The comings and goings of sheep and pottery in the coastal desert of Namaqualand, South Africa Dewar, Genevieve; Marsh, Erik Johnson This paper evaluates chronological trends in the presence and absence of domestic animal bone (sheep, goat, and cattle) and pottery in Namaqualand, the proposed gateway to the rest of South Africa for early herders or hunter-gatherers with sheep and ceramics. We update date calibrations with local ΔR corrections and mixtures of recent calibration curves and include five previously unpublished dates. We use histograms of calibrated medians, sorted in 100-year bins, to assess sustained regional patterns with dates associated with domestic animal bone and pottery (n = 73). While too small to be useful as a population proxy, the current set of dates does reveal three pulses of occupation separated by two clear gaps, which we evaluate with a Bayesian model of three sequential phases. The model's boundaries are used as estimates of the dates of Early (AD 80–210), Middle (AD 490–790), and Late (AD 1180–1690) occupational phases separated by two substantial lapses of 280 and 380 years, respectively. The alternating phases of presence and absence are suggestively correlated with climate shifts, leading to a discussion of the idea that effective moisture was a crucial factor in choosing whether to occupy Namaqualand. The set of archaeological dates has greater temporal and spatial resolution than many regional climate data, so we suggest that these trends may more accurately reflect the variable conditions specific to Namaqualand, at least until they are refined by future climate research.

Los erizos del oro en la poesía de Arturo Carrera y los encuentros con los agujeros de la historia Rasic, María Eugenia En el siguiente trabajo intentaremos poner a prueba una lectura archifilológica de la obra del poeta argentino Arturo Carrera, más precisamente, de los comienzos de su escritura. Dicha lectura nos enfrentará al menos con dos inquietudes. La primera, de qué manera es posible ver aparecer la potencia del archivo en su obra poética. La segunda, qué tradiciones y qué dimensiones se activan en la obra desde esa perspectiva, tomando como punto de partida el mapa cosmológico Momento de Simetría (1973), Oro (1975) y Mi padre (1985), más allá de sus filiaciones barrocas. Entre ambas cuestiones veremos si es posible configurar un método de lectura para el armado de un recorrido histórico particular que opere con los destellos temporales o erizos dorados que la poesía deja a la vista, para volver a ser activados en otro tiempo y lugar de obra.; In the following paper we will test an archifilological reading of the work of the Argentine poet Arturo Carrera, more precisely, of the beginnings of his writing. This reading will confront us with at least two concerns. First, in what way it is possible to see the power of file appear in his poetic work. The second, what traditions and what dimensions are activated in the work from that perspective, taking as starting point the cosmological map Momento de simetría (1973), Oro (1975) and Mi padre (1985), beyond its baroque filiations. Both questions will help us see if it is possible to configure a reading method for the assembly of a particular historical tour that operates with the temporary flashes or golden urchins that the poetry leaves in sight, to be activated again in another time and place of work.

Galectins in intestinal inflammation: Galectin-1 expression delineates response to treatment in celiac disease patients Sundblad, Victoria; Quintar, Amado Alfredo; Morosi, Luciano Gastón; Niveloni, Sonia I.; Cabanne, Ana; Smecuol, Edgardo; Mauriño, Eduardo; Mariño, Karina Valeria; Bai, Julio C.; Maldonado, Cristina Alicia; Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrián Galectins, a family of animal lectins characterized by their affinity for N-acetyllactosamine-enriched glycoconjugates, modulate several immune cell processes shaping the course of innate and adaptive immune responses. Through interaction with a wide range of glycosylated receptors bearing complex branched N-glycans and core 2-O-glycans, these endogenous lectins trigger distinct signaling programs thereby controling immune cell activation, differentiation, recruitment and survival. Given the unique features of mucosal inflammation and the differential expression of galectins throughout the gastrointestinal tract, we discuss here key findings on the role of galectins in intestinal inflammation, particularly Crohn´s disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease (CeD) patients, as well as in murine models resembling these inflammatory conditions. In addition, we present new data highlighting the regulated expression of galectin-1 (Gal-1), a proto-type member of the galectin family, during intestinal inflammation in untreated and treated CeD patients. Our results unveil a substantial upregulation of Gal-1 accompanying the anti-inflammatory and tolerogenic response associated with gluten-free diet in CeD patients, suggesting a major role of this lectin in favoring resolution of inflammation and restoration of mucosal homeostasis. Thus, a coordinated network of galectins and their glycosylated ligands, exerting either anti-inflammatory or proinflammatory responses, may influence the interplay between intestinal epithelial cells and the highly specialized gut immune system in physiologic and pathologic settings.

