De infancias, tiempos y existencias: habitar los espacios del «quando infante»; Daydream on a childhood with the clay; De infâncias, tempos e existências: habitar os espaços do «quando infante» Argumedo, Malvina Este trabajo propone una serie de reflexiones en torno a las ideas de tiempo y existencia desde el pensamiento de Emmanuel Levinas, poniéndolas en diálogo con una suerte de aventura poética que Manoel de Barros encarna en su narrativa, como una travesía de la memoria por el tiempo y espacio de la infancia. Partimos de la pregunta por la posibilidad de habitar el propio tiempo de la existencia como una vuelta a un tiempo infantil nuevo y actualizable, a un ser infante como comienzo de otros modos de ser, y proponemos una invitación a recrear las posibles variaciones entre el tiempo como temporalidad y sus relaciones con la alteridad y la educación. El tiempo pensado aquí remite también a la idea de acontecimiento como espacio propicio para la experiencia, como oportunidad para otros modos de pensar lo temporal desvinculado de intencionalidades prescriptas y anticipaciones, un espacio conmovido frente a lo radicalmente Otro, en el sentido levinasiano que entiende al tiempo como un ?ensanchamiento? de la existencia individual y como una apertura al Otro y a lo Otro como parte de la propia relación con la alteridad. Estos temas se piensan a su vez, atravesados por experiencias, miradas y sentires nacidos de contextos escolares de trabajo con niños y niñas hospitalizados/as, donde nos interrogamos por el acontecimiento educativo como instancia para poner en juego sentidos singulares del existir y de una experiencia temporal novedosa, donde las reflexiones en torno a la existencia y los tiempos de ser infante se conectan vitalmente al sufrimiento y la pregunta ética por la finitud.; This work proposes a series of reflections around the ideas of time and existence starting from the thought of Emmanuel Levinas, placing them in dialogue with a kind of poetic adventure that Manoel de Barros embodies in his narrative, as a crossing of memory by time and Space of childhood. We start from the question of the possibility of dwelling the very time of existence as a return to a new and actualizable child time, to an infant being as the beginning of other ways of being, and we propose an invitation to recreate the possible variations between time as temporality and its relations with otherness and education. The time thought here also refers to the idea of an event as a space conducive to experience, as an opportunity for other modes of thinking, the temporality disconnected from prescribed intentions and anticipations, a space moved before the radically Other, in the Levinasian sense that understands time as a "Widening" of individual existence and as an opening to the Other and to the Other as part of the relationship itself with otherness. These themes are, in turn, crossed by experiences, looks and feelings born of school contexts of work with hospitalized children, where we are questioned by the educational event as an instance to put into play singular senses of existence and of a novel time experience, inwhich the reflections around the existence and the times of being infant connect vitally to the suffering and the ethical question about the finitude.; Este trabalho propõe uma série de reflexões em torno das ideias de tempo existência partindo do pensamento de Emmanuel Levinas, colocando-as em diálogo com uma espécie de aventura poética que Manoel de Barros encarna em sua narrativa, como uma travessia da memória pelo tempo e espaço da infância. Partimos da pergunta pela possibilidade de habitar o próprio tempo da existência como uma volta a um tempo infantil novo e atualizável, a um ser infante como começo de outros modos de ser, e propomos um convite a recriar as possíveis variações entre o tempo como temporalidade e suas relações com a alteridade e a educação. O tempo pensado aqui remete também a ideia de acontecimento como espaço propício para a experiência, como oportunidade para outros modos de pensar o temporal desvinculado de intencionalidades prescritas e antecipações, um espaço comovido frente ao radicalmente Outro, no sentido levinasiano que entende o tempo como um “alargamento” da existência individual e como uma apertura ao Outro e ao Outro como parte da própria relação com a alteridade. Estes temas se pensam, por sua vez, atravessados por experiências, olhares e sentires nascidos de contextos escolares de trabalho com crianças hospitalizados/as, onde nos interrogamos pelo acontecimento educativo como instância para por em jogo sentidos singulares de existir e de uma nova experiência temporal, onde as reflexões em torno a existência e os tempos de ser infante se conectam vitalmente ao sofrimento e a pergunta ética pela finitude.

