Choice of a PISA selector in a hybrid algorithmic structure for the FJSSP Frutos, Mariano; Tohmé, Fernando Abel This paper analyzes the choice of a PISA selector for a Hybrid Algorithm integrating it as a MultiObjective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA) with a path-dependent search algorithm. The interaction between these components provides an efficient procedure for solving Multi-Objective Problems (MOPs) in operations scheduling. In order to choose the selector, we consider both NSGA and SPEA as well as their successors (NSGAII and SPEAII). NSGAII and SPEAII are shown to be the most efficient candidates. On the other hand, for the path-dependent search at the end of each evolutionary phase we use the multi-objective version of Simulated Annealing.

The contribution of fire damage to restricting high mountain Polylepis australis forests to ravines: insights from an un-replicated comparison; La contribución del daño por fuego en restringir los bosques montanos de Polylepis australis a las quebradas: aportes de una comparación sin réplicas Alinari, María Julieta; Von Müller, Axel Ricardo; Renison, Daniel Con frecuencia los bosques de altura están restringidos a quebradas y existe controversia sobre los motivos de esta distribución, con un rango de argumentos que van desde los que afirman que en las quebradas existen mejores condiciones abióticas, hay menos herbivoría, la frecuencia de fuegos es menor o que allí los fuegos hacen menos daño. Nos propusimos entender la contribución del daño por fuego y proveemos datos para poner a prueba la hipótesis de que los fuegos hacen menos daño en las quebradas en comparación con los filos. Evaluamos el daño por fuego, la supervivencia post-fuego, la regeneración por rebrote y por semilla y el ramoneo entre árboles quemado y controles no quemados situados en una quebrada y en un filo de la ladera occidental de las Sierras Grandes de Córdoba, Argentina. El daño a las copas fue 28 % mayor en filo que en quebrada (94,3 ± 1,9 % y 66,1 ± 4,5 %, respectivamente) y estaba negativamente relacionada con la altura de los árboles, que además era menor en filo. La supervivencia postfuego no fue afectada diferencialmente por la topografía, pero el crecimiento de rebrotes y el establecimiento por semilla fue menor en filo que en quebrada. El ramoneo por animales domésticos fue dos veces más frecuente en el filo que en quebrada y mayor en los árboles quemados que en los árboles no quemados. Nuestro estudio aporta evidencias de que los bosques de Polylepis están en parte restringidos a quebradas debido a que allí los efectos de los fuegos son menos severos, lo cual se agrega a otras posibles causas como un uso más reducido por ganado, mayor crecimiento de los rebrotes y regeneración por semillas, las cuales seguramente están mediadas por condiciones abióticas.; High mountain forests are often restricted to ravines and much debate has existed on the explanations of this distribution, with arguments ranging from abiotic site conditions being more favorable in ravines to there being reduced herbivory or reduced fire frequency and damage in ravines. We aim at understanding the contribution of fire damage and provide data to help test the hypothesis that fires are less damaging and that trees recover faster in ravines as compared to ridge sites. We evaluated crown damage, post-fire survival, regeneration by resprouts and seeds, and browsed stems in burned and unburned control Polylepis australis trees situated in a ravine and in a ridge forest in the west slope of the mountains of Central Argentina. The proportion of the tree crown scorched by fire was 28 % higher on the ridge than in the ravine (94.3 ± 1.9 % and 66.1 ± 4.5 %, respectively) and was negatively related to tree height which was lower on the ridge. Survival was not differentially affected, but post-fire re-growth and establishment through seeds was lower in the ridge as compared to the ravine. Browsed stems were about twice as frequent in the ridge as in the ravine, more so in the resprouting burned trees. Our study provides evidence that forests are restricted to ravines in part because the effects of fires are less severe at these sites than in ridges, which adds to other possible causes like reduced livestock use of ravines, enhanced regeneration by seed and faster tree growth within ravines all of which are probably mediated by abiotic factors.