Mudflat Use and Predation on Male Southwestern Atlantic Fiddler Crabs (Uca uruguayensis) by Gull-billed Terns (Gelochelidon nilotica) Ribeiro, Pablo Damián; Navarro, Diego; Jaureguy, Luciano M.; Iribarne, Oscar Osvaldo Gull-billed Terns (Gelochelidon nilotica) comprise a group of cosmopolitan subspecies that make use of a wide range of aquatic ecosystems and have a broad dietary spectrum. This study documents the use of a southwestern Atlantic mudflat in Argentina and depredation of the southwestern Atlantic fiddler crab (Uca uruguayensis) by Gull-billed Terns. Gull-billed Terns preyed exclusively on male fiddler crabs. This may have been due to the observed presence of Gull-billed Terns mainly between 2 and 3 hr after low tide, when more than 80% of fiddler crabs active on the surface were males. Gull-billed Terns spent 66.9% of the time flying over and feeding on fiddler crabs. Gull-billed Terns landed without feeding 9.3% of the time. Gull-billed Terns succeeded in capturing prey in 29.8% of cases. Food capture rate of Gull-billed Terns was 68.9 items/hr, which is higher than rates reported for the species feeding on fiddler crabs in Mauritania and Guinea Bissau.

New Neotropical species of Downeshelea Wirth and Grogan and redescription of D. multilineata (Lutz) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Santarém, Maria Clara Alves; Borkent, Art; Spinelli, Gustavo Ricardo; Felippe Bauer, Maria Luiza Seven new species of Downeshelea Wirth and Grogan 1988–D. casimirensis, D. costaricensis, D. eclectica, D. jarina, D. litorale, D. marambaia and D. moravia–are described and illustrated based on male and female specimens from Central and South America. The new species are compared with their similar congener D. multilineata (Lutz). A redescription of D. multilineata is presented and its neotype designated. These eight species were included in the multilineata species group, and a diagnosis and identification key are presented for each.

Effects of lysozyme on the activity of ionic of fluoroquinolone species Pérez, Hugo Alejandro; Bustos, Ana Yanina; Taranto, Maria Pia; Frías, María de los Ángeles; Ledesma, Ana Estela Fluoroquinolones (FQs) constitute an important class of biologically active broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs that are which are in contact with many biological fluids under different acidity conditions. We studied the reactivity of ciprofloxacin (Cpx) and levofloxacin (Lev) and their interaction with lysozyme (Lyz) at different pH values, using UV-visible absorption, fluorescence, infrared spectroscopies supported by DFT calculation and docking. In addition, by antimicrobial assays, the biological consequences of the interaction were evaluated. DFT calculation predicted that the FQ cationic species present at acid pH have lower stabilization energies, with an electric charge rearrangement because of their interactions with solvent molecules. NBO and frontier orbital calculations evidenced the role of two charged centers, NH 2 + and COO − , for interactions by electronic delocalization effects. Both FQs bind to Lyz via a static quenching with a higher interaction in neutral medium. The interaction induces a structural rearrangement in β-sheet content while in basic pH a protective effect against the denaturation of Lyz was inferred. The analysis of thermodynamic parameters and docking showed that hydrophobic, electrostatic forces and hydrogen bond are the responsible of Cpx-Lyz and Lev-Lyz associations. Antimicrobial assays evidenced an antagonist effect of Lyz in acid medium while in neutral medium the FQs’ activities were not modified by Lyz.

A new Pliosaurus species (Sauropterygia, Plesiosauria) from the Upper Jurassic of Patagonia: New insights on the Tithonian morphological disparity of mandibular symphyseal morphology O'gorman, Jose Patricio; Brandoni, Zulma Nelida; Spalletti, Luis Antonio Most species of the genus Pliosaurus Owen, 1842 come from the Northern Hemisphere, however, a growing number of new specimens are now available from the Southern Hemisphere. Here, a new species of Pliosaurus is described, the second for the genus from the Southern Hemisphere, collected from the upper Tithonian (Jurassic) levels of the Vaca Muerta Formation, Neuquén Province, Patagonia. Pliosaurus almanzaensis new species is characterized by two autapomophies: the angular participating in the mandibular symphysis and the occipital condyle without a notochordal pit or several, irregularly arranged grooves. Additionally, P. almanzaensis n. sp. can be differentiated from other Pliosaurus species by the following characters: trihedral teeth, nine or more symphyseal alveoli, 15-17 post-symphyseal alveoli, and the parasphenoid without a ventral keel. Pliosaurus almanzaensis n. sp. shows that Pliosaurus species with nine or more symphyseal alveoli persisted until the late Tithonian, contrary to previous assumptions that only species with six symphyseal alveoli were present.