La infraestructura de gas como indicador de habitabilidad urbana: el caso del área metropolitana de Tucumán; Gas infrastructure as an indicator of urban habitability: the case of the Tucumán metropolitan area Castañeda Nordmann, Ana Laura Uno de los indicadores utilizados para evaluar condiciones de baja habitabilidad urbana es la ausencia de red de gas. Sin embargo, si se analiza la situación del Área Metropolitana de Tucumán (AMeT) dicha medición no resulta válida, debido a las actuaciones estatales implementadas desde el año 2000 -a nivel provincial- que han posibilitado llevar gas natural a casi toda el área urbana. Esto permite replantear que cuestiones como el funcionamiento de la infraestructura constituye una variable más acertada para medir condiciones de habitabilidad.El presente trabajo tiene como finalidad, por lo tanto, identificar en el AMeT aquellas áreas que presentan las condiciones de mayor vulnerabilidad en cuanto a la posibilidad de uso del servicio; tomando como base para los análisis el período 2010-2015. Para ello se utiliza una base de SIG sobre la cual se desarrollan los análisis a nivel metropolitano.Entre los resultados más significativos se encuentra que las áreas más desfavorables coinciden con las de mayor expansión urbana de los últimos años; lo cual está relacionado a la aceleración del crecimiento residencial -y por ende a niveles de consumo mayores- los que, sumados a un desfasaje en la gestión, no han permitido la satisfacción de los nuevos requerimientos.; One indicator used to evaluate urban habitability conditions is the existence of a gas network. However, if the case of the Tucumán Metropolitan Area (abbreviated AMeT in Spanish) is analyzed, this measurement is not valid due to the state actions implemented since 2000 at the provincial level that facilitated the transportation of natural gas to almost the entire urban area.This situation makes it possible to propose that the operation of the infrastructure constitutes a more appropriate variable to measure habitability conditions. The aim of this research is to identify the areas of the AMeT that demonstrate vulnerability conditions based on the use of gas service beginning with the creation of a GIS for metropolitan-level analyses. Among the significant results, it was observed that the areas with unfavorable use conditions coincide with those that have experienced the greatest urban expansion in recent years. Also, the acceleration of residential growth and energy consumption, coupled with a management gap, failed to meet new urban requirements.

Bacillus subtilis biofilm extends Caenorhabditis elegans longevity through downregulation of the insulin-like signalling pathway Donato, Veronica; Rodriguez, Juan Facundo; Cogliati, Sebastian Claudio; Bauman, Carlos; Costa, Juan Gabriel; Leñini, Cecilia Andrea; Grau, Roberto Ricardo Beneficial bacteria have been shown to affect host longevity, but the molecular mechanisms mediating such effects remain largely unclear. Here we show that formation of Bacillus subtilis biofilms increases Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan. Biofilm-proficient B. subtilis colonizes the C. elegans gut and extends worm lifespan more than biofilm-deficient isogenic strains. Two molecules produced by B. subtilis-the quorum-sensing pentapeptide CSF and nitric oxide (NO)-are sufficient to extend C. elegans longevity. When B. subtilis is cultured under biofilm-supporting conditions, the synthesis of NO and CSF is increased in comparison with their production under planktonic growth conditions. We further show that the prolongevity effect of B. subtilis biofilms depends on the DAF-2/DAF-16/HSF-1 signalling axis and the downregulation of the insulin-like signalling (ILS) pathway.

A woody plant community and tree-cacti associations change with distance to a water source in a dry Chaco forest of Argentina Trigo, Carolina Beatriz; Tálamo, Andrés; Nunez Regueiro, Mauricio Manuel; Derlindati, Enrique Javier; Marás, Gustavo Arnaldo; Barchuk, Alicia Haydee; Palavecino, Antonio In semiarid regions, livestock is concentrated around water sources generating a piosphere pattern (gradients of woody vegetation degradation with increasing proximity to water). Close to the water source, livestock may affect the composition, structure and regeneration strategies of woody vegetation. We used the proximity from a water source as a proxy of grazing pressure. Our objectives were (1) to compare woody vegetation attributes (richness, diversity, species composition, density and basal area) and ground cover between sites at two distances to a water source: near (higher grazing pressure) and far from the water source (lower grazing pressure), and (2) to quantify and compare cases of spatial association among the columnar cacti Stetsonia coryne (Salm-Dyck) Britton and Rose (Cactaceae), and the dominant tree Bulnesia sarmientoi Lorentz ex Griseb. (Zygophyllaceae). We used a paired design with eight pairs of rectangular plots distributed along a large and representative natural water source. We found lower total species richness, plant density and soil cover near than far from water source, and more cases of spatial associations between the two species studied. Our results show evidence of increased livestock impacts around water sources. However, we found no difference in terms of species composition or basal area at near versus far sites. We conclude that grazing pressure might be changing some attributes of the woody plant community, and that the association of young trees with thorny plants (grazing refuge) could be a regeneration mechanism in this semiarid forest with high grazing pressure.

