Expression of internal reproductive barriers in a germplasm bank accession of the wild potato Solanum chacoense Bitter in three ex situ regeneration cycles Poulsen Hornum, Anabela; Camadro, Elsa Lucila Wild potatoes (Solanum sp.) are important reservoirs of desirable genes for potato breeding. Most of them are diploid and obligate outcrossers, with both sexual and asexual reproduction. Samples of natural populations are ex situ conserved as accessions in germplasm banks for basic and applied ends, and are regenerated when seed number, seed viability or both decrease. The possible action of within accession internal reproductive barriers is not considered in the current seed regeneration protocols, in which 20 to 25 plants are cultivated for the crossing work. Notwithstanding, the effective number of progenitors (Ne) in every seed regeneration cycle might be reduced in relation to the real number (N) of plants if internal reproductive barriers were acting; this process can eventually lead to gene erosion. To ascertain if Ne = N in seed regeneration of one randomly provided accession of S. chacoense Bitter, pollen viability and size, plus pollen-pistil relationships and number and type (according to endosperm development) of seeds/fruit were studied, respectively, at the individual plant and genotypic combination levels. Two types of barriers, pre-zygotic (pollen-pistil self- and cross-incompatibility) and post-zygotic (male sterility and inviability and weakness of F1 hybrids) were detected in three growing seasons, indicating that not all genotypes in this accession made an equal allele contribution to the next generation. These results should be an alert for germplasm bank curators of wild potatoes and other crop wild relatives. Since the objective of germplasm banks is the ex situ maintenance of the natural genetic diversity, strategies need to be devised based on genetic premises.

Natural modes of the two-fluid model of two-phase flow Clausse, Alejandro; López de Bertodano, Martín A physically based method to derive well-posed instances of the two-fluid momentum transport equations from first principles is presented. The basic tools used in this endeavor are the variational principles of field theory, namely, the Hamilton principle and the virtual power principle. The state of the two-fluid flow is represented by the superficial velocity and the drift flux, instead of the average velocities of each fluid. This generates the conservation equations of the two principal motion modes naturally: the global center-of-mass flow and the relative velocity between fluids. Well-posed equations can be obtained by modeling the storage and exchange of kinetic energy in fluctuations structures induced by the interaction between fluids, like wakes and vortexes. In this way, the equations can be regularized without losing in the process the kinetic instabilities responsible for flow-patterns formation and transition. A specific case of vertical air-water flow is analyzed showing the capability of the present model to predict the formation of the slug flow regime as a train of solitons.

Problemáticas urbano ambientales en torno a la expansión urbana en el Partido de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina Rodriguez Tarducci, Rocio; Cortizo, Daniela Ethel; Frediani, Julieta Constanza El proceso de urbanización territorial muchas veces con escasa planificación y casi sin regulación por parte del Estado, produce transformaciones que impactan directamente sobre el uso y cobertura del suelo. En el Partido de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, el avance urbano residencial y la ocupación de suelo sobre áreas no urbanizables en el sector periurbano se intensificaron durante los últimos años, con el incremento de problemáticas urbano ambientales perjudiciales para el territorio y población. El objetivo de esta publicación consiste en analizar algunas de las problemáticas urbano ambientales más relevantes actuales producto de la expansión y ocupación del suelo, y las consecuencias que podrían ocasionarse a futuro si no se toman las medidas que incluyan la regulación y planificación urbana. La metodología se plantea principalmente a través del análisis de la cartografía temática y el cruce de los datos y variables existentes. Los resultados de la investigación demuestran la complejidad de los procesos territoriales, así como la necesidad de conocer y estudiar en profundidad estas cuestiones para pensar en posibles estrategias de abordaje del territorio al momento de planificar el crecimiento de la ciudad, con el fin de promover ciudades más sustentables y justas.

Fusarium tricinctum associatted with Head Blight on barley in Argentina: pathogenicity and potential degradation of different hordein fractions Martínez, Mauro; Dinolfo, María Inés; Nogueira, María Soledad; Stenglein, Sebastian Alberto The objective of the present work was to evaluate the pathogenicity of Fusarium tricinctum in barley and to determine the potential effects on grain quality, more specifically regarding the hordein fractions. For this purpose, Koch´s postulates were carried out to evaluate the pathogenicity of F. tricinctum in barley, under greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, the ability of F. tricinctum to degrade hordeins was tested by a sequential extraction method, and separated by polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Finally, the relative abundance of each hordein fractions (D, C, and B-hordeins) was measured. The results demonstrated that F. tricinctum was pathogenic when barley spikes were inoculated, also showing that F. tricinctum could degrade barley C-hordeins by 21.80% of the total C-hordein content.