Sigma Factor SigB Is Crucial to Mediate Staphylococcus aureus Adaptation during Chronic Infections Tuchscherr, Lorena Paola Nelly; Bischoff, Markus; Lattar, Santiago Martín; Noto Llana, Mariangeles; Pförtner, Henrike; Niemann, Silke; Geraci, Jennifer; Van de Vyver, Hélène; Fraunholz, Martin J.; Cheung, Ambrose L.; Herrmann, Mathias; Völker, Uwe; Sordelli, Daniel Oscar; Peters, Georg; Löffler, Bettina Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that causes a range of infections from acute invasive to chronic and difficult-to-treat. Infection strategies associated with persisting S. aureus infections are bacterial host cell invasion and the bacterial ability to dynamically change phenotypes from the aggressive wild-type to small colony variants (SCVs), which are adapted for intracellular long-term persistence. The underlying mechanisms of the bacterial switching and adaptation mechanisms appear to be very dynamic, but are largely unknown. Here, we analyzed the role and the crosstalk of the global S. aureus regulators agr, sarA and SigB by generating single, double and triple mutants, and testing them with proteome analysis and in different in vitro and in vivo infection models. We were able to demonstrate that SigB is the crucial factor for adaptation in chronic infections. During acute infection, the bacteria require the simultaneous action of the agr and sarA loci to defend against invading immune cells by causing inflammation and cytotoxicity and to escape from phagosomes in their host cells that enable them to settle an infection at high bacterial density. To persist intracellularly the bacteria subsequently need to silence agr and sarA. Indeed agr and sarA deletion mutants expressed a much lower number of virulence factors and could persist at high numbers intracellularly. SigB plays a crucial function to promote bacterial intracellular persistence. In fact, ΔsigB-mutants did not generate SCVs and were completely cleared by the host cells within a few days. In this study we identified SigB as an essential factor that enables the bacteria to switch from the highly aggressive phenotype that settles an acute infection to a silent SCV-phenotype that allows for long-term intracellular persistence. Consequently, the SigB-operon represents a possible target to develop preventive and therapeutic strategies against chronic and therapy-refractory infections.

Baking sunflower hulls within an aluminum envelope in a common laboratory oven yields charcoal Arnal, Pablo Maximiliano Charcoals have been widely used by scientist to research the removal of contaminants from water and air. One key feature of charcoal is that it keeps macropores from the parent material - though anisotropically contracted - and can even develop meso- and micropores. However, the controlled thermochemical conversion of biomass into charcoal at laboratory scale normally requires special setups which involve either vacuum or inert gas. Those setups may not be affordable in research groups or educational institutions where the research of charcoals would be highly welcome. In this work, I propose a simple and effective method to steer the thermochemical process that converts sunflower hulls (SFH) into charcoal with basic laboratory resources. The carbonization method: Place SFH in an airtight aluminum envelope. Thermally treat SFH within the envelope in a common laboratory oven. Open the envelope to obtain the carbonized sunflower hulls.