Clinical and Experimental Immunomodulation 2016 Pavón, Lenin; Besedosky, Hugo; Bottasso, Oscar Adelmo; Velasco Velázquez, Marco A.; Bauer, Moisés E. Inflammatory response (IR), which is crucial in injuries or infected anatomical regions, also generates systemic effects, regulating multiple physiological processes. Those effects depend on the concentration of soluble mediators likecytokines, chemokines, and other inflammatory molecules. For example, concentrations of soluble mediators around 10nM are enough to induce a neuroendocrine response. The diverse systemic effects triggered by IR are plastic and continuously modified by fluctuations of circulatory levels ofhormones, neurotransmitters, and mediators of inflammation. These feedback loops are possible by the constitutive expression of receptors for hormones, neurotransmitters, and cytokines on leukocytes, which modulate key cellularfunctions like proliferation, differentiation, and the secretion profile.That is the reason whereby the constant research on clinical and experimental parameters that modulate is of great importance. This third special issue on clinical and experimental immunomodulation compiles a selection of high quality works on the field.

Alteration halos in the Tordillos sediment-hosted copper deposit of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina Pons, María Josefina; Franchini, Marta Beatriz; Giusiano, Adolfo Eugenio; Patrier, Patricia; Beaufort, Daniel; Impiccini, Agnes; Rainoldi, Ana Laura; Meinert, Lawrence The Tordillos sediment-hosted Cu deposit is located in the north-central sector of the Huincul High structure, in the Neuquén Basin, Argentina. It is hosted in sedimentary rocks of the Huincul Formation, an Upper Cretaceous redbed sequence deposited in a fluvial environment. Field mapping, petrography, and chemical analysis of the authigenic clay, sulfate, carbonate, and sulfide minerals at Tordillos have identified systematic variation in alteration and paragenesis with time and with respect to the main feeder zones. The alteration associated with Cu mineralization provides evidence of a multistage infiltration of fluids spatially associated with paleo-hydrocarbon migration driven by Tertiary tectonism. Early diagenesis formed hematite, kaolinite, and calcite1 that have been preserved in the reddish brown mudstones. Later influx of hydrocarbons and warm, reduced formation waters from deeper reservoir rocks is associated with dissolution of early cements and clasts and precipitation of new minerals. In the thickest paleo-channels of the Huincul Formation, dissolution of early cements (hematite, kaolinite, calcite1 and barite1) and clasts locally increased the porosity of sandstones up to 24% and destroyed hematite that changed sandstones and conglomerates from red to yellowish-grey. Bitumen impregnations are abundant along with calcite2, 3, and 4, pyrite, minor montmorillonite, quartz overgrowth, and coarse barite2 crystals with primary organic fluid inclusions at the contact with hydrocarbon tubes. The MnO enrichment of calcite in stages 3 and 4 reflects their precipitation under reduced conditions. Grey and greenish-grey sandstones with montmorillonite, V-hematite, smectite-chlorite group minerals and pyrite, respectively are exposed between the reddish-brown mudstones and the yellowish-grey sandstones and conglomerates. The grey and greenish-grey horizons are representative of abrupt changes in Eh-pH conditions, between regional early oxidizing solutions responsible for the formation of early diagenetic redbeds and later infiltration of reducing fluids responsible for alteration of sedimentary rocks. Copper mineralization is located inside the altered sandstones and conglomerates zones, forming halos surrounding vertical tubes containing bitumen. These tubes are interpreted as the conduits through which migrated hydrocarbons, formation waters, and subsequent chloride and metal-rich fluids. In these places, pyrite, calcite, and barite cements of the altered rocks, have been dissolved and replaced by copper-rich sulfides and then by late supergene Cu minerals. Interconnection among stacked permeable paleo-channels in the mid-section of the Huincul Formation facilitated the migration of several generations of fluids during early diagenesis, hydrocarbon up flow, and exhumation of the Neuquén Group, resulting in the development of alteration halos and Cu mineralization that can be used, both in outcrop and drill core, during exploration for sediment-hosted Cu mineralization.

Rational design of nitrofuran derivatives: Synthesis and valuation as inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi trypanothione reductase Arias, Diego Gustavo; Herrera, Fernando Enrique; Garay, Alberto Sergio; Rodrigues, Daniel Enrique; Forastieri, Pamela Soledad; Luna, Liliana Edith; Bürgi Fissolo, María de Los Milagros; Prieto, Claudio; Iglesias, Alberto Alvaro; Cravero, Raquel Maria; Guerrero, Sergio Adrian The rational design and synthesis of a series of 5-nitro-2-furoic acid analogues are presented. The trypanocidal activity against epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi and the toxic effects on human HeLa cells were tested. Between all synthetic compounds, three of thirteen had an IC50value in the range of Nfx, but compound 13 exhibited an improved effect with an IC50of 1.0 ± 0.1 μM and a selective index of 70 in its toxicity against HeLa cells. We analyzed the activity of compounds 8, 12 and 13 to interfere in the central redox metabolic pathway in trypanosomatids, which is dependent of reduced trypanothione as the major pivotal thiol. The three compounds behaved as better inhibitors of trypanothione reductase than Nfx (Ki values of 118 μM, 61 μM and 68 μM for 8, 12 and 13, respectively, compared with 245 μM for Nfx), all following an uncompetitive enzyme inhibition pattern. Docking analysis predicted a binding of inhibitors to the enzyme-substrate complex with binding energy calculated in-silico that supports such molecular interaction.