Does the Morphology of the Forelimb Flexor Muscles Differ Between Lizards Using Different Habitats? Lowie, Aurélien; Herrel, Anthony; Abdala, Virginia Sara Luz; Manzano, Adriana Silvina; Fabre, Anne Claire Lizards are an interesting group to study how habitat use impacts the morphology of the forelimb because they occupy a great diversity of ecological niches. In this study, we specifically investigated whether habitat use impacts the morphology of the forelimb flexor muscles in lizards. To do so, we performed dissections and quantified the physiological cross sectional area (PCSA), the fiber length, and the mass of four flexor muscles in 21 different species of lizards. Our results show that only the PCSA of the m. flexor carpi radialis is different among lizards with different ecologies (arboreal versus non-arboreal). This difference disappeared, however, when taking phylogeny into account. Arboreal species have a higher m. flexor carpi radialis cross sectional area likely allowing them to flex the wrist more forcefully which may allow them climb and hold on to branches better. In contrast, other muscles are not different between arboreal and non-arboreal species. Further studies focusing on additional anatomical features of the lizard forelimb as well as studies documenting how lizards use the arboreal niche are needed to fully understand how an arboreal life style may constrain limb morphology in lizards. Anat Rec, 301:424–433, 2018.

New brachyrostran remains (Theropoda, Abelisauridae) from La Invernada fossil site (Bajo de la Carpa Formation, Upper Cretaceous), northern Patagonia, Argentina Méndez, Ariel Hernán; Filippi, Leonardo S.; Gianechini, Federico Abel; Juárez Valieri, Rubén D. Several remains of an abelisaurid theropod including a nearly complete sacral complex articulated with both ilia, the distal boot of the pubes, the furcula, teeth, and fragments of transverse processes of caudal vertebrae was discovered in the La Invernada fossil site, northern Patagonia from the Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Santonian). The sacrum exhibit features typical of abelisauroids as narrowing of the middle sacral centra, fused neural spines forming a continuous sheet and ventral bow of the sacrum, in lateral view. The furcula represents de first mention of this bone for a South American abelisaurid. The morphology observed in the transverse processes with distal end projected forward and sagittal ridge on the ventral surface allows its taxonomic assignment to the clade Brachyrostra.

The silence of the layers: Archaeological site visibility in the Pleistocene-Holocene transition at the Ebro Basin Alday, Alfonso; Domingo, Rafael; Sebastián, María; Soto, Adriana; Aranbarri, Josu; González Sampériz, Penélope; Sampietro Vattuone, Maria Marta; Utrilla, Pilar; Montes, Lourdes; Peña Monné, José Luis The Ebro Basin constitutes one of the most representative territories in SW Europe for the study of prehistoric societies during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. The correlation of palaeoenvironmental and geomorphological proxies obtained from sedimentary records with chronologically well-constrained reference archaeological sites has allowed defining this time frame precisely, such that three main pilot areas haven been broadly depicted: the Alavese region, the Pre-Pyrenees and the Bajo Aragón. Overall, the human imprint in the Ebro Basin was rare during the Upper Palaeolithic, but more visible from the Upper Magdalenian (14500–13500 cal BP) to Neolithic times (up to 5500 cal BP). Local environmental resources were continuously managed by the prehistoric communities in the different areas of study. In fact, the Ebro Basin acted during those millennia as a whole, developing the same cultural trends, industrial techniques and settlement patterns in parallel throughout the territory. However, some gaps exist in the 14C frequency curve (SCDPD curve). This is partially related to prehistoric sites in particular lithologies and geological structures that could have partly been lost by erosional processes, especially during the Early Holocene. In addition, this gap also parallels the reconstructed climate trend for the Pre-Pyrenean and the Bajo Aragón areas, which are defined by high frequencies of xerophilous flora until ca. 9500 cal BP, suggesting that continental climate features could have hampered the presence of well-established human communities in inland regions. The interdisciplinary research (archaeology, geomorphology and palaeoclimatology) discussed in this paper offers clues to understand the existence of fills and gaps in the archaeological record of the Ebro Basin, and can be applied in other territories with similar geographic and climate patterns.

B cells producing type i IFN modulate macrophage polarization in tuberculosis Bénard, Alan; Sakwa, Imme; Schierloh, Luis Pablo; Colom, André; Mercier, Ingrid; Tailleux, Ludovic; Jouneau, Luc; Boudinot, Pierre; Al Saati, Talal; Lang, Roland; Rehwinkel, Jan; Loxton, Andre G.; Kaufmann, Stefan H. E.; Anton Leberre, Veronique; O'Garra, Anne; Sasiain, María del Carmen; Gicquel, Brigitte; Fillatreau, Simon; Neyrolles, Olivier; Hudrisier, Denis In addition to their well-known function as antibody-producing cells, B lymphocytes can markedly influence the course of infectious or noninfectious diseases via antibody-independent mechanisms. In tuberculosis (TB), B cells accumulate in lungs, yet their functional contribution to the host response remains poorly understoo