Establecimiento de un método de propagación vegetativa para Catharanthus roseus (L.); Elaboration of a method for vegetative propagation of Catharanthus roseus (L.) Dirchwolf, Pamela Maia; Schroeder, María Andrea Introducción: catharanthus roseus (L.) , es una planta apreciada por ser una fuente de alcaloides utilizados como quimioterápicos. Objetivo: estudiar diferentes factores que inciden en el enraizamiento, para optimizar su multiplicación vegetativa por estacas. Métodos: se probaron dos tipos de estacas (terminal y subterminal) a partir de plantas jóvenes y adultas, tres sustratos (tierra de monte, sustrato comercial y arena) y un promotor de enraizamiento (ácido naftalén acético). El diseño experimental fue bloques al azar con tres repeticiones, en un arreglo factorial 2x2x3. Las variables evaluadas fueron: porcentaje de enraizamiento, número, longitud de raíces y porcentaje de brotación; valoradas a los 60 días. Se analizó el perfil nutricional de las láminas foliares. Resultados: en estacas de plantas jóvenes el mejor sustrato para las variables relacionadas con el desarrollo radical fue la arena. El factor estaca arrojó diferencias significativas en el nivel subterminal en cuanto al enraizamiento y número de raíces, mientras que la aplicación del promotor no mostró diferencias significativas. En estacas de plantas adultas el porcentaje de enraizamiento y en la longitud de raíces fueron significativos mayores en el sustrato comercial. El factor estaca no presentó diferencias significativas, mientras que el factor promotor mostró una mejor respuesta sin su agregado en la brotación. El número de raíces, su longitud, y la brotación fue significativa; mayor en estacas de plantas jóvenes, en comparación con las de plantas adultas. Se obtuvieron diferencias significativas en el contenido de N, Zn y Mn, el cual fue mayor en plantas adultas; mientras que el K fue mayor en plantas jóvenes. Conclusiones: la propagación vegetativa mediante estacas de C. roseus fue posible, y permitió obtener en forma rápida y simple, plantas de porte homogéneo. La multiplicación fue favorecida al utilizar estacas provenientes de plantas jóvenes, subterminales, en arena, sin Ácido 1-naftalén-acético.; Introduction: catharanthus roseus var. roseus (L.), is a prized plant because it has several antitumor alkaloids. Objective: to evaluate the effect of indoleacetic acid, cutting types, plant age and substrates on Catharanthus roseus (L.) rooting. Methods: the experiment was arranged in a complete randomized design with a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial with three replications, with two ANA concentrations (0 and 1000 ppm), two positions in the stem (terminal and subterminal) and three types of substrate (commercial substrate, local low fertility soil and sand) in plants aged less and more than a year. After 60 days, percentage of rooted cuttings, root number and length, and percentage of sprouting were evaluated. A nutritional analysis of leaf blades was performed. Results: the best scores in terms of rooting rates were obtained for the sand, the subterminal portion of the branch and without the rooting promoting substance, in younger plants. Older cuttings best development was found in commercial substrate. No statistical differences were found between cutting types or with or without the rooting promoting substance. Root length and number, as well as sprouting were significantly better using younger cuttings. Nitrogen, Zinc and Manganese content were significantly superior in older plants, but Potassium was higher in the younger ones. Conclusion: the results obtained demonstrate that the potential of C. roseus to be propagated by cuttings is possible, and that is even better if subterminal young cuttings, in sand, without rooting promoters are used.

Clivajes, tensiones y dinámicas del cooperativismo de trabajo bajo programas sociales: el boom de las cooperativas del Programa Ingreso Social con Trabajo - Argentina Trabaja Arcidiacono, Ana del Pilar Jose; Bermúdez, Ángeles En los últimos años en Argentina se impulsó una línea de política social destinada a sectores débilmente integrados al mercado formal de trabajo que retomaba discursivamente el ideario de la economía social. El Programa Ingreso Social con Trabajo -Argentina Trabaja- se constituyó en un ejemplo de envergadura que haciendo uso de las cooperativas creadas bajo programas sociales, combina principios cercanos al “capital humano”, nociones restrictivas de economía social, lógicas propias de transferencias de dinero a familias y prácticas próximas al trabajo asalariado. Motivado por un contexto de elevada informalidad laboral, plantea desafíos en materia de protección social que se evidencian en la masividad de la medida y el impulso gubernamental. El artículo analiza tensiones, clivajes, supuestos y actores desde el propio diseño del programa, usando como fuentes tanto entrevistas a informantes calificados y a miembros de organizaciones sociales, como documentos públicos e información proveniente de espacios de discusiones sobre la temática.

Molecular phylogenetic relationships of the lizard clade Liolaemus elongatus (Iguania: Liolaemini) with the description of a new species from an isolated volcanic peak in northern Patagonia Avila, Luciano Javier; Medina, Cintia Débora; Perez, Cristian Hernan Fulvio; Sites, Jack W.; Morando, Mariana A new species of the Andean-Patagonian Liolaemus elongatus clade is described. Liolaemus crandalli sp. nov. differs from other members of its clade by a combination of coloration characters, scale counts and genetic traits. Liolaemus crandalli sp. nov. is known only from an isolated volcanic mountain in northwestern Patagonia above 1500 m.a.s.l. unconnected with other habitat suitable for species of the Liolaemus elongatus clade.; Se describe una nueva especie del clado andino patagónico Liolaemus elongatus. Esta nueva especie difiere de otros miembros de su clado por una combinación de caracteres de coloración, conteo de escamas y caracteres genéticos. Liolaemus crandalli sp. nov. sólo se ha encontrado en una montaña volcánica aislada del noroeste de Patagonia sobre los 1500 msnm, no conectada con otros hábitats adecuados para especies del clado Liolaemus elongatus.

