The Productive Efficiency of Science and Technology Worldwide: A Frontier Analysis Ferro, Gustavo Adolfo; Romero, Carlos A. We are interested in how codified knowledge is produced around the globe (which inputs are used to produce scientific articles and patented inventions) and the efficiency of the process (how do the best performers produce more with the same inputs or produce the same with less inputs). Using a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) efficiency frontier approach, we aim to determine which countries are more efficient at producing codified knowledge. We proxy knowledge production by publications and patents, obtained through human (researchers) and non-human (R&D expenditure) resources. We built a 15-year database with more than 800 observations of these and other variables. Our findings enable us to distinguish efficiency by country, geographical region, and income area. We run four different specifications and correlate the results with partial productivity indexes seeking consistency. Under constant returns to scale, the most traditional producers of knowledge are not fully efficient. Instead, small countries with limited resources appear to be efficient. When we add environmental conditions, both sets of countries are efficient producers of knowledge outputs. High-income regions, on the one hand, and East Asia, North America, and Europe and Central Asia, on the other, are the most efficient regions at producing knowledge.

El pasajero fantasma: Oralidad, traducción y escritura Palleiro, Maria Ines En este número dedicado a la literatura infantil y juvenil, quiero llamar la atención sobre la narración folklórica, en sus vínculos con la oralidad, la traducción y la escritura. Muchos relatos folklóricos corren en boca de niños y jóvenes, y han sido reelaborados no solo por autores, sino también por cantautores que, en distintos idiomas y culturas de diversos tiempos y lugares, recrean las mismas matrices folklóricas. Me ocupo aquí de una en particular, a la que he denominado “El pasajero fantasma.” Esta matriz recrea el motivo folklórico universal “The Vanishing Hitchhiker” (“El autostopista evanescente”), en contextos diversos. La contribución sintetiza un planteo original, desarrollado alrededor del concepto de “matriz”, a la que, sobre la base de los planteos de Bajtín, defino como conjunto de patrones de tema, composición y estilo comunes a un conjunto de relatos, que sirve como pre-texto de itinerarios narrativos múltiples en distintos universos culturales. Este concepto da lugar para reflexionar sobre la traducción de estas matrices, entendida en el sentido amplio de pasaje de un código cultural a otro, en una dinámica entre la producción y la recepción de distintos enunciadores: niños y adultos; narradores espontáneos, profesionales y cantautores, ante un público diverso. Con estos fundamentos conceptuales, comento distintas realizaciones de esta matriz, desde aquellas recogidas en investigaciones de campo a recreaciones artísticas. Tomo como eje de este comentario la dinámica entre oralidad y escritura, y la problemática de la traducción, entendida no solo en términos interlingüísticos sino también intersemióticos, de paso del código oral al registro escrito y la trasposición musical por parte de un cantautor italiano y por un grupo de rock estadounidense.

Entre los lineamientos y la ayuda: Las Madres contra el Paco y la política pública de los CePLA; Between guidelines and aid: “Madres contra el Paco” and the public policy of the CePLA; Entre as diretrizes e a ajuda: As “Madres contra el Paco” e a política pública do CePLA Lopez Bouscayrol, Milena En este trabajo proponemos analizar el proceso de implementación de un Centro de Prevención Local de las Adicciones (CePLA), co-gestionado por la Sedronar y una Asociación de Madres contra el Paco (MCP) en un municipio de la zona sur del AMBA. Dicho dispositivo se constituye como un modo novedoso de abordaje de los consumos por parte de la Sedronar desde el paradigma de la salud mental y los Derechos Humanos. En esta aproximación, interesa indagar en las condiciones de posibilidad, disputas y negociaciones de la puesta en marcha del CePLA en el barrio de las madres. Entendiendo que las políticas públicas se insertan en un entramado local que las habilita a la vez que las moldea, se analiza cómo estas madres oscilaron entre los lineamientos de la política y su propia manera de abordar la problemática desde la ayuda comunitaria. Centrándonos en el periodo 2014-2017 reconstruiremos los distintos momentos de implementación del CePLA y los cambios que ello supuso para las madres y su barrio.; In this paper we analyze the process of implementation of a Local Prevention of Addictions Center, (CePLA, in Spanish) co-managed by Sedronar and an association of “Madres contra el Paco” (MCP) in a municipality in the southern area of AMBA. This device is constituted as a new way of approaching consumptions by Sedronar from the paradigm of mental health and human rights. We are interested in investigating the conditions of possibility, disputes and negotiations of the implementation of the CePLA in mother’s neighborhood. Understanding that policies are inserted in a local framework that enable as well as shape them, we analyze how these mothers oscillated between the guidelines of the policy and their own way of approaching the problem from community aid. Focusing on the 2014-2017 period, we reconstruct the different moments of implementation of the CePLA and the changes that this entailed for mothers and their neighborhood.; Neste trabalho, nos propomos analisar o processo de implementação do Centro Local de Prevenção de Dependências (CePLA), que é co-gerido pela “Sedronar” e pela associação “Madres contra el Paco” (MCP), num município localizado na zona sul da área metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA). O dispositivo referido constitui uma nova forma de abordagem da problemática do consumo por parte da Sedronar a partir do paradigma da saúde mental e dos direitos humanos. Nesse sentido, interessa indagar nas condições de possibilidade, nas controvérsias e nas negociações que aconteceram na implementação do CePLA e no bairro onde as “Madres contra el Paco” moram. No entendimento de que as políticas públicas estão inseridas num particular entramado local que possibilita elas ao tempo que as define, pesquisaremos as oscilações das mães entre as diretrizes da política e o próprio jeito delas de resolver a problemática a partir da ajuda comunitária. Com foco no período 2014-2017, reconstruiremos as diferentes fases do processo de implementação do CePLA e ainda as mudanças que isso trouxe para as mães e o bairro delas.