Narrativas del cine ambiental en Buenos Aires: ¿Discursos expertos o enfoques alternativos?; Narratives of the environmental films in Buenos Aires: Expert’s speeches or alternative approaches? Fernandez Bouzo, Maria Soledad El presente artículo analiza y compara las principales narrativas que los distintos dispositivos institucionales de cine ambiental ponen en circulación en Buenos Aires a través de sus películas documentales. Las preguntas clave son: ¿qué tipo de narrativas y enfoques del ambientalismo movilizan tales dispositivos?, ¿a través de qué argumentos lo hacen?, ¿predominan en ellos discursos expertos que confían en la potencialidad de ciertos cambios culturales y/o en las innovaciones científico-tecnológicas dentro de las economías capitalistas globales?, ¿o más bien encontramos enfoques alternativos que cuestionan las bases mismas del capitalismo en la actualidad? Con el fin de contestar los interrogantes, llevamos adelante un análisis sociológico en dos niveles: uno de orden institucional, orientado a caracterizar las redes de actores que se conforman alrededor de los dispositivos de cine ambiental, y otro nivel de carácter narrativo, cuyo objetivo es rastrear los distintos enfoques y discursos sobre la cuestión ambiental.; This article analyzes and compares the main narratives circulated by different environmental film institutional devices in Buenos Aires through their documentary films. The key questions are: What type of narratives and approaches of environmentalism mobilize such devices? Which arguments are used? Are they dominated by expert’s speeches which rely on the potential of certain cultural changes and/or science and technology innovations within global capitalist economies? Or rather are they alternative approaches questioning the very foundations of capitalism today? In order to answer those questions, we conducted a sociological analysis on two levels: an institutional one, aimed at characterizing the networks of actors that are formed around the environmental film devices, and a narrative one, the purpose of which is to track the main speeches and approaches on the environmental issue.