Assessment of lignocellulosic residues from Northern Patagonian Andes (Argentina) for cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus Roggero Luque, Juan Manuel; Rugolo, Maximiliano; Rajchenberg, Mario; Barroetaveña, Carolina This work evaluated mycelial growth rate (Kr) and fruiting of two Pleurotus ostreatus commercial strains (A01, 129) on formulations composed of lignocellulosic residues from farming and agroindustry of Northern Patagonian Andes, and of woody materials from invasive plants. Rosehip fluffs (RF), rosehip woodchips (RWC), southern beech wood shavings (SBWS), wheat straw (WS), and willow woodchips (WWC) were used as base substrates, and brewing bagasse (BB) as an alternative supplement to wheat bran (WB). Kr was higher in WS-WB and WS-BB for both strains. Experiments in fruiting chambers showed biological efficiencies (BEs) above 40% in WS-BB (both strains) and WS-WB (strain 129). Formulations using RWC or WWC gave BEs under 40%, while those composed of SBWS or RF showed lower Kr and contamination by moulds. Medium-scale fruiting experiments using strain A01 showed the highest BEs in WS-BB and RWC-WB. These results suggest that WS is the best substrate for Pleurotus ostreatus culture, although scarce in Northern Patagonian Andes. Nevertheless,WWC and RWC are suggested as alternative substrates, while BB is cheap and abundant, suitable as an alternative supplement to WB.

Performance evaluation of Baermann techniques: the quest for developing a microscopy reference standard for the diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis Gelaye, Woyneshet; Williams, Nana Aba; Kepha, Stella; Messa Junior, Augusto; Fleitas, Pedro Emanuel; Marti Soler, Helena; Damtie, Destaw; Menkir, Sissay; Krolewiecki, Alejandro Javier; Van Lieshout, Lisette; Enbiale, Wendemagegn Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are common in low and middle income countries where there is lack of access to clean water and sanitation. Effective diagnosis and treatment are essential for the control of STH infections. However, among STH parasites, Strongyloides stercoralis is the most neglected species, both in diagnostics and control strategies. Diagnostic methods cover different approaches, each with different sensitivities and specificities, such as serology, molecular techniques and microscopy based techniques. Of the later, the Baermann technique is the most commonly used procedure. In the literature, several ways have been described to perform the Baermann method, which illustrates the overall lack of a ‘(gold) reference standard’ method for the diagnosis of S. stercoralis infection. In this study we have evaluated the performance of three Baermann techniques in order to improve the reference standard for the microscopic diagnosis of S. stercoralis infection thereby facilitating individual case detection, mapping of the disease and proper evaluation of treatment responses. Methods/Principal findings: A community based cross sectional study was conducted at Zenzelima, Bahir Dar Zuria Ethiopia. A total of 437 stool samples were collected and analyzed by the following procedures: conventional Baermann (CB), modified Baermann (MB), and modified Baermann with charcoal pre-incubation (MBCI). The diagnostic sensitivity and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of each technique was calculated using the combination of all the three techniques as a composite reference standard. Our result indicated that larvae of S. stercoralis were detected in 151 (34.6%) stool samples. The prevalence of S. stercoralis infection based on the three diagnostic methods was 9.6%, 8.0%, and 31.3% by CB, MB, and MBCI respectively. The sensitivity and NPV for CB, MB, and MBCI were 26.7% and 70.8%, 22.1% and 69.6%, and 87.0% and 93.2%, respectively. The MBCI showed significant difference (P- value = <0.001) in the sensitivity and NPV values when compared with CB and MB values. The agreement between CB, MB, and MBCI with the composite reference standard was 31.8%, 26.7%, 89.6%, respectively. Conclusion/Significance: Our results suggest the superior performance of MBCI. It is relatively easy to implement, simple to perform and comparatively cheaper. The CB is by far the commonly used method in routine diagnostic although this technique significantly underestimates the true burden of the disease and thereby contributing to the exclusion of S. stercoralis from the control strategies. Therefore, MBCI is recommended as a routine microscopy-based diagnostic test for S. stercoralis infection, particularly in settings where molecular procedures are not available.