El tránsito de lxs individuxs trans por el espacio público (Ciudad de Buenos Aires y localidades del conurbano bonaerense, 2017-2019); The circulation of transgender individuals in the public space (Buenos Aires and neighbor cities, 2017-2019) Godoy, Gabriel Cesar Este artículo está basado en una investigación empírica en la que me propongo comprender las características y las particularidades del tránsito de lxs individuxs trans por el espacio público y sus interacciones con otrxs transeúntes. El anclaje empírico que utilizo es el tránsito por el espacio público de individuxs trans que despliegan sus actividades cotidianas en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires y en localidades del conurbano bonaerense, desde 2019, en clave presente y retrospectiva. Empleo una estrategia cualitativa con énfasis en el análisis inductivo de los datos. Confecciono la muestra siguiendo las pautas del muestreo teórico. Recolecto y construyo los datos a partir de entrevistas en profundidad a individuxs trans en las que indago sobre sus experiencias cuando caminan por la calle e interactúan con otrxs transeúntes, como parte de su vida cotidiana. Como parte del análisis desarrollo dos categorías explicativas que ayudan a comprender el fenómeno en estudio: las características del tránsito de lxs individuxs trans por el espacio público y las interacciones que lxs individuxs trans mantienen con otrxs transeúntes. En las conclusiones apunto que el tránsito de las personas trans por el espacio público está signado por el constante riesgo —real y/o percibido— de ser rechazadas y/o agredidas por otrxs transeúntes, con motivo de su cualidad de trans. Estxs rechazos y agresiones varían principalmente en función de la apariencia definida según el ajuste o no a estándares de género vigentes (feminidad y masculinidad). Las posibilidades de ser objeto de rechazos y agresiones con motivo de la expresión de género conmina a individuxs —trans y no trans— a amoldarse a los estándares de género vigentes. Esta generización de lxs individuxs cuando transitan el espacio público constituye un efecto de los preceptos de género dominantes, pero también forma parte de la reproducción y el mantenimiento de esos preceptos.; This paper, based on an empirical research aiming to understand the circulation of transgender individuals in the public space and their interactions with others. Fieldwork is settled in Buenos Aires, since 2019. It follows a qualitative strategy based on inductive data analysis. The sample is theoretically constructed. Data have been collected through in-depth interviews with transgender individuals. Interviews examine their experiences as passers-by. The analysis is organized in two categories: circulation in the public space and interactions between transgender individuals and other passers-by. Conclusions: the circulation of transgender people in the public space is marked by the permanent risk —real and/or perceived— of being rejected and/or aggressed by other passers-by, based on their being transgender. The chances of being object of rejection and aggression by other passers-by vary in relation with the appearance defined according the degree of adjustment to the existing gender standards (femininity and masculinity). Chances of being rejected and aggressed due to their gender expression compels all individuals, regardless of their gender identity, to conform to current gender standards. Genderization of individuals when they circulate in the public space is an effect of the dominant gender standards, and it is also part of the reproduction and maintenance of those standards.