First record of Melaloncha (Diptera: Phoridae) parasitoid associated with Bombus (Apidae: Bombini) in Argentina Lucia, Mariano; Alvarez, Leopoldo Jesús; Abrahamovich, Alberto Horacio In this study we cited the first record of Melaloncha (Diptera: Phoridae) parasitoid associated with Bombus (Apidae: Bombini) in Argentina.

Isolation and characterization of new microsatellite markers for application in population genetic studies of Caiman latirostris and related species Amavet, Patricia Susana; Rueda, Eva Carolina; Siroski, Pablo Ariel; Larriera, Alejandro; Saidman, Beatriz Ofelia Wild populations of Caiman latirostris are subject to sustainable use programs in Argentina, becoming a species with important impact in the regional economy, based in their skin and meat. Genetic studies are fundamental to acquire information on important parameters for conservation and management, which may be obtained from analysis of molecular markers. Some microsatellites have been previously isolated in this species, but due to some difficulties in using them, we obtained new ones using NGS approach. This study reports eight new microsatellites for C. latirostris and tests their utility in a related species, Caiman yacare, with successful application in population genetics and mating systems studies. In addition, we shared data about a novel and fast bioinformatics tool to find microsatellites and to design their corresponding primers.

Reading shell shape: implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. A case study for bivalves from the marine Quaternary of Argentina (south-western Atlantic) Aguirre, Marina Laura; Richiano, Sebastian Miguel; Alvarez, Alicia; Farinati, Ester Amanda Most research on bivalves from the south-western Atlantic used morphological (shell) characters for taxonomic discriminations. Dominant Veneroids from Argentinian Quaternary coastal deposits exhibit wide morphological variation – often making objective discriminations difficult/impossible, which could be objectively described and compared through geometric morphometrics techniques. This work focuses on comparison of geometric morphometrics methods applied to fossil and modern shells, to assess inter- and intra-generic variations. Three approaches were considered: landmarks (L), semi-landmarks (SL) and outlines. Shell shape analyses for different time spans (Pleistocene, fossil Holocene and modern) and areas (Patagonia and Bonaerensian) showed that Elliptic Fourier analysis (EFA), Landmarks and Landmarks plus Semilandmarks (L þ SL) can discriminate at generic levels: Mactra, Mulinia (Mactridae) vs. Pitar, Protothaca, Eurhomalea, Clausinella (Veneridae). L and L þ SL are powerful for inter/intraspecific distinctions of Mactra. Variability of Mactra isabelleana includes the remaining nominal ‘species’ (transitional morphs). Causal environmental factors of (phenotype) variation could be addressed for modern environments (substrate, salinity and energy). Subtrigonal-inflated shells predominate in muddy, quieter, shallow mixo-polyhaline waters; ovate-elongate-compressed in sandy, poly-euhaline, deeper habitats. Differential spatial distribution (and abundance) across time responds to Late Quaternary high sea-level stands: transgressive maxima allowed higher salinity in marginal-marine areas and optimal conditions for Mactra isabelleana contrasting with scarcer records in the Mar Argentino today.