Chitosan-Derived Iron Oxide Systems for Magnetically Guided and Efficient Water Purification Processes from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Nisticò, Roberto; Franzoso, Flavia; Cesano, Federico; Scarano Domenica; Magnacca, Giuliana; Parolo, Maria Eugenia; Carlos, Luciano Chitosan and pyrolyzed chitosan, acting as protective frameworks of magnetic nanoparticles (magnetite/maghemite and/or metallic Fe), have been investigated to be used in magnetically guided water remediation processes from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Chitosan-derived magnet-sensitive materials were first obtained by a one-step coprecipitation method, and then two carbon-derived magnetic chitosan materials were obtained under N2 gas flow at 550 and 800 °C, respectively. The obtained materials were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), magnetic force microscopy (MFM), and magnetization measurements. Thermal treatment conditions, along with the amounts of chitosan used in the synthesis processes, played a critical role in the crystal structure and magnetic properties of the obtained nanomaterials. The adsorption capacity of chitosan-derived magnet-sensitive materials was tested toward PAHs. The results indicate high sorption capacity for anthracene and naphthalene onto the chitosan-derived material pyrolyzed at 550 °C. Furthermore, experiments performed with a mixture of eight PAHs show that PAH molecules with higher hydrophobicity and more extended aromaticity had stronger sorption capacity. Interestingly, due to the obtained results, the use of chitosan is encouraged as a platform for the creation of green adsorbents for further developments in wastewater purification treatments.

Living on the edge: regional distribution and retracting range of the jaguar (Panthera onca); Vivir al límite: distribución regional y superficie ocupada por el jaguar en retroceso (Panthera onca) Cuyckens, Griet An Erica; Perovic, Pablo Gastón; Herrán, M. Living on the edge: regional distribution and retracting range of the jaguar (Panthera onca).— To preserve biodiversity we need to understand how species are distributed and which aspects of the environment determine these distributions. Human–induced changes in land–cover and loss of habitat threaten many species, particularly large carnivores, in many parts of the world. Differentiating the influence of climate and human land use on the distribution of the jaguar (Panthera onca) is important for the species’ conservation. Historically distributed from the United States to southern Argentina, the jaguar has seen its distribution range decreased at regional and local scales. Here we predict the species’ distribution range using historical records of its presence, climate variables, and MaxEnt predictive algorithms. We focus especially on its southernmost limit in Argentina to indicate the historical limits of this species, and describe its present niche in these edge populations. To estimate the effect of human activity we used a raster of land cover to restrict the jaguar’s distribution. We collected a large amount of presence records through the species’ historical range, and estimated a historical regional distribution ranging from Patagonia up to latitude –50°S. Our findings show the range of the jaguar is decreasing severely in its southern limit and also in its northern limit, and that changes in land cover/use are threats to the species. After subtracting non–suitable land–cover from the studied niche, we found the environmentally suitable area for the jaguar in the study area has decreased to 5.2% of its original size. We thus warn of the high extinction risk of the jaguar in Argentina.; Para conservar la biodiversidad, es necesario entender cómo se distribuyen las especies y qué variables ambientales determinan dicha distribución. Los cambios inducidos por el hombre en la ocupación del suelo y la pérdida de hábitat ponen en peligro a numerosas especies de todo el mundo, especialmente a grandes carnívoros. Determinar la influencia del clima y de los usos del suelo en la distribución de jaguar (Panthera onca) es importante para su conservación. Esta especie, que tradicionalmente se distribuía desde los Estados Unidos hasta el sur de Argentina, ha visto reducida su distribución a escala regional y local. En este trabajo predecimos el rango de distribución de la especie utilizando registros de presencia histórica, variables climáticas y algoritmos predictivos obtenidos con MaxEnt. Nos centramos especialmente en su límite más austral en Argentina para indicar los límites históricos de esta especie y describir el nicho que ocupa actualmente en estas poblaciones marginales. Para estimar el efecto de las acciones antrópicas, utilizamos una capa de ocupación del suelo para limitar la distribución del jaguar. Recopilamos una buena cantidad de registros de presencia en todo el área de distribución histórica de la especie y estimamos una distribución regional histórica desde la Patagonia hasta los –50° de latitud. Nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto que el área de distribución del jaguar se está contrayendo de forma alarmante en el límite meridional y también en el septentrional, y que los cambios de ocupación y de uso del suelo son una amenaza para la especie. Tras restar del nicho estudiado la ocupación del suelo que no es adecuada, descubrimos que la superficie idónea para el jaguar desde el punto de vista ambiental en la zona del estudio se ha reducido hasta el 5,2% de su tamaño original. Por consiguiente, advertimos del elevado riesgo de extinción que acecha al jaguar en Argentina.