Distribución espacial del arbolado viario en el centro de la ciudad de Santiago del Estero (Argentina); Spatial distribution of street trees in the Center of the city of Santiago del Estero (Argentina); Distribuição espacial das árvores à beira da estrada no Centro da cidade de Santiago del Estero (Argentina) Arias, Maria Eugenia; Celemin, Juan Pablo Conocer la diversidad vegetal y su distribución espacial es esencial para la planificación urbana. El objetivo del estudio consistió en analizar la distribución espacial del arbolado viario del barrio Centro de la ciudad de Santiago del Estero (Argentina). Por lo que en el verano del año 2019 se realizó un censo en las 86 manzanas del barrio para conocer su composición florística. Se calculó abundancia, riqueza específica e índice de diversidad de Shannon-Wiener. Posteriormente, se confeccionaron mapas temáticos de la distribución espacial del arbolado con un sistema de información geográfica. El inventario presentó una abundancia de 3.125 ejemplares y una riqueza específica de 73 especies, siendo las de mayor dominancia numérica Citrus aurantium y Handroanthus impetiginosus. La distribución espacial del arbolado viario, presentó patrones similares de riqueza específica y abundancia, y un patrón de biodiversidad algo diferente a los anteriores con mayores valores en la periferia. La diversidad para todo el barrio presentó un valor medio de H=2,71 considerando el rango del índice de Shannon-Wiener. Este valor indica que existe una cantidad aceptable de especies en el área, por lo que la diversidad es media, con una distribución irregular.; Knowing the plant diversity and its spatial distribution is essential for urban planning. The objective of the study was to analyze the spatial distribution of street on the trees in the Downtown neighborhood of the city of Santiago del Estero (Argentina). Therefore, in the summer of 2019, a census was carried out in the 86 blocks of the neighborhood to know its floristic composition. Abundance, specific richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity index were calculated. Subsequently, thematic maps of the spatial distribution of the trees were created with a geographic information system. The inventory presented an abundance of 3.125 specimens and a specific richness of 73 species, with the greatest numerical dominance being Citrus aurantium and Handroanthus impetiginosus. The spatial distribution of street trees presented similar patterns of specific richness and abundance, and a biodiversity pattern somewhat different from the previous ones with higher values in the periphery. The diversity for the entire neighborhood presented a mean value of H = 2,71 considering the range of the Shannon-Wiener index. This value indicates that there is an acceptable number of species in the area, so the diversity is medium, with an irregular distribution.; Conhecer a diversidade vegetal e sua distribuição espacial é fundamental para o planejamento urbano. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a distribuição espacial das árvores à beira da estrada no bairro Centro da cidade de Santiago de Estero (Argentina). Portanto, no verão de 2019, foi realizado um censo nos 86 quarteirões do bairro para conhecer sua composição florística. Abundância, riqueza específica e índice de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener foram calculados. Posteriormente, foram feitos mapas temáticos da distribuição espacial das árvores com um sistema de informações geográficas. O inventário apresentou uma abundância de 3.125 espécimes e riqueza específica de 73 espécies, sendo o Citrus aurantium e o Handroanthus impetiginosus os mais dominantes numericamente. A distribuição espacial das árvores à beira da estrada apresentou padrões semelhantes de riqueza e abundância específica, e um padrão de biodiversidade um pouco diferente dos anteriores com valores mais elevados na periferia. A diversidade para todo o bairro apresentou valor médio de H = 2,71 considerando a amplitude do índice de Shannon-Wiener. Este valor indica que existe um número aceitável de espécies na área, logo a diversidade é média, com distribuição irregular.

Segregación social y equidad educativa en Chile y Argentina; Social segregation and educational equity in Chile and Argentina Miguez, Daniel Pedro; Beech, Jason; Nigro, Malena El propósito de este artículo consiste en comparar los niveles de segregación social en los sistemas educativos de Chile y Argentina y su relación con el acceso equitativo al saber escolarizado en ambos países. Complementariamente, nos proponemos explorar si las políticas de financiamiento de la educación orientadas por la lógica de libre mercado aplicadas en Chile, generaron niveles excepcionales de segregación social en comparación con Argentina, país en el que las políticas de financiación educativa preservaron la centralidad de la educación pública y gratuita. El análisis se realiza mediante el uso de brechas percentílicas en base a los datos PISA 2012. Se estiman los niveles de segregación según el nivel educativo de los padres, el porcentaje de estudiantes en las escuelas con mayores niveles de segregación y la asociación entre los niveles de segregación y el desempeño de los estudiantes en las Pruebas. El estudio muestra patrones de segregación complejos. En Chile los grados de segregación son mayores, pero la proporción de población en escuelas con alta segregación es baja y hay mayor equidad en la distribución del conocimiento. En Argentina hay menores grados de segregación, pero la proporción de la población en escuelas con alta segregación es mayor y hay mayor heterogeneidad en el acceso al conocimiento. Los patrones de segregación encontrados muestran matices que no confirman plenamente la hipótesis de partida. En este sentido, sugieren que la segregación social se daría con o sin mecanismos de mercado. Estos últimos no necesariamente introducen mayores niveles de inequidad y las formas y niveles de desigualdad varían según los aspectos o dimensiones del sistema educativo que se consideren.; The purpose of this article is to compare the levels of social segregation in the educational systems of Chile and Argentina and their relationship with equitable access to schooled knowledge in both countries. Based on this comparison, we will explore if the policies based on a ‘free market’ implemented in Chile generated exceptional levels of social segregation and inequalities in access to school knowledge when compared to Argentina, where education policies have retained the principle of public and free education with no selectivity. The analysis is carried out through the use of percentile gaps based on PISA 2012 data. The levels of segregation are estimated according to the educational level of parents, the percentage of students in schools with higher levels of segregation and the association between the levels of segregation and the performance of the students in the Tests. Result: the study shows complex segregation patterns. In Chile the degrees of segregation are higher, but the proportion of the population in highly segregated schools is low and there is greater equity in the distribution of knowledge. On the other hand, in Argentina there are lower degrees of segregation, but the proportion of the population in highly segregated schools is higher and there is greater heterogeneity in access to knowledge. The patterns of segregation found show nuances that do not fully confirm the initial hypothesis, but rather suggest that social segregation would occur with or without market mechanisms, that the latter do not necessarily introduce higher levels of inequity and that the forms and levels of inequality vary according to the aspects or dimensions of the educational system that are considered.