Revision of the family Gymnophallidae Odhner, 1905 (Digenea) based on morphological and molecular data Cremonte, Florencia; Gilardoni, Carmen Mariangel; Pina, Susana; Rodrigues, Pedro; Ituarte, Cristian Federico This paper reviews the family Gymnophallidae, recognizing as valid seven genera; four within the subfamily Gymnophallinae: Gymnophallus Odhner, 1900 (syn. Meiogymnophallus Ching, 1965), Paragymnophallus Ching, 1973, Pseudogymnophallus Hoberg, 1981, and Bartolius Cremonte, 2001, and three in the Parvatrematinae: Parvatrema Cable, 1953, Lacunovermis Ching, 1965, and Gymnophalloides Fujita, 1925. Specimens representing one species of each available genus were chosen from those well-described and non controversial species, for which strong morphological information was available, and used for molecular studies (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-28S rDNA strands were sequenced). The presence or absence of a pars prostatica differentiates between the 2 subfamilies, Gymnophallinae and Parvatrematinae. The characters used to differentiate genera are: location of the ovary (pre-, post- or inter-testicular), size and location of the genital pore (inconspicuous and located at the anterior margin of the ventral sucker, or conspicuous and located at some distance from the anterior margin of ventral sucker), presence of caecal pockets, and presence or absence of ventral pit (a muscular structure which can be either well-developed, similar in size and musculature to the ventral sucker, or be poorly developed). The characters previously used to distinguish among genera that actually should be considered to separate species include: shape of tegument spines (broad, sharp or serrated), presence of lateral projections on the oral sucker (also called papillae or lips), shape of the seminal vesicle (unipartite or bipartite), shape of the prostatic duct (elongate or oval), presence of papillae on the genital pore, shape of the genital atrium (tubular, wide, oval), shape of the vitellaria (follicular in a variable degree, paired or single), shape of the excretory vesicle (V or Y), and extension of uterus (restricted to forebody, at hindbody or extending in both). Additionally, some of these characters may vary with the age of worm. The morphological and molecular information obtained in this study provided strong support for recognizing seven valid genera in the family Gymnophallidae.

Hidrología isotópica, herramienta nuclear para la gestión sostenible del recurso hídrico; Isotopic hydrology, nuclear tool for sustainable management of water resources Peralta Vital, José Luis; Gil Castillo, Reinaldo; Dapeña, Cristina; Valdés González, Lourdes; Olivera Acosta, Jorge; Morejón Miranda, Yilian Maria La gestión y protección del agua subterránea, establece una utilización planificada del acuífero, sin causar daños en calidad y cantidad; considerando los factores sociales y económicos del entorno. Se caracterizó mediante el uso de las técnicas nucleares (hidrología isotópica), el acuífero kárstico de la sub-cuenca Artemisa-Quivicán, el cual sustenta la producción alimenticia de la provincia Artemisa y la Habana. Para ello se desarrollaron 3 etapas investigativas: el diseño y definición de la red optimizada para el monitoreo isotópico y fisicoquímico en el agua subterránea y superficial; la caracterización isotópica (tritio, oxígeno disuelto, deuterio) y físicoquímica (macro-componentes químicos, parámetros físicos y de calidad) del agua de la subcuenca y de las precipitaciones registradas en la región y la identificación de las posibles fuentes de contaminación en la sub-cuenca.; Management and protection of the ground water requires a planned use of the aquifer, considering the social and economic factors of the environment without causing damages in quality and quantity. The karstic aquifer of the sub-basin Artemisa-Quivicán, which supports food production for Artemisa and Havana counties, has been characterised through the nuclear techniques application (isotopic hydrology). Three investigation stages were developed: the design and definition of the optimized network for the isotopic and physicochemical monitoring of ground and surface waters; the isotopic characterization (tritium, dissolved oxygen, deuterium) and physicochemical characterization (chemical macro-components, physical and quality parameters) of the sub-basin water and of registered precipitations in the region; and finally the identification of the possible contamination sources in the sub-basin.