Esquema Tipo-PD más Impedancia Modificado para Teleoperación Bilateral de nn Robot Móvil considerando Retardos de Tiempo; Modified PD-like plus Impedance Scheme for Delayed Bilateral Teleoperation of a Mobile Robot Slawiñski, Emanuel; Santiago, Diego Daniel; Chavez Garcia, Geovanny Danilo; Mut, Vicente Antonio Este trabajo propone un esquema de control modificado, basado en una estructura tipo-PD más impedancia, aplicado a la teleoperación bilateral de un robot móvil considerando retardos de tiempo. El esquema es diseñado para obtener una relación de compromiso entre estabilidad y transparencia, analizando ambas características simultáneamente. El análisis correspondiente toma en cuenta las dinámicas del maestro y del robot móvil tanto como retardos variables y asimétricos. Finalmente, se muestran los resultados de pruebas de teleoperación bilateral realizados incluyendo el controlador propuesto de manera de verificar el resultado teórico alcanzado.; This paper proposes a modified PD-like plus impedance controller for delayed bilateral teleoperation of a mobile robot. The scheme is designed to get a trade-off between transparency and stability, analyzing both features simultaneously. The corresponding analysis takes into account the dynamics of the master and mobile robot as well as asymmetric time-varying delays. Finally, experimental results of a bilateral teleoperation including the proposed control scheme are shown in order to verify the achieved theoretical result

Integrated U-Pb zircon and palynological/palaeofloristic age determinations of a Bashkirian palaeofjord fill, Quebrada Grande (Western Argentina) Valdez Buso, Victoria; di Pasquo, Mercedes; Milana, Juan Pablo; Kneller, Benjamin; Fallgatter, Claus; Junior, Farid Chemale; Gomes Paim, Paulo Sérgio This work presents a new age framework for the main Bashkirian glacio-eustatic transgression in Argentina, including the first absolute age for the Jejenes Formation, San Juan Province, based on radiometric dating of a crystal-rich tuff, supported by palynological and palaeofloristic studies, and presented within a revised palaeogeographic setting. The Jejenes Formation represents the glacial to postglacial fill of the Quebrada Grande palaeofjord carved in the Eastern Precordillera. The succession has been subdivided into five stages, the youngest of which suggests a previously unrecognised glacial event for this locality. Six productive levels for palynology were found within proglacial strata, and in the base and top of the succeeding interglacial stage. Palynoassemblages are characterized by poorly preserved trilete spores and monosaccate pollen grains along with a large amount of terrestrial phytoclasts. Main species indicating the Raistrickia densa-Convolutispora muriornata SubZone (DMa SZ) are Vallatisporites ciliaris, Cristatisporites rollerii, C. stellatus, C. chacoparanensis, C. inconstans and monosaccates such as Circumplicatipollis plicatus. This DMa SZ is estimated as Serpukhovian/Bashkirian and characterizes the glacial-related Guandacol Formation and equivalents units of the western Paganzo Basin. A tuffaceous level in the proglacial unit, bearing platyspermic seeds, plant remains and palynomorphs, yielded first-cycle volcanic zircons that were analysed by SHRIMP. An absolute age of 321.3 ± 5.3 Ma confirms a Bashkirian age for the main postglacial transgression in the Paganzo Basin, and offers a novel calibration for the palynoassemblages of DMa SZ that occurs elsewhere in Western Argentina.

Los cuerpos que somos y pensamos. Críticas de Judith Butler al escepticismo cartesiano y al constructivismo contemporáneo y aclaraciones sobre su comprensión de la existencia humana; Being Bodies, Thinking Bodies. Judith Butler's Critiques to the Cartesian Scepticism and Contemporary Constructivism and Some Clarifications about her Understanding of Human Existence Gamero Cabrera, Isabel Gloria En este artículo analizo las críticas recientes de Judith Butler al escepticismo cartesiano y al constructivismo posmoderno (identificado con las obras de Preciado y Haraway), para explicar el distanciamiento de Butler respecto de posturas constructivistas y, al mismo tiempo, como un argumento para afirmar la dimensión ética y con pretensión de universalidad de su defensa de las vidas precarias.; In this paper, I analyse Judith Butler’s recent critics against the Cartesian scepticism and the posTmodern constructivism (indentified by Preciado and Haraway’s works), in order to explain Butler’s distance from constructivism and, at the same time, to assert the ethical and potentially universal dimension of her defence of the precarious lives.

