Reproductive traits in four spontaneous Pappophorum vaginatum populations in arid Argentina Entio, Lisandro Jose; Mujica, Maria de la Merced; Busso, Carlos Alberto; Torres, Yanina Alejandra Arid zones, where native rangelands are common, are essentials for millions of people livelihood. These areas support 50% of the world's livestock and are where 44% of the world's food is grown. In rangelands of Central Argentina, Pappophorum vaginatum is basically the unique, warm-season perennial grass species palatable to grazing livestock. Our major objective was to determine variability in reproductive characteristics among four spontaneous, overgrazed populations (i.e., P1, P2, P3, P4) of that species to identify promissory materials for domestication. Studies were conducted during three consecutive growing seasons within the southwestern part of the Phytogeographical Province of the Monte, in southwestern Buenos Aires, Argentina. Measured reproductive characteristics were related to flowering initiation, seed production and natural reseeding potential. Significant differences were found for flowering initiation and natural reseeding potential, but not for viable anthecia per plant among the four populations of P. vaginatum. This species fructified from the beginning to the end of the studied growing seasons with a great anthecia production per plant. The light weight of these anthecia and their awns would favor a great wind dispersal and most likely the establishment of new seedlings of P. vaginatum. This suggests that sexual reproduction might have a relatively greater importance than asexual reproduction (i.e., tillering) in the persistence of the overgrazed P. vaginatum in the plant communities of the studied region. Selection of plant materials with a late flowering initiation will allow to extend the forage production of a better quality. The variability among and within populations found on this study support the idea that would be promissory to start selection programs to obtain improved germplasm to reincorporate to grasslands of the south of the Phytogeographical Region of the Monte (Argentina) not only to increase livestock production but to recover and maintain biodiversity.

Association of novel characterized sequence variations in the ζ-carotene desaturase (Zds) gene with yellow color and yellow pigment content in durum wheat cultivars Pasten, Maria Cielo; Roncallo, Pablo Federico; Camargo Acosta, Emily Yineth; Echenique, Carmen Viviana; Garbus, Ingrid In durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum), grown primarily for the production of pasta and other food products, yellow color is an important quality standard. This trait is linked to several different aspects, such as processing conditions, degradation by enzymes, environmental factors and, most importantly, the natural concentration of yellow carotenoid pigments. One of the crucial phases in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway is carotene desaturation, and it is catalyzed by two desaturases: Phytoene desaturase (PDS) and ζ-Carotene desaturase (ZDS). In this study, we report the presence of two polymorphisms in the Zds genes that strongly suggest that this gene is duplicated in the durum wheat A and B genomes, providing valuable knowledge about the distribution of this gene in durum wheat germplasm. The polymorphism detected in the A genome was successfully associated with differences in the phenotypic expression of yellow pigment in 133 durum wheat cultivars, thus constituting a novel functional marker for use in breeding programs that aim to improve pasta quality and which contributes to a better understanding of the inheritance of color traits in durum wheat.

Role of coherence in quantum-dot-based nanomachines within the Coulomb blockade regime Ribetto, Federico Daniel; Bustos Marun, Raul Alberto; Calvo, Hernan Laureano During the last decades, quantum dots within the Coulomb blockade regime of transport have been proposed as essential building blocks for a wide variety of nanomachines. This includes thermoelectric devices, quantum shuttles, quantum pumps, and even quantum motors. However, in this regime, the role of quantum mechanics is commonly limited to provide energy quantization while the working principle of the devices is ultimately the same as their classic counterparts. Here, we study quantum-dot-based nanomachines in the Coulomb blockade regime, but in a configuration where the coherent superpositions of the dots' states plays a crucial role. We show that the studied system can be used as the basis for different forms of "true"quantum machines that should only work in the presence of these coherent superpositions. We analyze the efficiency of these machines against different nonequilibrium sources (bias voltage, temperature gradient, and external driving) and the factors that limit it, including decoherence and the role of the different orders appearing in the adiabatic expansion of the charge/heat currents.