The 2009 multiwavelength campaign on Mrk 421: Variability and correlation studies Aleksic, J.; Ansoldi, S.; Antonelli, L. A.; Antoranz, P.; Babic, A.; Bangale, P.; Barres de Almeida, U.; Barrio, J. A.; Becerra Gonzalez, J.; Bednarek, W.; Berger, K.; Bernardini, E.; Bijand, A.; Blanch, O.; Bock, R. K.; Bonnefoy, S.; Bonnoli, G.; Borracci, F.; Bretz, T.; Carmona, E.; Carosi, A.; Carreto Fidalgo, D.; Colin, P.; Colombo, E.; Contreras, J. L.; Cortina, J.; Covino, S.; Pichel, Ana Carolina; Rovero, Adrian Carlos; The Magic Collaboration; The Veritas Collaboration Aims: We perform an extensive characterization of the broadband emission of Mrk 421, as well as its temporal evolution, during the non-flaring (low) state. The high brightness and nearby location (z = 0.031) of Mrk 421 make it an excellent laboratory to study blazar emission. The goal is to learn about the physical processes responsible for the typical emission of Mrk 421, which might also be extended to other blazars that are located farther away and hence are more difficult to study. Methods: We performed a 4.5-month multi-instrument campaign on Mrk 421 between January 2009 and June 2009, which included VLBA, F-GAMMA, GASP-WEBT, Swift, RXTE, Fermi-LAT, MAGIC, and Whipple, among other instruments and collaborations. This extensive radio to very-high-energy (VHE; E> 100 GeV) γ-ray dataset provides excellent temporal and energy coverage, which allows detailed studies of the evolution of the broadband spectral energy distribution. Results: Mrk421 was found in its typical (non-flaring) activity state, with a VHE flux of about half that of the Crab Nebula, yet the light curves show significant variability at all wavelengths, the highest variability being in the X-rays. We determined the power spectral densities (PSD) at most wavelengths and found that all PSDs can be described by power-laws without a break, and with indices consistent with pink/red-noise behavior. We observed a harder-when-brighter behavior in the X-ray spectra and measured a positive correlation between VHE and X-ray fluxes with zero time lag. Such characteristics have been reported many times during flaring activity, but here they are reported for the first time in the non-flaring state. We also observed an overall anti-correlation between optical/UV and X-rays extending over the duration of the campaign. Conclusions: The harder-when-brighter behavior in the X-ray spectra and the measured positive X-ray/VHE correlation during the 2009 multi-wavelength campaign suggests that the physical processes dominating the emission during non-flaring states have similarities with those occurring during flaring activity. In particular, this observation supports leptonic scenarios as being responsible for the emission of Mrk 421 during non-flaring activity. Such a temporally extended X-ray/VHE correlation is not driven by any single flaring event, and hence is difficult to explain within the standard hadronic scenarios. The highest variability is observed in the X-ray band, which, within the one-zone synchrotron self-Compton scenario, indicates that the electron energy distribution is most variable at the highest energies.

Parallel factor analysis of 4.2K excitation-emission matrices for the direct determination of dibenzopyrene isomers in coal-tar samples with a cryogenic fiber optic probe coupled to a commercial spectrofluorimeter Moore, Anthony F. T.; Goicoechea, Hector Casimiro; Barbosa, Fernando Jr.; Campiglia, Andres D. Several studies have shown high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in living spaces and soil adjacent to parking lots sealed with coal-tar-based products. Recent attention has been paid to the presence of seven PAHs in coal-tar samples ? namely, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[k]-fluoranthene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene ? and their association to significant increases in estimated excess lifetime cancer risk for nearby residents. Herein, we present an analytical approach to screen the presence of five highly toxic, high-molecular weight PAHs (HMW-PAHs) in coal-tar samples. These include dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, dibenzo[a,i]pyrene, dibenzo[a,e]pyrene, dibnezo[a,h]pyrene and naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene. Their direct analysis ? no without chromatographic separation ? - in a reference coal-tar sample is made possible with the combination of excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) and parallel-factor analysis (PARAFAC). EEMs are recorded at 4.2 K with the aid of a cryogenic fiber optic probe and a commercial spectrofluorimeter. The simplicity of the experimental procedure and the excellent analytical figures of merit demonstrate the screening potential of this environmentally friendly approach for the routine analysis of numerous coal-tar samples.

Role of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the transcriptional regulation of brain ABC transporters during acute acetaminophen (APAP) intoxication in mice Ghanem, Carolina Inés; Rudraiah, Swetha; Bataille, Amy M.; Vigo, María B.; Goedken, Michael J.; Manautou, José E. Changes in expression of liver ABC transporters have been described during acute APAP intoxication. However, the effect of APAP on brain ABC transporters is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of APAP on brain ABC transporters expression and the role of the oxidative stress sensor Nrf2. Male C57BL/6J mice were administered APAP (400 mg/kg) for analysis of brain mRNA and protein expression of Mrp1-6, Bcrp and P-gp. The results show induction of P-gp, Mrp2 and Mrp4 proteins, with no changes in Bcrp, Mrp1 or Mrp5-6. The protein values were accompanied by corresponding changes in mRNA levels. Additionally, brain Nrf2 nuclear translocation and expression of two Nrf2 target genes, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1) and Hemoxygenase 1 (Ho-1), was evaluated at 6, 12 and 24 h after APAP treatment. Nrf2 nuclear content increased by 58% at 12 h after APAP along with significant increments in mRNA and protein expression of Nqo1 and Ho-1. Furthermore, APAP treated Nrf2 knockout mice did not increase mRNA or protein expression of Mrp2 and Mrp4 as observed in wildtypes. In contrast, P-gp induction by APAP was observed in both genotypes. In conclusion, acute APAP intoxication induces protein expression of brain P-gp, Mrp2 and Mrp4. This study also suggests that brain changes in Mrp2 and Mrp4 expression may be due to in situ Nrf2 activation by APAP, while P-gp induction is independent of Nrf2 function. The functional consequences of these changes in brain ABC transporters by APAP deserve further attention.