High-Energy Dissipation Performance in Epoxy Coatings by the Synergistic Effec of Carbon Nanotube/Block Copolymer Conjugate Garate, Hernán; Bianchi, Micaela; Pietrasanta, Lia; Goyanes, Silvia Nair; D`accorso, Norma Beatriz Hierarchical assembly of hard/soft nanoparticles holds great potential as reinforcements for polymer nanocomposites with tailored properties. Here, we present a facile strategy to integrate polystyrene-grafted carbon nanotubes (PSgCNT) (0.05-0.3 wt %) and poly(styrene-b- [isoprene-ran-epoxyisoprene]-b-styrene) block copolymer (10 wt %) into epoxy coatings using an ultrasound-assisted noncovalent functionalization process. The method leads to cured nanocomposites with core-shell block copolymer (BCP) nanodomains which are associated with carbon nanotubes (CNT) giving rise to CNT-BCP hybrid structures. Nanocomposite energy dissipation and reduced Young's Modulus (E∗) is determined from force-distance curves by atomic force microscopy operating in the PeakForce QNM imaging mode and compared to thermosets modified with BCP and purified carbon nanotubes (pCNT). Remarkably, nanocomposites bearing PSgCNT-BCP conjugates display an increase in energy dissipation of up to 7.1-fold with respect to neat epoxy and 53% more than materials prepared with pCNT and BCP at the same CNT load (0.3 wt %), while reduced Young's Modulus shows no significant change with CNT type and increases up to 25% compared to neat epoxy E∗ at a CNT load of 0.3 wt %. The energy dissipation performance of nanocomposites is also reflected by the lower wear coefficients of materials with PSgCNT and BCP compared to those with pCNT and BCP, as determined by abrasion tests. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images taken on wear surfaces show that materials incorporating PSgCNT and BCP exhibit much more surface deformation under shear forces in agreement with their higher ability to dissipate more energy before particle release. We propose that the synergistic effect observed in energy dissipation arises from hierarchical assembly of PSgCNT and BCP within the epoxy matrix and provides clues that the CNT-BCP interface has a significant role in the mechanisms of energy dissipation of epoxy coating modified by CNT-BCP conjugates. These findings provide a means to design epoxy-based coatings with high-energy dissipation performance.

Evaluation of the infectivity and the persistence of Trichinella patagoniensis in muscle tissue of decomposing guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) Fariña, Fernando Adrián; Pasqualetti, Mariana Ines; Ilgová, J.; Cardillo, Natalia Marina; Ercole, Mariano Emmanuel; Aronowicz, Tatiana; Krivokapich, Silvio Jesús; Kasný, M.; Ribicich, Miriam Mabel Trichinella patagoniensis, a new species of Trichinella, is widespread in Argentina. The success of parasite transmission depends, among other factors, on the resistance of L1 larvae present in the muscle tissue (ML) of dead hosts undergoing the decomposition process in different environmental conditions. The aim of the present work was to study the infectivity of T. patagoniensis muscle larvae in Cavia porcellus and the capability of the parasite to survive in decomposed muscle tissue of guinea pigs subjected to different environmental conditions. Thirty-two female Ssi:AL guinea pigs were orally inoculated with 2000 ML of T. patagoniensis (ISS2311). All the animals were sacrificed 42 days post-infection. Twenty-six animals were eviscerated, and carcasses were placed on the surface of soil inside plastic boxes that were exposed to environmental conditions in the summer 2014–2015 and autumn of 2015 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Carcasses from six animals were placed into a plastic box inside the refrigerator at a temperature of 4 °C. The muscle tissue samples from the carcasses were examined weekly for the presence of larvae, and the infectivity of recovered ML was tested in BALB/c mice. Our results showed for the first time the ability of T. patagoniensis to complete its life cycle in guinea pigs, thus serving as a potential natural host. Also, larvae of T. patagoniensis remained infective in muscle tissue for several weeks while undergoing decomposition under different environmental conditions.