Residuos dinámicamente importantes en la diversidad conformacional de proteínas Saldaño, Tadeo Enrique Las propiedades de flexibilidad y dinámica de las proteínas han sido desde hace tiempo asociadas a sus funciones biológicas. Estas propiedades han sido originalmente usadas para explicar la heterogeneidad de las propiedades de unión de la seroalbúmina bovina por Kurush en 1950 y su descripción formal fue incluida en el clásico modelo de Monod-Wyman-Changeux de regulación alostérica, también conocido como modelo de pre-equilibrio. Actualmente está bien establecido que la forma funcional de una proteína, normalmente conocida como el estado nativo, no es única. El concepto de “embudo” propuesto por Wolynes et al. en 1995 ha sido utilizado para explicar los canales de plegamiento de las proteínas considerando un “fondo de potencial rugoso” representando al conjunto de isómeros conformacionales. El grado de la diversidad conformacional de una proteína puede entonces relacionarse con la extensión de la “rugosidad del fondo del embudo”. La distribución de los confórmeros en este potencial ha sido previamente asociada al plegamiento, la historia evolutiva, y la presencia de ciertas mutaciones. Actualmente, los conceptos antes mencionados han derivado en la noción de la preexistencia de poblaciones de confórmeros en equilibrio dinámico (dinamismo) sobre la superficie de energía potencial de una proteína. Este equilibrio dinámico soporta la hipótesis de la unión del ligando a una conformación específica de mayor afinidad y ofrece una visión central que permite explicar la función biológica. La dinámica vibracional intramolecular asociada a cada conformación garantiza las transiciones conformacionales que, debido a su importancia, podrían estar asociadas con rasgos conservados evolutivamente. El análisis de modos normales, basado en un modelo de “grano grueso” de la proteína, puede proporcionar la información necesaria para explorar estas características. En la primer parte de la tesis presentamos un nuevo procedimiento para identificar residuos en posiciones clave para el mantenimiento de la diversidad conformacional asociada a la unión al ligando. El método se aplicó a un conjunto de 188 pares de estructuras de proteínas, cristalizadas con y sin ligando. En primer lugar, se seleccionaron los modos normales implicados en el cambio conformacional de acuerdo con las distorsiones estructurales introducidas por unión al ligando. El subespacio definido por estos modos se utilizó para analizar el efecto de mutaciones puntuales en la conservación de la diversidad conformacional de la proteína. Definimos las posiciones cuyas mutaciones alteran en mayor medida estos subespacios como posiciones claves, es decir, son residuos dinámicamente importantes que median el cambio conformacional de unión al ligando. Encontramos una correlación negativa entre la conservación evolutiva de los residuos de una proteína y el impacto de sus mutaciones sobre los subespacios de modos normales asociados a la unión del ligando. Estas posiciones se muestran conservadas evolutivamente, en su mayoría son residuos con baja exposición al solvente, alifáticos y localizados en estructuras regulares de la proteína como hoja-β y hélice-α . Durante la segunda etapa del doctorado, combinamos la información obtenida de métodos basados en propiedades estructurales y dinámicas de proteínas con información relacionada con redes de interacciones de residuos. La representación de la estructura proteica como red facilita la búsqueda de determinantes topológicos, que pueden estar relacionados con residuos funcionalmente importantes. Cada estructura proteica de nuestro set de estudio se representó como una red de contacto de residuos y se realizó un análisis exhaustivo de las propiedades de la red. Se analizaron tres parámetros topológicos de redes, Grado, Centralidad de Intermediación y Proximidad Central. Particularmente los últimos dos se han previamente utilizado en diversos trabajos para identificar residuos funcionales ya que la Centralidad de Intermediación refleja el control que ejerce un nodo sobre las interacciones de otros nodos en la red y la Proximidad Central se asocia a cuan rápido se propaga la información desde un nodo dado a otros nodos alcanzables en la red. Estudiamos la correlación de estos parámetros topológicos de redes con nuestro parámetro para definir mutaciones que alteran en mayor medida el subespacio de modos normales asociado a la unión al ligando. Además, analizamos la correlación entre la conservación evolutiva y el área de accesibilidad al solvente, con estos parámetros topológicos. Encontramos una buena correlación entre los efectos de las mutaciones en los subespacios de modos normales asociados a la unión del ligando y los parámetros topológicos de redes. Estos parámetros han sido utilizados para predecir con éxito sitios activos o sitios funcionales en varias proteínas. Esto apoya nuestro método para detectar residuos dinámicamente importantes que median el cambio conformacional de unión al ligando. Determinamos que los residuos dinámicamente relevantes tienden a estar interconectados, por lo que es posible definir redes de residuos que modulan dinámicamente los cambios conformacionales. Como etapa final de la tesis, exploramos las posiciones claves que sustentan la estabilidad dinámica de la estructura homotetramérica de la Transtiretina Humana. El estado nativo de la Transtiretina presenta dos sitios de unión a la hormona tiroxina, que son generados por la interfaz dímero-dímero, mediante interacciones débiles. La disociación de la estructura tetramérica es el primer paso del proceso de formación de fibrillas de amiloide. Un gran número de mutaciones puntuales por desestabilizar la estructura cuaternaria del tetrámero muestran efectos pro-amiloidogénicos. Basándonos en el análisis de modos normales y su respuesta a las perturbaciones locales hemos identificado las posiciones cuyas mutaciones alteran en mayor medida la dinámica de equilibrio del tetrámero de Transtiretina. Encontramos que estas posiciones están localizadas principalmente en las hojas-β E y F, del monómero de Transtiretina y el loop entre estas estructuras secundarias. Determinamos que la interfase monómero-monómero es una de las regiones más vulnerables, ya que mutaciones en residuos de esta región conducen a cambios significativos en la dinámica de equilibrio del tetrámero y, por lo tanto, favorece la disociación de la estructura. Además, hemos encontrado que las mutaciones en los residuos localizados en la interfaz dímero-dímero y/o en el sitio de unión a la hormona tiroxina desestabilizan al tetrámero más que el promedio. La unión de la tiroxina estabiliza la estructura tetramérica estableciendo interacciones con los residuos en la interfaz dímero-dímero. Debido a esto se han propuesto varios compuestos como drogas en la terapia de la amiloidosis por Transtiretina, siendo clave la afinidad por el sitio unión del tetrámero, y por tanto, la contribución a la integridad de la estructura. Comparamos varios compuestos de acuerdo a su efecto sobre las vibraciones asociadas a la unión del ligando. Discutimos y analizamos nuestra comparación de drogas en términos de parámetros y mediciones asociadas a las afinidades de unión al ligando y la estabilización del estado nativo del tetrámero de Transtiretina. A pesar de la presencia en el tetrámero de dos sitios de unión idénticos, la unión de la tiroxina en solución se caracteriza por una fuerte cooperatividad negativa. La flexibilidad estructural del tetrámero, simulada mediante el análisis de modos normales, expuso patrones vibratorios asimétricos en ambos dímeros. Las fluctuaciones térmicas revelan diferencias en el tamaño y la flexibilidad de las cavidades de unión de los ligandos en la interfaz dímero-dímero. Es decir, pequeñas diferencias estructurales entre los dímeros, o monómeros pueden conducir a diferencias funcionales significativas en la dinámica del tetrámero de Transtiretina.