Formas de adhesión al Islam en Argentina: conversión, tradición, elección, reasunción y tránsito intra-islámico; Forms of adhesion to Islam in Argentina: conversion, tradition, choice, return to religion and intra-Islamic transit Montenegro, Silvia Maria En Argentina, como en otros países de América Latina, el Islam llega como religión de inmigrantes, principalmente sirios y libaneses, entre finales del siglo XIX y las primeras décadas del Siglo XX. En la historia de su presencia local es posible reconocer tres etapas que implican distintos momentos de institucionalización, diversificación, visibilidad y negociación de reconocimiento en el espacio nacional. Actualmente la religión musulmana se configura como una opción en un campo religioso plural y cada vez más, aunque en grado diverso, las comunidades cuentan en su membresía tanto con musulmanes de origen como con convertidos. Este artículo enfoca la adhesión al Islam como un proceso dinámico, que incluye pertenencias por conversión, tradición, elección, retorno e itinerancias intra-islámicas entre nacidos musulmanes. Desde un abordaje etnográfico tendremos en cuenta trayectorias individuales de conversos y musulmanes de origen, estableciendo un diálogo crítico con la literatura específica sobre conversión al Islam. Este trabajo también problematiza la dicotomía convertidos/nacidos musulmanes, en pos de lograr una comprensión más amplia de las dinámicas de la adhesión al Islam.; As in other Latin American countries, Muslim presence in Argentina traces its origin to Arab migration waves in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century; most of these immigrants came from Lebanon and Syria. We can identify three historical periods; each of these stages involves different degrees of institutionalization, diversification, visibility and negotiation of recognition in the national arena. Currently, Islam is one of the religious options available in a plural religious field and, increasingly, the communities are composed of Muslim Arab descendants and converts. This paper analyze the adhesion to Islam as a dynamic process that includes conversion, tradition, return to religion and intra-Islamic transit among Muslim descendants. Using an ethnographic approach I will examine individual trajectories of converts and Muslim descendants, on the basis of these analyses I will try to establish a critical dialogue with the literature on conversion to Islam. This article also problematizes the converts/Muslim descendants’ dichotomy in order to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic of adhesion to Islam.

Política y sociabilidad barrial: la memoria en torno a las “veladas socialistas” en el Barrio de La Estación de Tandil durante el período de entreguerras Barandiaran, Luciano Oscar; Silva, Ana Cecilia Este artículo se inscribe en el marco de un proceso de activación patrimonial impulsado por una asamblea vecinal del Barrio de La Estación de la localidad bonaerense de Tandil. A inicios de 2013, un grupo de vecinos y vecinas, ante la “pérdida” de la fisonomía identitaria barrial a manos de la “especulación inmobiliaria”, presentó al Concejo Deliberante un petitorio proponiendo la declaración de un Área de Protección Histórica sobre 40 manzanas lindantes a la Estación de Trenes; zona que “vincula gran parte de la historia de la ciudad como son el trabajo, la cultura, las luchas sindicales y la historia del gremio ferroviario”. Aquí se analiza la construcción de la memoria colectiva en vinculación con la identidad barrial, para lo cual estudiamos la significación presente de algunas prácticas sociales de antiguos vecinos y vecinas del barrio, en especial las “veladas” organizadas por el Partido Socialista, partido político con fuerte arraigo en el mencionado barrio en las décadas de 1920 a 1940. Para ello, partimos de la puesta en diálogo de las fuentes periodísticas de la época que se han conservado, con los testimonios de los actores sociales que participan en la re-creación y significación presente de aquellas prácticas.