Análisis comparativo de las relocalizaciones compulsivas urbana y rural: La represa de Itá (Santa Catarina y Rio Grande del Sur, Brasil) Catullo, María Rosa En este trabajo estudiamos los efectos de la construcción de la represa de Itá ubicada en el río Uruguay, entre los municipios de Itá (Estado de Santa Catarina) y Aratiba (Estado de Río Grande do Sur), La misma formó un lago que tiene una cota de 370 metros ( respecto al nivel del mar), con un volumen total de 5.l00 millones de metros cúbicos, ocupando l4l Km² de área total. Presenta un potencial instalado de l620 MW y afectó en su gran mayoría áreas rurales, parcialmente el municipio de Marcelino Ramos (RS ) y en su totalidad la sede del municipio de Itá (SC). Nos focalizaremos en el municipio de Itá, donde se relocalizaron pequeños productores rurales y la ciudad de Itá en su totalidad.Consideramos importante analizar comparativamente las respuestas y estrategias de la población rural que se organizó en la Comissão Regional de Atingidos por Barragem (CRAB), resistiendo a la construcción de la represa, en contraposición a la población de la ciudad de Itá que estuvo mayormente, a favor de la misma. Además, la ciudad de Itá es un caso único, donde se relocalizó toda su población, incluyendo su cementerio, con el stress que esto conllevó a sus habitantes.

Austerity Programs in Argentina and the Structural Continuity of Extractivism: A Feminist Perspective Laterra, Patricia Anahí; Eliosoff, María Julia; Costantino, María Agostina The government that took office in Argentina in December 2015 shaped a mode of development oriented toward finance and extractivism, trade and capital liberalization, and austerity policies. One of the main goals was to reduce the fiscal deficit and to lower domestic production costs in order to increase international competitiveness. Many measures implemented, such as the pension reform of 2017, budget cuts in gender-sensitive areas, and the change in the nature of social policies, had a differential impact on women and LGBT people when compared to men. However, beyond the measures taken by a particular government, the characteristics of extractivism and land concentration are structural dimensions with profound biases in their impacts in terms of gender.

Proyecto para evaluar la generación de biogás a partir de los desechos de biomasa (sustrato gastado) de la producción de hongos comestibles Perez Chávez, Ana Marión; Mayer, Leopoldo; Alberto, Edgardo Omar En el último tiempo, la Argentina ha impulsado el uso de fuentes de energía renovables, lo que incluye la utilización de residuos agrícolas para generar bioenergía. El biogás es un combustible producido por digestión anaeróbica que ha sido considerado una de las tecnologías más sustentables y de bajo costo. En la producción de hongos se descartan miles de toneladas de sustrato lignocelulósico que podría emplearse para la generación de biogás, por haber sido sometido a un pretratamiento enzimático que hace más adecuados los materiales para la digestión bacteriana. Recientemente, hemos empleado el sustrato agotado de dos hongos comestibles para la producción de biogás: Pleurotus ostreatus con paja de trigo en codigestión con estiércol ovino, y aserrín proveniente de Gymnopilus pampeanus. Hemos probado que la acción del hongo en el sustrato favorece la generación de biogás. Para llevar a escala este proyecto, se instalará un laboratorio de análisis bioquímico que contará con tres biodigestores automatizados (15 L) en los cuales se evaluará la cantidad de biogás producido con varios sustratos agotados. Asimismo, se analizarán los lodos resultantes y se evaluará su uso como fertilizantes de campo. Adicionalmente, se montará un biodigestor de 50 m3 para determinar la producción de biogás a escala piloto.

Sleep hygiene impacts on episodic memories in young and older adults during quarantine by Covid-19: preliminary results Tassone, Leonela Magali; Moyano, Malen Daiana; Solferino, C.; Feldberg, Carolina; Tartaglini, Maria Florencia; Brusco, I.; Forcato, Cecilia Sleep benefits off-line memory consolidation. Due to quarantine by Covid-19, sleep routines and sleep quality were affected. Preliminary results from our Lab showed that episodic memory formation is impaired by emotional variables, such as anxiety and depression. We hypothesize that sleep hygiene during quarantine positively impacts memory processes and emotional variables. To test this, we perform a 21-day study. Young and older participants were trained on the episodic memory task (video of neutral content). On day 7 they were tested and half of them began a sleep hygiene program. On day 14, participants were trained in a new episodic task and were tested on day 21. We found that young and older adults that received the sleep hygiene treatment had a positive impact on memory performance. Furthermore, older adults had better performance in memory recognition than young adults independently of the hygiene treatment. Moreover, older adults that received the sleep hygiene treatment showed a positive correlation between the total amount of sleep hygiene activities and the amount of correct recognition as well as a negative correlation with false recognition. We did not found a significant effect on emotional variables. These results demonstrate that sleep hygiene can be an effective tool for young and older adults to improve memory, however one-week treatment is not enough to induce emotional improvements.