Un divertimento para cangrejos, mariposas, polillas, zorros y gallinas: vida clandestina y autobiografía en Guy Debord según Giorgio Agamben; A divertimento for crabs, butterflies, moths, foxes and chickens: clandestine life and autobiography in Guy Debord according to Giorgio Agamben Fleisner, Paula En el presente artículo se presenta una interpretación de la lectura agambeniana del asunto de la “vida privada” de Guy Debord tal como es considerada en el último volumen de la saga Homo Sacer a partir de su contextualización dentro de la obra tardía del Agamben. En primer lugar, se analiza la mención de "Guy" en Autorretrato en el estudio, la curiosa autoheterografía del filósofo publicada luego del abandono de la saga. Luego, a través de un recorrido por los tópicos debordianos que Agamben retomara en diversos escritos, y apelando a la noción de détournement así como a la valoración agambeniana de la comedia, se evalúa el semblante que el filósofo romano traza de su amigo en el contexto de sus reflexiones en torno a la forma-de-vida. De esta manera, se aborda la caracterización de Debord en el "Prólogo" de El uso de los cuerpos a partir de dos ejes que permitirían dimensionar su importancia para el desarrollo del libro: por un lado, la cuestión de la necesaria ridiculez de toda documentación de la vida privada y por el otro, la forma de vida debordiana como una contribución fundamental a la definición de la escurridiza idea de forma-de-vida que, como dirá más adelante es "algo que no existe todavía en su plenitud y puede atestiguarse sólo en lugares necesariamente no edificantes".; This paper offers an interpretation of Agamben’s reading of Guy Debord’s “private life” within the framework of the last volume of the Homo Sacer saga, as well as Agamben›s recent work. In the first place, we analyze the mention of “Guy” in Self-portrait in the study, the strange autoheterography the philosopher published after he abandoned the saga. Secondly, we assess the biographical sketch/profile the Roman philosopher presents of his friend in the context of his reflections on the form-of-life through a review of the Debordian topics Agamben has taken up in many of his writings, and resorting to the notion of détournement as well as to the Agambenian considerations about comedy. In this way, the characterization of Debord is approached in the “Prologue” of The use of bodies from two axes that could allow to measure its importance for the development of that book: on the one hand, the question of the necessary ridiculousness of all documentation of private life and, on the other, the Debordian way of life as a fundamental contribution to the definition of the elusive idea of form-of-life that, as he will say later, is “something that does not yet exist in its fullness and can be witnessed only in places not necessarily edifying”.

El duelo en el ámbito público: composiciones en torno a la ética del cuidado, la ontología de la vulnerabilidad y la interdependencia; Mourning in Public Space: Compositions around the Ethics of Care, the Ontology of Vulnerability and Interdependence Carmona, Diego Ezequiel En la actualidad los femicidios han generado en nuestro país numerosas manifestaciones públicas de duelo. Las mismas han suscitado debates en la ciudadanía que ponen en tensión diferentes sentidos en torno al duelar.Para aproximarnos a algunas de estas cuestiones realizamos un recorrido pautado en tres ejes. En primer lugar, seleccionamos fragmentos de conversaciones en la red social Facebook, a la que hemos dado en llamar ágora virtual. Allí buscamos detectar los sentidos en tensión en torno al duelo: ¿privado o público? ¿íntimo o colectivo?A partir de estos retazos proponemos pensar las implicancias políticas y éticas de estas concepciones reponiendo una breve historización del duelo en la Atenas de la Antigua Grecia.Por último, formulamos una ontología de la vulnerabilidad e interdependencia y nos preguntamos por sus posibilidades de derivación en una ética del cuidado.; At the present time, femicides have generated numerous public demonstrations of mourning in our country. They have sparked debates in the public, which put different senses in tension around mourning. To approach some of these questions, we designed an itinerary based on three axes. First, we select fragments of conversations on the social network Facebook, which we have called virtual agora. There, we seek to detect the meanings in tension around mourning: private or public? Intimate or collective? Starting from these fragments, we propose a reflection on the political and ethical implications of these conceptions by bringing a brief historicization of mourning in the Athens of Ancient Greece back up. Finally, we formulate an ontology of vulnerability and interdependence and we ask ourselves about its possibilities of derivation in an ethics of care.

