleozoico temprano en relación al supercontinente de Gondwana. Se coleccionaron muestras orientadas en 12 sitios distribuidos en tres localidades. Estos afloramientos consisten en depósitos de plataforma media a proximal de composición principalmente cuarcítica. Los estudios de anisotropía de susceptibilidad magnética (AMS) sugieren una fábrica depositacional en una de las localidades, mientras que en las otras dos no se puede descartar una cierta influencia tectónica en la fábrica. El estudio paleomagnético permitió determinar una componente magnética característica portada por hematita en los 12 sitios. A partir del promedio de los polos geomagnéticos virtuales de cada sitio, se obtuvo un polo paleomagnético para el Grupo Santa Victoria en estas localidades que se ubica en 340,4°E 38,3°N A95=8,8°. La posición de este polo sugiere que ninguna de las tres localidades sufrió rotaciones tectónicas de significación por la orogenia andina o eventos anteriores. Sin embargo, presenta una paleolatitud algo más baja que la esperada según los polos de referencia de similar edad para el Gondwana. Ensayos de magnetizaciones isotérmicas direccionadas sugieren que esta diferencia no se debería a errores de inclinación por compactación. Por su parte, el polo del Grupo Santa Victoria discrepa con los polos obtenidos para el Grupo Mesón (Cámbrico medio a superior) y la Formación Santa Rosita (Ordovícico basal), al norte de la zona de estudio, pero en la misma región. Estas discrepancias se pueden adjudicar a la posible presencia de rotaciones tectónicas andinas según ejes verticales en las localidades ubicadas al norte de la zona de trabajo o bien indicar que el movimiento de Pampia a lo largo del margen del Cratón del Río de la Plata ya habría concluido o estaba próximo a concluir en el Ordovícico Temprano.

Changes in the feeding ecology of South American sea lions on the southern Brazilian coast over the last two decades of excessive fishing exploration Machado, Rodrigo; Rosa de Oliveira, Larissa; Ott, Paulo Henrique; Denuncio, Pablo Ezequiel; Haimovici, Manuel; Cardoso, Luis Gustavo; Danilewicz, Daniel; Moreno, Ignacio Benites; Borges-Martins, Márcio In the last decades, an increasing fishing effort and a decreasing trend in fish catches have been observed in southern Brazil. Considering that marine mammals and fisheries usually compete for the same resources, it is reasonable to presume that the feeding ecology of these predators is affected by the current scenario. To evaluate this hypothesis, long-term variation in the diet of the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) relative to fisheries exploitation was analyzed for two periods (1993–2003 versus 2004–2014). The degree of overlap between the relative biomass of the sea lions’ diet and the target species of six types of local fishery was analyzed. An increase in prey overlap between sea lions and fisheries was observed in the more recent sampling period, along with an increase in prey diversity, richness, and niche breadth of the sea lions’ diet. These results suggest that the overfishing scenario could partly explain the modified feeding ecology of the sea lions. In this context, we recommend a review and better regulation of the current fishing effort in the region, which we believe will be an important step to maintain the fish stocks and minimize the impact of fishing on marine top predators.

Light on the horizon: Current research and future perspectives in flow photochemistry Politano, Fabrizio; Oksdath Mansilla, Gabriela Synthetic organic photochemistry is a powerful tool for creating both natural products and molecules with high structural complexity in a simple way and under mild conditions. However, because of the challenges in scaling-up, it has been difficult to apply a photochemical reaction in an industrial process. Flow chemistry provides an opportunity for better control over the conditions of the reaction and, additionally, improved reaction selectivity and enhanced reproducibility. Taking into account that significant interest has focused on the use of flow photochemistry as a method for the synthesis of heterocycles and its applications in target-oriented synthesis over the past few years, the aim of this review is to highlight recent efforts to apply flow photochemistry methodology to diverse reactions as a greener and more scalable process for the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. Additionally, the review highlights future perspectives in the development of scale-up strategies, combining photochemical reactions in the continuous-flow multistep synthesis of organic molecules, which is of interest for scientists and engineers alike.

High Triatoma brasiliensis densities and Trypanosoma cruzi prevalence in domestic and peridomestic habitats in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil: The source for Chagas disease outbreaks? Lilioso, Mauricio; Folly Ramos, Elaine; Rocha, Fabiana Lopes; Rabinovich, Jorge Eduardo; Capdevielle Dulac, Claire; Harry, Myriam; Marcet, Paula Lorena; Costa, Jane; Almeida, Carlos Eduardo A total of 2,431 Triatoma brasiliensis were collected from 39 populations of Paraíba (PB) and Rio Grande do Norte (RN) states, Brazil. In PB, Trypanosoma cruzi infection was not detected in either peridomestic or domestic vector populations. In contrast, in RN, T. brasiliensis was detected with high parasite prevalence in these ecotopes (30.7-40.0%). Moreover, peridomicile insect population densities were more than double the average densities of all other settings evaluated (19.17 versus < 8.94 triatomine/man-hour). Genotyped parasites evidenced a mix of T. cruzi lineages circulating in both peridomestic and sylvatic populations. Although vector control efforts have dramatically decreased Chagas disease transmission to humans, recent outbreaks have been detected in four municipalities of RN state. Our results clearly evidence a worrisome proximity between infected vectors and humans in RN. Indeed, finding of infected T. brasiliensis inside homes is routinely recorded by local vector control surveillance staff around the outbreak area, challenging the current and conventional view that vector transmissions are controlled in northeastern Brazil. This scenario calls for strengthening vector control surveillance and interventions to prevent further Chagas transmission, especially in RN State.