Corrigendum to “Radiocarbon dates of fossil record assigned to mylodontids (Xenarthra-Folivora) found in Cueva del Milodón, Chile” [Quat. Sci. Rev. 251 (2020) 106695] Pérez, Leandro Martín; Toledo, Néstor; Mari, Florencia; Echeverría, Ignacio; Tonni, Eduardo Pedro; Toledo, Marcelo Javier When this paper was first published there was an error in Table 1. In Table 1, row 13, the radiocarbon age Beta-164896 13,490 ± 40 BP should be replaced by Beta-164896 13,480 ± 40 BP [Calibration (1s) ¼ 16,255-16,084 cal BP; reliability scoring performed ¼ low]. The first publication of this radiocarbon date was in Borrero and Martin (2012a; p. 106, Table 1), although F. M. Martin previously referred to this data in her Doctoral Thesis (2008; p. 346, Table 11.2). This change does not modify the discussion and the conclusions of the article. Martin, F.M., 2008. Tafonomía y paleoecología de la transicion Pleistoceno-Holoceno en Fuego-Patagonia. Interacci on entre poblaciones humanas y de carnívoros y su importancia como agentes en la formacion del registro f osil. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Uni- versidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. 605 pp. http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/4376.

A stringent response-defective Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens does not activate the type-3-secretion system, elicits early plant defense, and circumvents NH 4 NO 3 -induced inhibition of nodulation Pérez Giménez, Julieta; Iturralde, Esteban Tomás; Torres Tejerizo, Gonzalo Arturo; Quelas, Juan Ignacio; Krol, Elizaveta; Borassi, Cecilia; Becker, Anke; Estevez, Jose Manuel; Lodeiro, Anibal When subjected to nutritional stress, bacteria modify their amino acid metabolism and cell division activities by means of the stringent response, which is controlled by the Rsh protein in alphaproteobacteria. An important group of alphaproteobacteria are the rhizobia, which fix atmospheric N2 in symbiosis with legume plants. Although nutritional stress is common for rhizobia while infecting legume roots, the stringent response was scarcely studied in this group of soil bacteria. In this report, we obtained a mutant in the rsh gene of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, the N2-fixing symbiont of soybean. This mutant was defective for type-3-secretion system induction, plant-defense suppression at early root infection, and competition for nodulation. Furthermore, the mutant produced smaller nodules, although with normal morphology, which lead to lower plant biomass production. Soybean genes GmRIC1 and GmRIC2, involved in autoregulation of nodulation, were upregulated in plants inoculated with the mutant in N-free condition. In addition, when plants were inoculated in the presence of 10 mM NH4NO3, the mutant produced nodules containing bacteroids, and GmRIC1 and GmRIC2 were downregulated. The rsh mutant released more auxin to the culture supernatant than the wild type, which might in part explain its symbiotic behavior in the presence of combined-N. These results indicate that B. diazoefficiens stringent response integrates into the plant defense suppression and regulation of nodulation circuits in soybean, perhaps mediated by the type-3-secretion system.IMPORTANCE The symbiotic N2 fixation carried out between prokaryotic rhizobia and legume plants performs a substantial contribution to the N-cycle in the biosphere. This symbiotic association is initiated when rhizobia infect and penetrate the root hairs, which is followed by the growth and development of root nodules within which the infective rhizobia are established and protected. Thus, the nodule environment allows the expression and function of the enzyme complex that catalyzes N2 fixation. However, during early infection the rhizobia find a harsh environment while penetrating the root hairs. To cope with this nuisance, the rhizobia mount a stress response known as stringent response. In turn, the plant regulates nodulation in response to the presence of alternative sources of combined-N in the surrounding medium. Control of these processes is crucial for a successful symbiosis, and here we show how the rhizobial stringent response may modulate plant defense suppression and the networks of regulation of nodulation.