Efecto reciproco de impulsividad y consumo de alcohol en adolescentes argentinos; Reciprocal effect of impulsiveness and alcohol consumption in argentine teenagers Pilatti, Angelina; Fernández, Constanza; Viola, Anabella; García, Julieta Soledad; Pautassi, Ricardo Marcos Introducción. Niveles más altos de impulsividad se relacionan con un incremento del consumo de alcohol y, además, el consumo de alcohol incrementa la impulsividad y la toma de riesgos. Objetivo. Examinar, mediante un estudio longitudinal de dos mediciones, la influencia recíproca de impulsividad (rasgo y conductual) y de toma de riesgos sobre el posterior consumo de alcohol. Muestra. Participaron 161 adolescentes (Media de edad=15.83±.85) de la Ciudad de Córdoba (Argentina). Procedimiento. Se realizaron dos mediciones separadas por un periodo de tres meses. En cada una se midió consumo de alcohol, impulsividad rasgo, inhibición de respuesta, toma de riesgos y aversión a la demora. Resultados. Los resultados evidencian una relación recíproca entre impulsividad y toma de riesgos con el consumo de alcohol. El consumo de alcohol en el Tiempo 1, en especial la cantidad y frecuencia de consumo episódico elevado, impactaron sobre una mayor toma de riesgos e impulsividad rasgo en el Tiempo 2. Asimismo, un mayor nivel de impulsividad rasgo tuvo un efecto positivo y prospectivo sobre la frecuencia y cantidad de consumo de alcohol. Discusión. El principal hallazgo de este trabajo es indicar, en población adolescente, y con un intervalo entre mediciones de sólo tres meses, un efecto prospectivo bidireccional positivo entre consumo de alcohol, impulsividad y toma de riesgos.; Introduction. Evidence suggests higher levels of impulsivity are related to drinking onset and to increment in alcohol drinking. Also, alcohol consumption is related to higher levels of impulsivity and risk taking behaviors. Aims. To examine, by means of a longitudinal design, the influence of impulsivity (trait and behavioral) and risk taking on alcohol consumption and, vice versa, the effect of alcohol drinking on posteriors levels of impulsivity and risk taking. Sample. 161 adolescents (Mean age=15.83±.85) enrolled in four high-schools of Cordoba city (Argentina) participated in the study. Procedure. At each assessment, participants reported their alcohol involvement and completed the UPPS-P (a measure to assess trait impulsivity). They also completed computerized tasks of impulsivity (Go-Stop and SKIP) and risk-taking. Cross-sectional and prospective relationships between the variables of interest were investigated using correlation analysis. Results. Half of the adolescents engaged in heavy episodic drinking. Overall, results supported the reciprocal association between impulsivity and risk taking and alcohol drinking, especially the frequency of heavy episodic drinking. Discussion. The main finding of this study is the finding, with only a 3- month interval, a positive prospective and bidirectional effect between alcohol consumption, impulsivity and risk taking.

A three-dimensional orbit for the binary star Alpha Andromedae Branham, Richard Lacy Stars that are both spectroscopic and optical binaries present a means to determine simultaneously the masses of the components and the distance of the system independent of trigonometric parallax. Alpha Andromedae (Alpheratz) represents such a system and, moreover, the primary is the brightest of the mercury-manganese stars. An orbit, based on 42 interferometric observations and 378 radial velocities, is calculated to solve for 10 parameters: the six coefficients of the apparent ellipse, the constant of areal velocity, the systemic velocity, and the semiamplitudes. From these, one calculates the orbit of the binary, its period and time of periastron passage, the masses of the components, and the distance of the system. The dynamical parallax does not differ greatly from the trigonometric parallax found from Hipparcos.

Microbial diversity of pre-Columbian archaeological textiles and the effect of silver nanoparticles misting disinfection Pietrzak, Katarzyna; Puchalski, Michal; Otlewska, Anna; Wrzosek, Henryk; Guiamet, Patricia Sandra; Piotrowska, Ma?gorzata; Gutarowska, Beata Biodeterioration of archaeological materials contribute to significant economic losses and the destruction of invaluable pieces of cultural heritage. The study materials were 5 pre-Columbian fibres (1250–1450 A.D., Argentina). The microscopic analyses (SEM-EDS) showed that they were made of cotton, sisal and wool, as well as they were contaminated by mineral impurities and dust. So far, no research has been conducted on determining the effectiveness of disinfection with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) misting of historical textiles. The studies showed that the reduction of microorganism number was between 30.8–99.9%, which depended on the qualitative microbial contamination and its amount. Different AgNPs sensitivity of microorganisms was noted, with the least susceptible being endospore-forming bacteria Bacillus, more easily inhibited were bacterial genus Oceanobacillus, Kocuria, Paracoccus and moulds Cladosporium, Penicillium. AgNPs misting does not adversely influence the pH and chemistry textiles. The presented in this paper disinfection method with AgNPs misting can be used for disinfection of archaeological textiles made of wool, cotton and sisal, as an alternative to the currently available methods.