Distribution of anisakid nematodes parasitizing rajiform skates under commercial exploitation in the Southwestern Atlantic Irigoitia, Manuel Marcial; Braicovich, Paola Elizabeth; Lanfranchi, Ana Laura; Farber, Marisa Diana; Timi, Juan Tomas In order to evaluate the infestation by anisakids present in elasmobranchs and their distribution in the Argentine Sea, this study was carried at a regional scale with the following aims: 1) to identify those anisakid species present in skates under exploitation; 2) to characterize quantitatively these infestations and 3) to determine those factors driving the variability in parasite burdens across skate species. A total of 351 skates, belonging to 3 species (218 Sympterygia bonapartii, 86 Zearaja chilensis and 47 Atlantoraja castelnaui) and from different localities of the Argentine Sea were examined for anisakids. Parasites were found in the stomach wall at high prevalence in some samples. Based on morphology and mtDNA cox2 sequences analyses (from 24 larval worms), specimens were identified as Anisakis berlandi, A. pegreffii and Pseudoterranova cattani; the last two known as potentially pathogenic for humans. Differential distribution patterns were observed across parasite and hosts species. In general, fish caught in southern and deeper waters exhibited higher loads of Anisakis spp., whereas infestation levels by P. cattani increase in larger skates. Taking into account that the mere presence of worms or their antigens in fish meat can provoke allergic responses, information on distribution of parasites and their variability is essential for the implementation of food safety practices.

"Sweeter than a rose", at least to Triatoma phyllosoma complex males (Triatominae: Reduviidae) May Concha, Irving Jesus; Cruz López, Leopoldo C.; Rojas, Julio C.; Ramsey, Janine Background: The Triatoma phyllosoma complex of Trypanosoma cruzi vectors (Triatominae: Reduviidae) is distributed in both Neotropical and Nearctic bioregions of Mexico. Methods: Volatile organic compounds emitted by disturbed Triatoma longipennis, Triatoma pallidipennis and Triatoma phyllosoma, and from their Brindley's and metasternal glands, were identified using solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: Disturbed bugs and the metasternal glands from T. phyllosoma released or had significantly fewer compounds than T. longipennis and T. pallidipennis. Isobutyric acid was the most abundant compound secreted by disturbed bugs of the three species, while Brindley's glands of all species produced another four compounds: propanoic acid, isobutyric acid, pentyl butanoate, and 2-methyl hexanoic acid. Two novel compounds, both rose oxide isomers, were produced in MGs and released only by disturbed females of all three species, making this the first report in Triatominae of these monoterpenes. The principal compound in MGs of both sexes of T. longipennis and T. phyllosoma was 3-methyl-2-hexanone, while cis-rose oxide was the principal compound in T. pallidipennis females. The major components in male effluvia of T. pallidipennis were 2-decanol and 3-methyl-2-hexanone. Conclusion: Discriminant analysis of volatile organic compounds was significant, separating the three species and was consistent with morphological and genetic evidence for species distinctions within the complex.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as nuclear donors improve viability and health of cloned horses Olivera, R.; Moro, Lucía Natalia; Jordan, R.; Pallarols, N.; Guglielminetti, A.; Luzzani, Carlos Daniel; Miriuka, Santiago Gabriel; Vichera, Gabriel Damian Introduction: Cell plasticity is crucial in cloning to allow an efficient nuclear reprogramming and healthy offspring. Hence, cells with high plasticity, such as multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), may be a promising alternative for horse cloning. In this study, we evaluated the use of bone marrow-MSCs (BM-MSCs) as nuclear donors in horse cloning, and we compared the in vitro and in vivo embryo development with respect to fibroblasts. Materials and methods: Zona-free nuclear transfer was performed using BM-MSCs (MSC group, n=3432) or adult fibroblasts (AF group, n=4527). Embryos produced by artificial insemination (AI) recovered by uterine flushing and transferred to recipient mares were used as controls (AI group). Results: Blastocyst development was higher in the MSC group than in the AF group (18.1% vs 10.9%, respectively; p<0.05). However, pregnancy rates and delivery rates were similar in both cloning groups, although they were lower than in the AI group (pregnancy rates: 17.7% [41/232] for MSC, 12.5% [37/297] for AF and 80.7% [71/88] for AI; delivery rates: 56.8% [21/37], 41.5% [17/41] and 90.1% [64/71], respectively). Remarkably, the gestation length of the AF group was significantly longer than the control (361.7}10.9 vs 333.9}8.7 days), in contrast to the MSC group (340.6}8.89 days). Of the total deliveries, 95.2% (20/21) of the MSC-foals were viable, compared to 52.9% (9/17) of the AF-foals (p<0.05). In addition, the AF-foals had more physiological abnormalities at birth than the MSC-foals; 90.5% (19/21) of the MSC-delivered foals were completely normal and healthy, compared to 35.3% (6/17) in the AF group. The abnormalities included flexural or angular limb deformities, umbilical cord enlargement, placental alterations and signs of syndrome of neonatal maladjustment, which were treated in most cases. Conclusion: In summary, we obtained 29 viable cloned foals and found that MSCs are suitable donor cells in horse cloning. Even more, these cells could be more efficiently reprogrammed compared to fibroblasts.