''Los mejores, los más preparados'': Presidentes y gabinetes con sesgo empresarial en América Latina (2000-2019) Nercesian, Ines Los estudios acerca de las élites y el perfil de los gabinetes son muy vastos; sin embargo, son pocos quienes han estudiado el fenómeno desde una perspectiva comparativa. En este artículo analizaremos los Gobiernos con perfil empresarial en América Latina durante el período 2000-2019. Tomamos los casos de Mauricio Macri en Argentina, Michel Temer en Brasil y Vicente Fox en México; Sebastián Piñera en Chile, Álvaro Uribe en Colombia, Elías Antonio Saca en El Salvador, Horacio Cartes en Paraguay y Pedro Pablo Kuczynski en Perú. A partir de una estrategia metodológica que combina técnicas cualitativas y cuantitativas, estudiaremos los mecanismos de reclutamiento y el perfil educativo y ocupacional de los gabinetes. La hipótesis de trabajo sostiene que existe un sesgo y visión empresarial común y una orientación hacia el mundo de las actividades financieras y extranjerizadas. Este rasgo de la política estatal responde a ciertas dinámicas complejas del capitalismo del siglo xxi.; There are many studies about elites and the make-up of government cabinets; few, however, have studied the phenomenon from a comparative perspective. In this article we will analyze pro-business governments in Latin America during the period 2000-2019. We studied the cases of Mauricio Macri in Argentina, Michel Temer in Brazil and Vicente Fox in Mexico; Sebastián Piñera in Chile, Álvaro Uribe in Colombia, Elías Antonio Saca in El Salvador, Horacio Cartes in Paraguay and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in Peru. In this investigation we combine qualitative and quantitative techniques to determine the recruitment mechanisms and the educational and occupational profiles of cabinet members. The working hypothesis argues that there is a common pro-business bias and perspective and a focus on financial and foreign activities. This feature of state policy reflects certain complex dynamics of 21stcentury capitalism.

In vitro antiviral activity of nordihydroguayretic acid and its tetramethylated derivative on Arbovirus with medical-veterinary importance Martinez, Florencia; Aguilar, Javier; Contigiani, Marta; Núñez Montoya, Susana Carolina; Konigheim, Brenda Salome In the search for new antiviral agents from native plant species, we began studying Larrea divaricata CAV. (Zigophyllaceae) and its main metabolite: nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). The antiviral effect of NDGA and its derivatives has been reported in numerous studies, the range of viruses evaluated is wide. However, there are few reports on arboviruses. We aimed to evaluate the in vitro effect of NDGA and its tetra methylated derivative, NDGA-4-M, on arbovirus: Chikungunya (CHIKV), St. Louis encephalitis (SLEV), Bunyamwera (BUNV) and Dengue types 1 and 4 (DENV-1, DENV-4), trying to establish the stages of the viral replication cycle affected.

Desafíos y especificidades de la arqueología de campos de batalla en la Argentina: los casos de las batallas de Cepeda (1859) y Pavón (1861) Leoni, Juan Bautista En este trabajo se discute el rol que la arqueología de campos de batalla puede jugar en la reconstrucción de los hechos históricos ocurridos en ellos, así como las especificidades y desafíos que enfrenta su práctica en nuestro medio, en particular en lo referente a batallas ocurridas durante el siglo XIX. Empleamos como ejemplo nuestras investigaciones en curso de las batallas de Cepeda (1859) y Pavón (1861) tanto para ilustrar algunas de las contribuciones realizadas hasta el momento, como para discutirlos aspectos principales que diferencian estos casos de otros contemporáneos de Europa y América del Norte y que pueden plantear límites al potencial interpretativo del enfoque arqueológico.; In this paper I discuss the role that battlefield archaeology can play in the reconstruction of the historical events that took place in those locations, as well as the specificities and challenges that its practice faces in our country, especially with regards to XIXth century battles. I use as example our ongoing investigations at Cepeda (1859) and Pavón (1861) battlefields to illustrate both some of the contributions that can be made, as well as the main aspects that differentiate these cases from contemporary battles in Europe and North America, which can pose limitations to the interpretive potential of the archaeological approach.