Adaptación de la técnica Simple Sequence Length Polymorphism (SSLP) con reactivos locales para el control genético de ratones y ratas endocriadas Torales, Fátima Anabel; Miño, Orlando Samuel; Tau, Rocío Lucía; Ferreccio, Carola Maria; Bachir, Natalia Veronica; Romera, Sonia; Maidana, Silvina Soledad Uno de los problemas a los que se enfrenta la comunidad científica, los bioterios de producción y las empresas biotecnológicas es la autenticación genética de cepas consanguíneas de ratones y ratas utilizadas en la investigación, en producción y control de productos biológicos. Por lo tanto, nos propusimos adaptar, con insumos e infraestructura local, la técnica de SSLP utilizada internacionalmente para el monitoreo genético de animales de experimentación, e implementarla como servicio en Argentina. Seleccionaron 50 microsatelites (MITs) para diferenciar dos cepas de ratones y 26 para discriminar también dos de las cepas de ratas. Las reacciones de PCR para fueron realizadas según el protocolo sugerido por el fabricante de los reactivos, así como también las condiciones de ciclado. La electroforesis en gel de agarosa fue adaptada a las condiciones de nuestro laboratorio y los productos disponibles en nuestro país. Para la estandarización de la técnica se utilizó el ADN de cepas de ratones BALB/c y C57BL/6; y de ratas BN y SD/RiJ cedidas gentilmente por el Dr. Benavides. La validación de la técnica se llevó a cabo por dos operarios distintos, utilizando 2 termocicladores diferentes para evaluar la robustez de la misma. Se lograron amplificar exitosamente los 50 SSLP de ratones y 26 de ratas seleccionados, obteniéndose el patrón de bandas esperado para los controles utilizados. La técnica realizada con ADN de los controles positivos utilizados mostró ser robusta y 100% repetible, obteniéndose resultados idénticos por operarios diferentes y en termocicladores diferentes.; One of the problems faced by the scientific community, production farms and biotechnology companies is the genetic authentication of inbred strains of mice and rats used in research, production and control of biological products. Therefore, we set out to adapt, with local inputs and infrastructure, the SSLP technique used internationally for genetic monitoring of experimental animals, and implement it as a service in Argentina. They selected 50 microsatellites (MITs) to differentiate two strains of mice and 26 to also discriminate two of the strains of rats. The PCR reactions were performed according to the protocol suggested by the reagent manufacturer, as well as the cycling conditions. Agarose gel electrophoresis was adapted to the conditions of our laboratory and the products available in our country. For the standardization of the technique, the DNA of BALB / c and C57BL / 6 strains of mice was used; and BN and SD / RiJ rats kindly provided by Dr. Benavides. Two different operators, using two different thermal cyclers to evaluate its robustness, carried out the validation of the technique. The 50 SSLP of mice and 26 of rats were successfully amplified, obtaining the expected band pattern for the controls used. The technique carried out with DNA from the positive controls used proved to be robust and 100% repeatable, obtaining identical results by different operators and in different thermal cyclers.

Genome-wide analysis uncovers tomato leaf lncRNAs transcriptionally active upon Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato challenge Rosli, Hernan Guillermo; Sirvent, Emilia; Bekier, Florencia Nicole; Ramos, Romina Nahir; Pombo, Marina Alejandra Plants rely on (in)direct detection of bacterial pathogens through plasma membrane-localized and intracellular receptor proteins. Surface pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) participate in the detection of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and are required for the activation of pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). Pathogenic bacteria, such as Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) deploys ~ 30 effector proteins into the plant cell that contribute to pathogenicity. Resistant plants are capable of detecting the presence or activity of effectors and mount another response termed effector-triggered immunity (ETI). In order to investigate the involvement of tomato’s long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the immune response against Pst, we used RNA-seq data to predict and characterize those that are transcriptionally active in leaves challenged with a large set of treatments. Our prediction strategy was validated by sequence comparison with tomato lncRNAs described in previous works and by an alternative approach (RT-qPCR). Early PTI (30 min), late PTI (6 h) and ETI (6 h) differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs were identified and used to perform a co-expression analysis including neighboring (± 100 kb) DE protein-coding genes. Some of the described networks could represent key regulatory mechanisms of photosynthesis, PRR abundance at the cell surface and mitigation of oxidative stress, associated to tomato-Pst pathosystem.