Perfil psicológico deportivo en una muestra de triatletas amateurs y diferencias con otros deportes; Sports psychological profile in a sample of amateur triathletes and differences with other sports; Perfil psicológico de esportes em uma amostra de triatletas amadores e diferenças com outros esportes Reigal, Rafael Enrique; Delgado Giralt, Joaquín Eleazar; Raimundi, María Julia; Hernández Mendo, Antonio El propósito de este trabajo fue evaluar el perfil psicológico de una muestra de triatletas amateurs y compararlo con deportistas de otras modalidades: atletismo, fútbol y golf. Participaron en el estudio 520 deportistas: 72 triatletas con edades entre los 19 y 45 años (M= 34.90; DT= 6.97), 109 atletas con edades entre los 18 y 41 años (M=27.71; DT= 6.25), 252 futbolistas con edades entre los 18 y 42 años (M=30.62; DT= 6.92) y 87 golfistas con edades entre los 18 y 44 años (M=27.21; DT= 7.55). Se utilizó el Inventario Psicológico de Ejecución Deportiva (IPED) para realizar el perfil psicológico de los participantes. Los análisis pusieron de manifiesto que el grupo de triatletas tuvo mayores puntuaciones que los atletas en control de afrontamiento negativo y positivo, control atencional, nivel motivacional y control actitudinal. También mostraron mayores puntuaciones que los futbolistas en control de afrontamiento negativo y positivo. Respecto a los golfistas, puntuaron más en todos los factores del IPED menos en nivel motivacional. En general, se aprecian puntuaciones más elevadas en triatletas que en el resto de deportes analizados.; The purpose of this work was to evaluate the psychological profile of a sample of amateur triathletes and compare it with athletes of other modalities: athletics, soccer and golf. 520 athletes participated in the study: 72 triathletes with ages between 19 and 45 years (M = 34.90, SD = 6.97), 109 athletes aged between 18 and 41 years (M = 27.71, DT = 6.25), 252 players with ages between 18 and 42 (M = 30.62; SD = 6.92) and 87 golfers with ages between 18 and 44 years (M = 27.21; SD = 7.55). The Psychological Inventory of Sports Performance (IPED) was used to perform the psychological profile of the participants. The analyzes showed that the group of triathletes had higher scores than the athletes in control of negative and positive coping, attentional control, motivational level and attitudinal control. They also showed higher scores than the players in control of negative and positive coping. Regarding the golfers, they scored more in all the factors of the IPED less in motivational level. In general, higher scores are seen in triathletes than in the other sports analyzed.; O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o perfil psicológico de uma amostra de triatletas amador e compará-la com atletas de outras modalidades: atletismo, futebol e golfe. 520 atletas participaram do estudo: 72 triatletas com idade entre 19 e 45 anos (M = 34,90, DP = 6,97), 109 atletas com idade entre 18 e 41 anos (M = 27,71, DT = 6,25), 252 jogadores com idade entre 18 e 42 (M = 30,62; SD = 6,92) e 87 golfistas com idade entre 18 e 44 anos (M = 27,21; SD = 7,55). O Inventário Psicológico do Desempenho Desportivo (IPED) foi utilizado para realizar o perfil psicológico dos participantes. As análises mostraram que o grupo de triatletas teve pontuações mais altas do que os atletas no controle de enfrentamentos negativos e positivos, controle de atenção, nível motivacional e controle atitudinal. Eles também apresentaram pontuações mais altas do que os jogadores no controle de enfrentamentos negativos e positivos. Quanto aos golfistas, eles marcaram mais em todos os fatores do IPED menos em nível motivacional. Em geral, pontuações mais altas são observadas nos triatletas do que nos outros esportes analisados.