¿Dejan Huellas las pandemias?, tras los legados de la COVID-19; Do Pandemics Leave Traces? After the Legacies of COVID -19 Alvarez, Adriana Carlina Desde que a fines del 2019 se encendió la alerta máxima de las autoridades sanitarias internacionales por una pandemia que azotaba al mundo (la más letal de esta centuria), los ensayos en las Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades se multiplicaron con la finalidad de encontrar posibles explicaciones a este presente pandémico y a la pos pandemia. Este trabajo forma parte de esa ebullición intelectual que bucea en ese proceso que es inacabado, pero que en tanto crisis sanitaria aplica para ser analizada en forma de espejo con otras de su tipo que asolaron el territorio argentino en los siglos XIX y XX. El eje que hilvana el texto son los legados, huellas, o basamentos que dejaron los episodios “plagáticos” y en los cambios que vehiculizaron sobre la base de la multiplicidad de problemas que pusieron al desnudo. Es en esa clave y de manera provisoria que pone el acento en el SARS CoV2 y sus posibles legados.; Since at the end of 2019 the maximum alert of the international health authorities was lit for a pandemic that was hitting the world (the most lethal of this century), trials in the Social Sciences and Humanities have multiplied in order to find possible explanations for this pandemic present and the post pandemic. This work is part of that intellectual boiling that plunges into that process that is unfinished, but that as a health crisis can be analyzed in the form of a mirror with others of its kind that ravaged the Argentinean territory in the 19th and 20th centuries. The axis that ties the text together are the legacies, traces, or foundations left by the "plagiarism" episodes and in the changes that they carried out on the basis of the multiplicity of problems that they laid bare. It is in this key and in a provisional way that it emphasizes SARS CoV2 and its possible legacies.

Una política de la memoria universitaria: El caso de la Facultad de Ciencias Humanas (UNICEN) en su cincuentenario Di Salvo, Luciano Daniel; Ramon, Maria Florencia En el marco de las conmemoraciones por los Cincuenta años de la creación de la Facultad de Ciencias del Hombre (actualmente Facultad de Ciencias Humanas) emerge la necesidad de construcción colectiva de una memoria, en la cual las tensiones subyacentes juegan un rol importante a la hora de la configuración de una política respecto de las formas de abordaje de su pasado institucional. La escasez de material documental planteó una dinámica específica, en la cual la participación de los actores de la comunidad educativa, con el aporte de sus archivos personales, y la convocatoria a organizaciones de Derechos Humanos, permitieron la construcción de una historia institucional, a la vez que develaron la carencia de una política institucional de resguardo de documentación y construcción de memoria. Estas dificultades pusieron en evidencia la tensión que subyace respecto de los posicionamientos ideológicos a lo largo de la propia historia de la institución, así como también la desidia respecto de la conservación y preservación del material. La experiencia recogida a lo largo de dichas conmemoraciones enriquecieron nuestro trabajo encarado previamente por el Programa Institucional Archivo Histórico Digital Comunitario, que con la propia Facultad llevamos adelante.

“Caminante no hay camino, se hace arqueología al andar”: Reflexiones en torno a una arqueología política; “There is no way to walk, archaeology is made when walking”: Reflections on a political archaeology Gilardenghi, Esteban Ezequiel Este trabajo plantea una serie de preguntas tendientes a discutir los valores y normas impuestas en la arqueología argentina, por ejemplo ¿Es posible cambiar nuestras prácticas?,¿De qué modo podemos democratizar y diversificar la arqueología?,¿Desde dónde y cómo hacerlo? La arqueología, en nuestro país, esta demarcada por las exigencias académicas, las cuales definen el tipo de ciencia que llevamos adelante, desde como publicamos hasta cual es el objeto de estudio de la arqueología, pasando por las relaciones dentro de los equipos de investigación. En consonancia con esto, todo aquello (prácticas, metodologías, marcos teóricos, etc.) que caiga fuera de esa orbita predefinida es, muchas veces, cuestionado e ignorado. A partir de la enumeración y descripción de diversas situaciones, bosquejo, lo que para mí es la arqueología en nuestro país. Finalmente, ejemplifico con diferentes casos, como es posible una visión innovadora que subvierta las características de la actual arqueología argentina, al mismo tiempo propongo el concepto de anarco-epistemología para enfrentar al disciplinamiento del que somos parte.; This work raises a series of questions aimed at discussing the values and norms imposed on Argentine archeology, such as: is it possible to change our practices? How can we democratize and diversify archaeology? How should changes be introduced and from what perspective? Archaeology, in our country, is constrained by academic requirements, which define the type of science we carry out, from how we should publish to what is the object of studying archaeology, through the relationships within research teams. In line with this/Accordingly, everything (practices, methodologies, theoretical frameworks, etc.) that falls outside that predefined orbit/area/arena is often questioned and ignored. From the enumeration and description of various situations, I outline what I consider archaeology in our country. Finally, I illustrate a possible innovative vision that subverts the characteristics of current Argentine archaeology. In addition, I propose/put forward the concept of anarcho-epistemology to face the discipline to which we belong