Percepciones de estudiantes sobre compromiso académico y clima del aula: tendencias pasadas, presentes y futuras sobre una educación superior en transición Rigo, Daiana Yamila El artículo presenta dos estudios, uno desarrollado en el año 2019 y otro en el 2020, que tuvieron como objetivo general describir la percepción de estudiantes de nivel superior de educación sobre el clima de clase -presencial y virtual- y el compromiso académico antes y durante la pandemia. En total participaron 211 estudiantes argentinos, 102 del primer estudio con una edad media de 20,55 años (SD= 3,7), y 109 del segundo estudio, con un promedio de 22,3 años (SD=4,1). La investigación se desarrolló bajo una metodología mixta, utilizando para la recolección de datos tres instrumentos, dos estandarizados, para valorar clima de la clase y compromiso académico, y el otro de preguntas abiertas. Los resultados encontrados, en términos generales, mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la comparación por año, especialmente en todas las dimensiones del compromiso académico y del clima del aula, a excepción de equipamiento, a favor de la educación en pandemia. Asimismo, dan cuenta de la importancia de expandir los contextos educativos, promover la agencia y repensar la evaluación. Concluyendo sobre la importancia de pensar una educación en transición que valore aspectos positivos de la presencialidad y la virtualidad

Periodic bilayer organization in the complexes of Beta-2 Glycoprotein I with anionic lipid membranes Oliveira, Rafael Gustavo; Paolorossi Nucci, Mariana; Cavalcanti, Leide Passos; Malfatti Gasperini, Antonio; Montich, Guillermo Gabriel β2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI) is a soluble protein that participates in blood coagulation, clearance of apoptotic bodies and generation of antigens in antiphospholipid syndrome among many other functions. We studied the aggregates formed by β2GPI with the anionic phospholipids palmitoyloleoylphosphatidyl glycerol, dimyristoylphosphatidyl glycerol, dipalmitoylphosphatidyl glycerol and cardiolipin using small angle X-ray scattering. The complexes obtained in a medium containing 0.01 M NaCl showed Bragg peaks up to the sixth order in a well-defined integer sequence indicating the presence of a lamellar stacking with a periodicity of 17.8 nm and with largely reduced membrane fluctuations. Modeling the complex signal allowed us to conclude that the coherence length was only two bilayers and that about 15% of the total surface was actually stacked. The space between bilayers allows accommodating an extended β2GPI molecule making a bridge between the interacting bilayers. The interactions between membranes mediated by β2GPI was favored when the membranes were in the liquid crystalline state.

Effect of Hydroponic Green Forage Supplementation during Prepartum and Lactation on Sow and Litter Performances Velásquez Amores, Soledad; Breininger, Elizabeth; Lorenzo Smirnoff, Alejandra; Caggiano, Nicolás; De Simone, Emilio; Acerbo, Marcelo Carlos; De Luca Sarobe, Verónica The incorporation of fibre in the diet of pregnant sows improves the performance dur-ing pregnancy and increases voluntary consumption during lactation. Hydroponic green forage (HGF) constitutes a method of cultivation without soil in controlled environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the supplementation with HGF in lactating sows on productiveperformance and to investigate the metabolic state through the analysis of different biochemical parameters. Twelve sows of the Porcine Productive Unit of the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences were randomly assigned to 2 feeding groups: control (conventional diet) or HGF (hydroponic green forage diet, conventional diet supplemented with HGF) from 7 days prepartum until day 28 postpartum. Productive parameters in sows (weaning-to-oestrus interval and back fat thickness) and in the litter (number of piglets born and weaned, and piglet weight) were evaluated. The effect of the diet in the metabolism of the sows was evaluated by biochemical parameters (total plasma proteins, albumin, glucose, urea and creatinine). Supplementation with HGF did not significantly affect the litter size nor productive parameters but produced a higher weight of piglets at day 60. Although lactation affected some biochemical parameters, no substantial negative consequences of the HGF supplemented diet were observed. Our results suggest that the use of HGF could be an option to take into account in porcine production with economic and environmental benefits.