Repeated conservation threats across the Americas: High levels of blood and bone lead in the Andean Condor widen the problem to a continental scale Wiemeyer, Guillermo; Pérez, Miguel A.; Torres Bianchini, Laura; Sampietro, Luciano; Bravo, Guillermo F.; Jacome, Norberto Luis; Astore, Vanesa; Lambertucci, Sergio Agustin Wildlife lead exposure is an increasing conservation threat that is being widely investigated. However, for some areas of the world (e.g., South America) and certain species, research on this subject is still scarce or only local information is available. We analyzed the extent and intensity of lead exposure for a widely distributed threatened species, the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus). We conducted the study at two different scales: 1) sampling of birds received for rehabilitation or necropsy in Argentina, and 2) bibliographic review and extensive survey considering exposure event for the species' distribution in South America. Wild condors from Argentina (n = 76) presented high lead levels consistent with both recent and previous exposure (up to 104 μg/dL blood level, mean 15.47 ± 21.21 μg/dL and up to 148.20 ppm bone level, mean 23.08 ± 31.39 ppm). In contrast, captive bred individuals -not exposed to lead contamination- had much lower lead levels (mean blood level 5.63 ± 3.08 μg/dL, and mean bone level 2.76 ± 3.06 ppm). Condors were exposed to lead throughout their entire range in continental Argentina, which represents almost sixty percent (>4000 km) of their geographical distribution. We also present evidence of lead exposure events in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Lead poisoning is a widespread major conservation threat for the Andean Condor, and probably other sympatric carnivores from South America. The high number and wide range of Andean Condors with lead values complement the results for the California Condor and other scavengers in North America suggesting lead poisoning is a continental threat. Urgent actions are needed to reduce this poison in the wild.

Estudio transversal de parasitosis intestinales en poblaciones infantiles de Argentina Navone, Graciela Teresa; Zonta, Maria Lorena; Cociancic, Paola; Garraza, Mariela; Gamboa, María Inés; Giambelluca, Luis Alberto; Dahinten, Silvia Lucrecia V.; Oyhenart, Evelia Edith Objetivo. Determinar la distribución de las enteroparasitosis en niños de nueve provincias representativas del mosaico de ambientes contrastantes de Argentina. Métodos. Estudio descriptivo, observacional y transversal en niños preescolares (de 5 años o menos) y escolares (de 6 a 14 años) de las provincias de Buenos Aires (muestra tomada entre 2005 y 2013), Chubut (2010-2013), Corrientes (2012), Entre Ríos (2010-2012), Formosa (2014), La Pampa (2006), Mendoza (2008-2011), Misiones (2005-2008 y 2013) y Salta (2012-2013). Se procesaron muestras seriadas, fecales y de escobillado anal, mediante técnicas de concentración. Los resultados se analizaron por sexo, intervalo de edad y provincia. Se calcularon la frecuencia de parasitosis (monoparasitosis y parasitosis múltiple), la riqueza de especies y el coeficiente de similitud de Sørensen. Resultados. Misiones presentó la mayor frecuencia de niños parasitados y Chubut la menor (82,0% vs. 38,4%; p ˂ 0,01). El número de especies fue mayor en Misiones y Buenos Aires y menor en Chubut y La Pampa. Los varones estuvieron más parasitados que las mujeres solo en Buenos Aires. Las mayores frecuencias se encontraron en los preescolares de Buenos Aires y los escolares de Mendoza y Misiones (p < 0,05). La monoparasitosis fue más frecuente en Chubut (67,9%) y las parasitosis múltiples en Formosa (69,2%). Las especies más frecuentes en la mayoría de las provincias fueron Blastocystis sp. y Enterobius vermicularis. De los geohelmintos, Misiones presentó la mayor frecuencia (23,3%) y Mendoza la menor (0,6%); no se hallaron en Chubut, La Pampa y Salta. Buenos Aires, Formosa y Misiones presentaron una composición de especies similar, al igual que Chubut y La Pampa. Conclusiones. Las frecuencias de parasitosis en Argentina responden al complejo mosaico de variabilidad climática y socioeconómica del país y revelan una tendencia descendente de norte a sur y de este a oeste.

The infectious intracellular lifestyle of salmonella enterica relies on the adaptation to nutritional conditions within the salmonella-containing vacuole Diacovich, Lautaro; Lorenzi, Lucía; Tomassetti, Mauro; Méresse, Stéphane; Gramajo, Hugo Cesar Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is a Gram-negative pathogen that causes various host-specific diseases. During their life cycle, Salmonellae survive frequent exposures to a variety of environmental stresses, e.g. carbon-source starvation. The virulence of this pathogen relies on its ability to establish a replicative niche, named Salmonella-containing vacuole, inside host cells. However, the microenvironment of the SCV and the bacterial metabolic pathways required during infection are largely undefined. In this work we developed different biological probes whose expression is modulated by the environment and the physiological state of the bacterium. We constructed transcriptional reporters by fusing promoter regions to the gfpmut3a gene to monitor the expression profile of genes involved in glucose utilization and lipid catabolism. The induction of these probes by a specific metabolic change was first tested in vitro, and then during different conditions of infection in macrophages. We were able to determine that Entner-Doudoroff is the main metabolic pathway utilized by Salmonella during infection in mouse macrophages. Furthermore, we found sub-populations of bacteria expressing genes involved in pathways for the utilization of different sources of carbon. These populations are modified in presence of different metabolizable substrates, suggesting the coexistence of Salmonella with diverse metabolic states during the infection.