Mutation of Agr Is Associated with the Adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to the Host during Chronic Osteomyelitis Suligoy Lozano, Carlos Mauricio; Lattar, Santiago Martín; Noto Llana, Mariangeles; Gonzalez, Cintia Daniela; Alvarez, Lucía Paula; Robinson, D. Ashley; Gómez, Marisa Ileana; Buzzola, Fernanda Roxana; Sordelli, Daniel Oscar Selection pressures exerted on Staphylococcus aureus by host factors may lead to the emergence of mutants better adapted to theevolving conditions at the infection site. This study was aimed at identifying the changes that occur in S. aureus exposed to thehost defense mechanisms during chronic osteomyelitis and evaluating whether these changes affect the virulence of the organism.Genome assessment of two S. aureus isolates collected 13 months apart (HU-85a and HU-85c) from a host with chronicosteomyelitis was made by full genome sequencing. Agr functionality was assessed by qRT-PCR. Isolates were tested in a rat modelof osteomyelitis and the bacterial load (CFU/tibia) and the morphometric osteomyelitic index (OI) were determined. The ability ofthe isolates to trigger the release of proinflammatory cytokines was determined on macrophages in culture. Persistence of S.aureus within the host resulted in an agrC frameshift mutation that likely led to the observed phenotype. The capacity to causebone tissue damage and trigger proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages of the agr-deficient, unencapsulated derivative(HU-85c) was decreased when compared with those of the isogenic CP8-capsulated parental strain (HU-85a). By comparison, nosignificant differences were found in the bacterial load or the OI from rats challenged with isogenic Reynolds strains [CP5, CP8 andnon-typeable (NT)], indicating that lack of CP expression alone was not likely responsible for the reduced capacity to cause tissuedamage in HU-85c compared with HU-85a. The production of biofilm was significantly increased in the isogenic derivative HU-85c.Lack of agr-dependent factors makes S. aureus less virulent during chronic osteomyelitis and alteration of the agr functionalityseems to permit better adaptation of S. aureus to the chronically infected host.

Water Resource Distribution and Tectonics in the Tulum Valley, Western Central Argentina Rodríguez, Aixa Inés; Martínez, Myriam Patricia; Abarca, María Graciela A gravimetric analyse over the Tulum Valley was made. This data was used to reveal the tectonic structures in the Valley. Gravity data was processed using upward continuation and vertical derivative filters and all the results were compared with drainage systems and groundwater maps of the area. Both groundwater and surface-water are highly demanded resources due to theirscarcity. The drainage network and groundwater are influenced by tectonic structures in the Tulum valley. In the piedmont of the Sierra Chica de Zonda the broom-shaped river pattern correspond to Quaternary faults. While in the central Tulum Valley, the depocenter basin is a water recipient, the groundwater table permanently close to the surface and they are considered discharge. The depocenter is linked to paleo-swamps and wetlands in a pastwetter environment. In the Tulum fault systems area, streams adapt its drainagenetwork bordering basements blocks uplifts. In turn, the blocks uplift behavesas a hydrogeological barrier for the groundwater basin. Also, in the alluvial fan of San Juan River the free aquifer is affected by a Tertiary uplift block.From this study, it was concluded that tectonic structures control surface and groundwater resources in the Tulum Valley.

Vaccine potential of antigen cocktails composed of recombinant Toxoplasma gondii TgPI-1, ROP2 and GRA4 proteins against chronic toxoplasmosis in C3H mice Picchio, Mariano Sergio; Sánchez, Vanesa Roxana; Arcon, Nadia; Soto, Ariadna Soledad; Perrone Sibilia, Matias; Aldirico, María de Los Ángeles; Urrutia, Mariela; Moretta, Rosalia Ester; Fenoy, Ignacio Martín; Goldman, Alejandra; Martín, Valentina The development of an effective and safe vaccine to prevent Toxoplasma gondii infection is an important aim due to the great clinical and economic impact of this parasitosis. We have previously demonstrated that immunization with the serine protease inhibitor-1 (TgPI-1) confers partial protection to C3H/HeN and C57BL/6 mice. In order to improve the level of protection, in this work, we combined this novel antigen with ROP2 and/or GRA4 recombinant proteins (rTgPI-1+rROP2, rTgPI-1+rGRA4, rTgPI-1+rROP2+rGRA4) to explore the best combination against chronic toxoplasmosis in C3H/HeN mice. All tested vaccine formulations, administered following a homologous prime-boost protocol that combines intradermal and intranasal routes, conferred partial protection as measured by the reduction of brain cyst burden following oral challenge with tissue cysts of Me49 T. gondii strain. The highest level of protection was achieved by the mixture of rTgPI-1 and rROP2 proteins with an average parasite burden reduction of 50% compared to the unvaccinated control group. The vaccine-induced protective effect was related to the elicitation of systemic cellular and humoral immune responses that included antigen-specific spleen cell proliferation, the release of Th1/Th2 cytokines, and the generation of antigen-specific antibodies in serum. Additionally, mucosal immune responses were also induced, characterized by secretion of antigen-specific IgA antibodies in intestinal lavages and specific mesenteric lymph node cell proliferation. Our results demonstrate that rTgPI-1+rROP2 antigens seem a promising mixture to be combined with other immunogenic proteins in a multiantigenic vaccine formulation against toxoplasmosis.