Alfabetización genética y adaptación psicológica en adolescentes con enfermedades genéticas; Genetic literacy and psychological adaptation in adolescents with genetic diseases; Alfabetização genética e adaptação psicológica em adolescentes com doenças genéticas Ortega, Javiera; Vázquez, Natalia; Arberas, Claudia Liliana Introducción: La convivencia con una condición genética es compleja y puede resultar limitante para el adolescente. Esta situación constituye un estresor y un factor de riesgo para la salud mental tanto del paciente como de su familia. Objetivo: Estudiar los niveles de adaptación psicológica y alfabetización genética en adolescentes con enfermedades genéticas, residentes en Argentina. Métodos: Alcance descriptivo correlacional, de diseño cuantitativo y corte transversal. El protocolo administrado consistió en un consentimiento informado, un cuestionario de datos socio-demográficos, y los instrumentos Genetic Health Literacy Screening Tool (REAL G) y Psychological Adaptation Scale (PAS). El muestreo fue intencional y la muestra fue de 68 casos. Resultados: El REAL G indicó bajos niveles de de alfabetización genética en todos sus componentes (decodificación, familiaridad, comprensión, aritmética). En cuanto a la adaptación psicológica, se encontró una M=4,02 (DE= 0.8) para la escala general y puntuaciones elevadas para todas las dimensiones. Conclusión: Los adolescentes diagnosticados con enfermedades genéticas en Argentina poseen un buen nivel de adaptación psicológica a su enfermedad, a pesar de tener bajos niveles de alfabetización genética.; Introduction: Living with a genetic condition is complex and may be limiting for the adolescent. This situation is considered a stress factor and risk factor for the mental health of both the patient and his family. Objective: To study the levels of psychological adaptation and genetic literacy in adolescents with genetic diseases residing in Argentina. Methods: Correlational and quantitative design and cross sectional scope. The protocol consisted of an informed consent, a sociodemographic data questionnaire, and the Genetic Health Literacy Screening Tool (REAL G) and Psychological Adaptation Scale (PAS) instruments. The sampling was intentional and composed by 68 cases. Results: The REAL G indicated low levels of genetic literacy in all its components (decoding, familiarity, comprehension, arithmetic). Regarding psychological adaptation, an M = 4.02 (SD = 0.8) was found for the general scale and high scores for all the dimensions. Conclusion: Adolescents diagnosed with genetic diseases in Argentina have a good level of psychological adaptation to their disease, despite having low levels of genetic literacy.; Introdução: Viver com uma condição genética é complexo e pode ser limitante para o adolescente. Essa situação é considerada um fator de estresse e fator de risco para a saúde mental tanto do paciente quanto de sua família. Objetivo: Estudar os níveis de adaptação psicológica e alfabetização genética em adolescentes com doenças genéticas residentes na Argentina. Métodos: Desenho correlacional e quantitativo e escopo transversal. O protocolo consistiu de um termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido, um questionário de dados sociodemográficos e os instrumentos da Ferramenta de Seleção de Alfabetização em Saúde Genética (REAL G) e da Escala de Adaptação Psicológica (PAS). A amostragem foi intencional e composta por 68 casos. Resultados: O REAL G indicou baixos níveis de alfabetização genética em todos os seus componentes (decodificação, familiaridade, compreensão, aritmética). Em relação à adaptação psicológica, encontrou-se M = 4,02 (DP = 0,8) para a escala geral e altos escores para todas as dimensões. Conclusão: Adolescentes diagnosticados com doenças genéticas na Argentina apresentam bom nível de adaptação psicológica à doença, apesar de apresentarem baixo nível de alfabetização genética.