Chlorogenic acid biosynthesis appears linked with suberin production in potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum) Valiñas, Matías Ariel; Lanteri, Maria Luciana; Ten Have, Arjen; Andreu, Adriana Balbina Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a good source of dietary antioxidants. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) and caffeic acid (CA) are the most abundant phenolic acid antioxidants in potato and are formed by the phenylpropanoid pathway. A number of CGA biosynthetic routes that involve hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HQT) and/or hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) have been proposed, but little is known about their path in potato. CA production requires a caffeoyl shikimate esterase (CSE), and CA serves as a substrate of lignin precursor ferulic acid via the action of caffeic/5-hydroxyferulic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT I). CGA is precursor of caffeoyl-CoA and, via caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT), of feruloyl-CoA. Feruloyl-CoA is required for lignin and suberin biosynthesis, crucial for tuber development. Here, metabolite and transcript levels of the mentioned and related enzymes, such as cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), were determined in the flesh and skin of fresh and stored tubers. Metabolite and transcript levels were higher in skin than in flesh, irrespective of storage. CGA and CA production appear to occur via p-coumaroyl-CoA, using HQT and CSE, respectively. HCT is likely involved in CGA remobilization toward suberin. The strong correlation between CGA and CA, the correspondence with C4H, HQT, CCoAOMT2, and CSE, and the negative correlation of HCT and COMT I in potato tubers suggest a major flux toward suberin.

Charge coupled devices for detection of coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering Fernández Moroni, Guillermo; Estrada, Juan; Paolini, Eduardo Emilio; Cancelo, Gustavo Indalecio Eugenio; Tiffemberg, Javier; Molina, Jorge In this article the feasibility of using charge coupled devices (CCD) to detect low-energy neutrinos through their coherent scattering with nuclei is analyzed. The detection of neutrinos through this standard model process has been elusive because of the small energy deposited in such interaction. Typical particle detectors have thresholds of a few keV, and most of the energy deposition expected from coherent scattering is well below this level. The CCD detectors discussed in this paper can operate at a threshold of approximately 30 eV, making them ideal for observing this signal. On a CCD array of 500 g located next to a power nuclear reactor the number of coherent scattering events expected is about 3000 events/year. Our results shows that a detection with a confidence level of 99% can be reached within 16 days of continuous operation; with the current 52 g detector prototype this time lapse extends to five months.

Alpha-Synuclein Levels in Blood Plasma Decline with Healthy Aging Koehler, Niklas K. U.; Stransky, Elle; Meyer, Mirjam; Gaertner, Susanne; Shing, Mona; Schnaidt, Martina; Celej, Maria Soledad; Jovin, Thomas M.; Leyhe, Thomas; Laske, Christoph ; Batra, Anil; Buchkremer, Gerhard; Fallgatter, Andreas J.; Wernet, Dorothee; Richartz Salzburger, Elke There is unequivocal evidence that alpha-synuclein plays a pivotal pathophysiological role in neurodegenerative diseases, and in particular in synucleinopathies. These disorders present with a variable extent of cognitive impairment and alpha-synuclein is being explored as a biomarker in CSF, blood serum and plasma. Considering key events of aging that include proteostasis, alpha-synuclein may not only be useful as a marker for differential diagnosis but also for aging per se. To explore this hypothesis, we developed a highly specific ELISA to measure alpha-synuclein. In healthy males plasma alpha-synuclein levels correlated strongly with age, revealing much lower concentrations in older (avg. 58.1 years) compared to younger (avg. 27.6 years) individuals. This difference between the age groups was enhanced after acidification of the plasmas (p<0.0001), possibly reflecting a decrease of alpha-synuclein-antibody complexes or chaperone activity in older individuals. Our results support the concept that alpha-synuclein homeostasis may be impaired early on, possibly due to disturbance of the proteostasis network, a key component of healthy aging. Thus, alpha-synuclein may be a novel biomarker of aging, a factor that should be considered when analyzing its presence in biological specimens.