electroMicroTransport v2107: Open-source toolbox for paper-based electromigrative separations Gerlero, Gabriel Santiago; Marquez Damian, Santiago; Kler, Pablo Alejandro Paper-based electromigrative separations have recently gained relevance due to the rise of paper- based microfluidic devices and their combination with electrophoretic methods, used for many different analytical applications [1]. A new version of the open source toolbox electroMicroTransport for the numerical solution of electromigrative separations is presented, now featuring support for porous substrates, like paper, nitrocellulose and other materials used in paper-based microfluidics. This new version is based on a novel mathematical model for these phenomena recently published by our group. Similar to its previous versions, the toolbox was implemented using OpenFOAM®, meaning that it features native 3D problem handling, support for parallel computation, and a GNU GPL license. This new version of electroMicroTransport includes full support for electroosmotic flow and the novels mechanical and electrical dispersion effects. It is now integrated with a well-recognized electrolyte database with its own management utility, and also includes a renewed algorithm for computing and controlling the electric current drainage in arbitrary surfaces. Moreover, for the first time electroMicroTransport is available for installation as a Docker image, which means that it is able to correctly run on any operating system. Finally, new tutorial examples and a user manual are provided. This new version of electroMicroTransport will enable efficient and reliable numerical prototypes of paper-based electromigrative separations to boost the continuous growth of paper-based microfluidics.

Tetracycline Derivatives Inhibit Plasmodial Cysteine Protease Falcipain-2 through Binding to a Distal Allosteric Site Hernández González, Jorge Enrique; Alberca, Lucas Nicolás; Masforrol González, Yordanka; Reyes Acosta, Osvaldo; Talevi, Alan; Salas Sarduy, Emir Allosteric inhibitors regulate enzyme activity from remote and usually specific pockets. As they promise an avenue for less toxic and safer drugs, the identification and characterization of allosteric inhibitors has gained great academic and biomedical interest in recent years. Research on falcipain-2 (FP-2), the major papain-like cysteine hemoglobinase of Plasmodium falciparum, might benefit from this strategy to overcome the low selectivity against human cathepsins shown by active site-directed inhibitors. Encouraged by our previous finding that methacycline inhibits FP-2 noncompetitively, here we assessed other five tetracycline derivatives against this target and characterized their inhibition mechanism. As previously shown for methacycline, tetracycline derivatives inhibited FP-2 in a noncompetitive fashion, with Ki values ranging from 121 to 190 μM. A possible binding to the S′ side of the FP-2 active site, similar to that described by X-ray crystallography (PDB: 6SSZ) for the noncompetitive inhibitor E-chalcone 48 (EC48), was experimentally discarded by kinetic analysis using a large peptidyl substrate spanning the whole active site. By combining lengthy molecular dynamics (MD) simulations that allowed methacycline to diffuse from solution to different FP-2 surface regions and free energy calculations, we predicted the most likely binding mode of the ligand. Of note, the proposed binding pose explains the low differences in Ki values observed for the tested tetracycline derivatives and the calculated binding free energies match the experimental values. Overall, this study has implications for the design of novel allosteric inhibitors against FP-2 and sets the basis for further optimization of the tetracycline scaffold to produce more potent and selective inhibitors.

Electrical behaviour and evolutionary computation in thin films of bovine brain microtubules Vissol Gaudin, Eléonore; Pearson, Chris; Groves, Chris; Zeze, Dagou A.; Cantiello, Horacio Fabio; Cantero, Maria del Rocio; Petty, Michael C. We report on the electrical behaviour of thin films of bovine brain microtubules (MTs). For samples in both their dried and hydrated states, the measured currents reveal a power law dependence on the applied DC voltage. We attribute this to the injection of space-charge from the metallic electrode(s). The MTs are thought to form a complex electrical network, which can be manipulated with an applied voltage. This feature has been exploited to undertake some experiments on the use of the MT mesh as a medium for computation. We show that it is possible to evolve MT films into binary classifiers following an evolution in materio approach. The accuracy of the system is, on average, similar to that of early carbon nanotube classifiers developed using the same methodology.

Dino on the menu: Tooth traces in a sauropod epiphysis from the Presidente Prudente Formation (Campanian-Maastrichtian), Bauru Group, Brazil - palaeobiological and palaeoecological implications Gomes da Costa Pereira, Paulo Victor Luiz; Pedro Bogado, Joaquin; Baptista Ribeiro, Theo; Paiva Belfort, Leticia; de Valais, Silvina; Roberto dos Anjos Candeiro, Carlos Ichnofossils are a useful tool in determining some aspects of the palaeoecology from past ecosystems, being often used as evidence of interactions between extinct organisms. In this paper we describe tooth traces found in UFRJ-DG 705 R, a fragmentary sauropod epiphysis, from the Presidente Prudente Formation, Bauru Group. We infer that these traces were made by a small to medium-sized crocodyliform, most likely an itasuchid, in a possible act of necrophagy. This new record of tooth traces in the Bauru Group showcases important evidence concerning trophic relations between sauropods and crocodyliforms in this locality during the Late Cretaceous.