Artistas plásticos y partidos comunistas: el viaje de David Alfaro Siqueiros a Montevideo y Buenos Aires en 1933 y su impacto en los debates estético-políticos; Plastic Artists and Communist Parties: David Alfaro Siqueiros’ Trip to Montevideo and Buenos Aires in 1933 and Its Impact on Aesthetic-Political Debates; Artistas plásticos e partidos comunistas: a viagem de David Alfaro Siqueiros a Montevidéu e Buenos Aires em 1933 e seu impacto nos debates estético-políticos Prado Acosta, Laura Objetivo/Contexto: el artículo indaga los vínculos entre grupos de artistas plásticos y partidos comunistas en el Cono Sur en los años treinta del siglo xx. Se toman las visitas de David Alfaro Siqueiros a Montevideo y Buenos Aires en 1933 como una vía de entrada para abordar un ‘momento intenso’ del cruce entre arte y política. La investigación se inscribe en una perspectiva de historia intelectual. Por un lado, se propone estudiar a los artistas en tanto intelectuales, debido a que formularon postulados estético-políticos tanto a través de sus obras como en escritos que reflexionaron sobre la función social del arte. Por otro lado, se analiza el entramado de ideas, contextos, dinámicas y tensiones propios de grupos artístico-intelectuales. Metodología: se pone en relieve el análisis e interpretación de fuentes primarias, tanto de obras plásticas como de escritos sobre arte, y se dialoga con bibliografía secundaria sobre historia del arte, historia del comu-nismo e historia cultural. Originalidad: el artículo sitúa a los grupos comunistas en una ‘zona’ de los campos culturales del Cono Sur. De este modo, logra percibir las articulaciones entre la pertenencia partidaria y la inserción en los circuitos artísticos, y formula una nueva mirada sobre el vínculo entre comunismo y arte en regiones en las que el comunismo no era un partido en el gobierno. Conclusiones: las visitas de Siqueiros a las metrópolis rioplatenses generaron un escenario en el que se produjo una convergencia singular entre arte y política, que, a diferencia de aquella ocurrida en los años sesenta y setenta en la región, no negó ni quebró los modos de funcionamiento del campo artístico, sino que dio una batalla por transformarlo desde adentro.; Objective/Context: the article investigates the links between groups of plastic artists and communist parties in the Southern Cone in the 1930s. The visits of David Alfaro Siqueiros to Montevideo and Buenos Aires in 1933 are taken as a gateway to address an ‘intense moment’ of the intersection between art and politics. The research adopts intellectual history as its main framework. On the one hand, it aims to study artists qua intellectuals because they formulated aesthetic-political postulates both through their works and writings that reflected on the social function of art. On the other hand, the framework of ideas, contexts, dynamics, and tensions typical of artistic-intellectual groups is analyzed. Methodology: the analysis and interpretation of primary sources is highlighted, both of visual works and writings on art, and there is a dialogue with secondary bibliography on the history of art, the history of communism, and cultural history. Originality: the article places communist groups in a ‘zone’ of the cultural fields of the Southern Cone. Thus, it captures the articulations between party membership and insertion in artistic circuits and formulates a new look at the link between communism and art in regions where communism was not a ruling party. Conclusions: Siqueiros’ visits to the Rio de la Plata metropolises generated a scenario in which a singular convergence between art and politics took place, which, unlike that which occurred in the 1960s and 1970s in the region, did not deny or break the modes of operation of the artistic field, but fought a battle to transform it from within.; Objetivo/Contexto: este artigo indaga os vínculos entre grupos de artistas plásticos e partidos comunistas no Cone Sul nos anos trinta do século XX. São consideradas as visitas de David Alfaro Siqueiros a Montevidéu e a Buenos Aires em 1933 como uma via de entrada para abordar um ‘momento intenso’ do cruzamento entre arte e política. Esta pesquisa está inscrita em uma perspectiva de história intelectual. Por um lado, propõe-se a estudar os artistas enquanto intelectuais, devido a que formularam princípios estético-políticos tanto por meio de suas obras quanto de seus textos, que refletiram sobre a função social da arte. Por outro, analisam-se a rede de ideias, os contextos, as dinâmicas e as tensões próprios de grupos artístico-intelectuais. Metodologia: destacam-se a análise e a interpretação de fontes primárias, tanto de obras plásticas como de textos sobre arte, e dialoga-se com a bibliografia secundária sobre história da arte, história do comunismo e história cultural. Originalidade: este artigo situa os grupos comunistas em uma ‘zona’ dos campos culturais do Cone Sul; desse modo, consegue perceber as articulações entre o pertencimento partidário e a inserção nos circuitos artísticos, além de formular uma visão sobre o vínculo entre comunismo e arte em regiões nas quais o comunismo não era um partido no governo. Conclusões: as visitas de Siqueiros às metrópoles rio-platenses geraram um cenário no qual se produziu uma convergência singular entre arte e política, que, à diferença da ocorrida nos anos sessenta e setenta na região, não negou nem rompeu os modos de funcionamento do campo artístico, mas sim contribuiu para transformá-lo a partir de dentro.