Quantification and composition analysis of plastic pollution in riverine beaches of the lower Paraná River, Argentina Mitchell, Clara; Quaglino, María Cecilia; Posner, Victoria Maria; Arranz, Silvia Eda; Sciara, Andres Angel Plastic pollution and the numerous consequences it has on aquatic life have become a huge concern in recent years. While many studies have been conducted in marine environments, studies in freshwater ecosystems are scarce and insufficient. The Paraná River is the most important water course in the La Plata River basin and the fifth in the world with a mean annual discharge of 18,000 m3 per second. Currently available studies show the presence of plastic in river shores and fish gut, but more research should be carried out in order to know the extension and origin of plastic contamination. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify and characterize macro-, meso-, and microplastics found in the riverine beaches next to Rosario city, the most populated city standing by the lower Paraná River coast in Argentina. The results show that plastic pollution is ubiquitous, but the city shores are significantly more polluted than the wetland shore with a mean of 30,780 and 6375 microplastics per square meter respectively (p = 0.024). The food and beverage industry packaging combined were the most frequent macroplastics found. Also, 3 out of 4 meso- and microplastics were white/transparent, the color that is most likely to be ingested by fish and invertebrates. Finally, all micro- and mesoplastics found were secondary and, in the case of microplastics, they were mainly fibers (93.4%) which highlight its ecological relevance. As a whole, plastic contamination is a serious issue in the Rosario area, specially single-use plastics and short-lived products. The anthropic effect of the cities and how it contributes to plastic pollution are evident.

¿Agenda cultural o espacio de intervención política?: La sección «Información general» en la revista del Colegio Libre; Cultural agenda or a space for political intervention?: «Información general» section in Colegio Libre´s journal Lizalde, Ornela Este artículo es una aproximación al estudio de la revista Cursos y conferencias (Buenos Aires, 1931‒1960), editada por el Colegio Libre de Estudios Superiores. Se centra en el análisis de la sección «Información general» durante el período en que la revista estuvo bajo la dirección de Arturo Frondizi (1941‒1952). En esos años, Frondizi puso en juego una serie de cambios que apuntaron a transformar la publicación en una empresa cultural autónoma; entre ellos, la formación de una sección de interés general que a partir de 1946 creció hasta ocupar un lugar central en la revista. El análisis de estas publicaciones permite afirmar que el alcance de esta sección excedió los límites de la mera «agenda cultural» funcionando como «punto de fuga», una zona menos vigilada a la cual se desplazó el lenguaje político, y un espacio de sociabilidad desde el que se establecieron redes de relaciones personales e institucionales.; This paper approaches the study of the journal Cursos y Conferencias (Buenos Aires, 1931–1960), published by Colegio Libre de Estudios Superiores. It focuses in the analysis of «Información general» section in the period in which the journal was directed by Arturo Frondizi (1941–1952). In those years, Frondizi brought into play a series of changes that aimed to transform the publication into an autonomous cultural enterprise; among them, the formation of a section of general interest that, from 1946, grew to occupy a central place in the journal. The analysis of these publications allows us to affirm that the scope of this section exceeded the limits of the mere «cultural agenda» serving as a «vanishing point», a less guarded area to which political language moved, and a space of sociability from which networks of personal and institutional relationships were established.