Amenaza de extinción de palmares de Butia yatay como resultado del avance de la actividad forestal en Colonia Pando (San Roque, Corrientes); Extinction threat of Butia yatay palm groves as a result of the progress of forestry activities at Colonia Pando (San Roque, Corrientes) Contreras, Félix Ignacio; Baruzzo, Mariana Noemí; Smichowski, Humberto; Milano, Micaela; Contreras, Silvina Andrea La transformación de paisajes naturales en Sudamérica surge como consecuencia del desarrollo humano, relacionado al crecimiento espacial de las ciudades o a la expansión agrícola, ya que ambas implican grandes superficies del territorio y más aún cuando los mismos se encuentran en constante crecimiento. En la provincia de Corrientes, la forestación de Pinus sp. y Eucaliptus sp. es en la actualidad la actividad económica de mayor desarrollo espacial sobre un paisaje local de lomadas arenosas. No obstante, si bien el crecimiento es sumamente significativo, existen muy pocos antecedentes de cómo la actividad forestal impacta sobre este paisaje, principalmente sobre especies autóctonas como los palmares de Butia yatay (Mart.) Becc. En este marco, el objetivo de este trabajo es dar a conocer cómo la expansión de la deforestación pone en riesgo los palmares naturales de Butia yatay, potenciando su extinción si no se regula esta actividad y se protegen especies en peligro. En este trabajo se propone enfatizar los estudios referidos al avance de la actividad forestal, dejando como antecedente la pérdida de uno de los principales componentes fitogeográficos del paisaje.; Landscape transformation of natural landscapes in South America rise up as a consequence of human development, related to the spatial growth of cities or agricultural expansion, since both involve large areas of the territory and even more so when they are constantly growing. In the Corrientes province, Eucalyptus and Pinus forestry. is at the present the economic activity with the greatest spatial development over a local landscape of sandy hills. Although the growth is extremely significant, there is very little previous on how forest activity impacts on this landscape, principally on native species such as the palms groves of Butia yatay (Mart.) Becc. In this context, the aim of this paper is to know how the expansion of forestry activity place the natural palm groves of Butia yatay at significant risk. This activity may bring them to extinction if this activity is not regulated and endangered species are not protected. In this paper it is proposed to emphasize the studies referring to the advancement of forestry activity, leaving as a precedent the loss of one of the main phytogeographic components of the landscape.

In vivo pair correlation microscopy reveals dengue virus capsid protein nucleocytoplasmic bidirectional movement in mammalian infected cells Sallaberry, Ignacio; Luszczak, Alexis; Philipp, Natalia; Costa Navarro, Guadalupe Soledad; Gabriel, Manuela; Gratton, Enrico; Gamarnik, Andrea Vanesa; Estrada, Laura Cecilia Flaviviruses are major human disease-causing pathogens, including dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus, yellow fever virus and others. DENV infects hundreds of millions of people per year around the world, causing a tremendous social and economic burden. DENV capsid (C) protein plays an essential role during genome encapsidation and viral particle formation. It has been previously shown that DENV C enters the nucleus in infected cells. However, whether DENV C protein exhibits nuclear export remains unclear. By spatially cross-correlating different regions of the cell, we investigated DENV C movement across the nuclear envelope during the infection cycle. We observed that transport takes place in both directions and with similar translocation times (in the ms time scale) suggesting a bidirectional movement of both C protein import and export. Furthermore, from the pair cross-correlation functions in cytoplasmic or nuclear regions we found two populations of C molecules in each compartment with fast and slow mobilities. While in the cytoplasm the correlation times were in the 2–6 and 40–110 ms range for the fast and slow mobility populations respectively, in the cell nucleus they were 1–10 and 25–140 ms range, respectively. The fast mobility of DENV C in cytoplasmic and nuclear regions agreed with the diffusion coefficients from Brownian motion previously reported from correlation analysis. These studies provide the first evidence of DENV C shuttling from and to the nucleus in infected cells, opening new venues for antiviral interventions.

Registro de depredación del peludo, Chaetophractus villosus (Desmarest, 1804), sobre un nido de cauquén común, Chloephaga picta , en el noroeste de Santa Cruz Cossa, Natalia Andrea; Gallo, Jorge Alberto; Fasola, Laura; Roesler, Carlos Ignacio; Abba, Agustin Manuel Presentamos el registro de un peludo depredando un nido activo de cauquén común, obtenido pormedio del monitoreo de nidos de esta especie con trampa camara. Los cauquenes no logran defenderel nido, el cual es depredado en su totalidad. Este registro confirma que el peludo es un depredadorde nidos de cauquenes, por lo que su presencia y densidad deberían tenerse en cuenta al momento deplanificar acciones de conservación para estas aves.; We present the record of a large hairy armadillo predating on an active Upland goose nest, obtained by monitoring nests of this species using camera traps. Upland geese were unable to defend the nest, which was entirely preyed upon. This record confirms that the armadillo is an Upland goose nest predator, so its presence and density should be taken into account when planning conservation actions for these birds.