In silico selection and evaluation of pugnins with antibacterial and anticancer activity using skin transcriptome of treefrog (Boana pugnax) Liscano, Yamil; Medina, Laura; Oñate Garzón, Jose; Gúzman, Fanny; Pickholz, Mónica Andrea; Delgado, Jean Paul In order to combat bacterial and cancer resistance, we identified peptides (pugnins) with dual antibacterial l–anticancer activity from the Boana pugnax (B. pugnax) skin transcriptome through in silico analysis. Pugnins A and B were selected owing to their high similarity to the DS4.3 peptide, which served as a template for their alignment to the B. pugnax transcriptome, as well as their function as part of a voltage-dependent potassium channel protein. The secondary peptide structure stability in aqueous medium was evaluated as well, and after interaction with the Escherichia coli (E. coli) membrane model using molecular dynamics. These pugnins were synthesized via solid-phase synthesis strategy and verified by Reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and mass spectrometry. Subsequently, their alpha-helix structure was determined by circular dichroism, after which antibacterial tests were then performed to evaluate their antimicrobial activity. Cytotoxicity tests against cancer cells also showed selectivity of pugnin A toward breast cancer (MFC7) cells, and pugnin B toward prostate cancer (PC3) cells. Alternatively, flow cytometry revealed necrotic cell damage with a major cytotoxic effect on human keratinocytes (HaCaT) control cells. Therefore, the pugnins found in the transcriptome of B. pugnax present dual antibacterial– anticancer activity with reduced selectivity to normal eukaryotic cells.

Autoengaño Fernández Acevedo, Gustavo; Vorano, Agostina En la presente entrada, se analizan algunos de los aspectos más importantes del autoengaño y algunos de los problemas más significativos que este fenómeno suscita, desde la perspectiva de la filosofía de la mente de tradición analítica.

Sexual aggression in mammals Cassini, Marcelo Hernan In non-human mammals, sexual conflict should be particularly intense because males rarely provide parental care. An expected consequence of sexual conflict is male aggression towards mates. Considering how complex measurements and interpretations of behaviours such as sexual aggression and sexual coercion are, I preferred to define operationally, as ‘sexual disturbance’, any male behaviour towards females during the pericopulatory period that can be costly for females. The objectives in this review were as follows: 1) to estimate how widespread sexual disturbance is among mammals, 2) to analyse the types of female response to sexual disturbance, and 3) to characterise the costs of sexual disturbance to females. I conducted a systematic review by searching the literature in the Web of Knowledge database using the search tools available for 19 main journals, and I conducted a qualitative review via a taxon-by-taxon analysis. Sexual disturbance was frequent in four of the 32 mammalian orders: Primates, Artiodactyla, Carnivora, and Cetacea, which all include highly polygynous taxa. The most common expression of sexual conflict around copulation is seen in behaviours associated with female retention attempts that cause minor harm. Research suggests that the most common response of females to sexual disturbance comprises female grouping around a dominant male.; 1. En mamíferos no-humanos, el conflicto sexual puede ser particularmente intenso debido a que los machos raramente proveen cuidado parental. Una consecuencia esperada del conflicto sexual es la agresión sexual hacia las parejas reproductivas. Considerando que las medidas e interpretaciones de conductas tales como la agresión sexual y la coerción social pueden ser muy complejas, preferí definir operacionalmente como ’perturbación sexual’ a cualquier comportamiento de los machos hacia hembras durante el período peri-copulatorio que podría ser costoso para las hembras. 2. Los objetivos de esta revisión fueron: 1) estimar cuan difundida está la perturbación sexual entre los mamíferos, 2) analizar los tipos de respuestas de las hembras a la perturbación sexual, y 3) caracterizar los costos de la perturbación sexual para las hembras. Realicé una revisión sistemática buscando publicaciones en internet, usando las herramientas de búsqueda disponibles en 19 revistas científicas relevantes, y conduje una revisión cualitativa a través de un análisis taxón por taxon. 3. La perturbación sexual fue frecuente en cuatro de 32 órdenes de mamíferos: Primates, Artiodactyla, Carnivora y Cetacea, los cuales en todos los casos incluyen taxones altamente poligínicos. La expresión más común del conflicto sexual alrededor de la cópula son conductas asociadas a intentos de retención de las hembras que producen un daño menor.