MageC2 protein is upregulated by oncogenic activation of MAPK pathway and causes impairment of the p53 transactivation function Pascucci, Franco Andrés; Ladelfa, Maria Fatima; Toledo, Maria Fernanda; Escalada, Micaela Carolina; Suberbordes, Melisa del Valle; Monte, Martin Normal-to-tumor cell transition is accompanied by changes in gene expression and signal transduction that turns the balance toward cancer-cell phenotype, eluding by different mechanisms, the response of tumor-suppressor genes. Here, we observed that MageC2, a MAGE-I protein able to regulate the p53 tumor-suppressor, is accumulated upon MEK/ERK MAPK activation. Overexpression of H-RasV12 oncogene causes an increase in MageC2 protein that is prevented by pharmacologic inhibition of MEK. Similarly, decrease in MageC2 protein levels is shown in A375 melanoma cells (which harbor B-RafV600E oncogenic mutation) treated with MEK inhibitors. MageC2 protein levels decrease when p14ARF is expressed, causing an Mdm2-independent upregulation of p53 transactivation. However, MageC2 is refractory to p14ARF-driven downregulation when H-RasV12 is co-expressed. Using MageC2 knockout A375 cells generated by CRISPR/CAS9 technology, we demonstrated the relevance of MageC2 protein in reducing p53 transcriptional activity in cells containing hyperactive MEK/ERK signaling. Furthermore, gene expression analysis performed in cancer-genomic databases, supports the correlation of reduced p53 transcriptional activity and high MageC2 expression, in melanoma cells containing Ras or B-Raf driver mutations. Data presented here suggest that MageC2 can be a functional target of the oncogenic MEK/ERK pathway to regulate p53.

Analysis of complex structural variants in the DMD gene in one family Luce, Leonela Natalia; Abelleyro, Miguel Martin; Carcione, María Micaela; Mazzanti, Chiara; Rossetti, Liliana Carmen; Radic, Claudia Pamela; Szijan, Irene; Menazzi, Sebastian; Francipane, Liliana; Nevado, Julian; Lapunzina, Pablo; de Brasi, Carlos Daniel; Giliberto, Florencia This work describes a family with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) with a rare case of a symptomatic pregnant woman. The main aim was to perform prenatal molecular diagnosis to provide genetic counseling. The secondary aim was to suggest the molecular mechanisms causing the complex structural variant (cxSV) identified. To accomplish this, we used a multi-technique algorithm including segregation analysis, Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification, PCR, X-chromosome inactivation studies, microarrays, whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics. We identified a duplication of exons 38–43 in the DMD gene in all affected and obligate carrier members, proving that this was the DMD-causing mutation. We also observed a skewed X-chromosome inactivation in the symptomatic woman that explained her symptomatology. In addition, we identified a cxSV (duplication of exons 38–43 and deletion of exons 45–54) in the affected boy. The molecular characterization and bioinformatic analyses of the breakpoint junctions allowed us to identify Double Strand Breaks stimulator motifs and suggested the replication-dependent Fork Stalling and Template Switching as the most probable mechanisms leading to the duplication. In addition, the de novo deletion might have been the result of a germline inter-chromosome non-allelic recombination involving the Non-Homologous End Joining mechanism. In conclusion, the diagnostic strategy used allowed us to provide accurate molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling. In addition, the familial molecular diagnosis together with the in-depth characterization of the cxSV helped to determine the chronology of the molecular events, and propose and understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the generation of this complex rearrangement.

Morfoanatomía del tallo secundario de especies de Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae) nativas de la Región Chaqueña Argentina, con especial referencia al xilema y su relación con el ambiente; Morphoanatomy of the stem with secondary growth of Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae) species native to the Argentinian Chaco Region and its relationship with the environment Mansilla, Valeria; Barros, Alejandra Malbrán; Cabrera, Verónica Alejandra; Matesevach Becerra, Ana Marisa El género Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae) es morfológicamente diverso y posee una distribución pantropical. Cuenta con unas 180 especies que crecen en todo el mundo y tienen una amplia gama de usos: medicinales, ornamentales y para producir biodiesel. En la Argentina, habitan diez especies autóctonas, distribuidas desde el norte al centro del país, y una adventicia. Poco se conoce sobre la morfoanatomía de las especies nativas y, hasta el momento, no se han realizado estudios sobre la estructura del tallo con crecimiento secundario en ninguna de ellas. En este trabajo, se analizó la morfoanatomía del tallo con crecimiento secundario de J. excisa, J. hieronymi y J. macrocarpa, considerando aspectos relacionados con el ambiente árido en el que habitan, a fin de aportar información que sea útil para su conservación y el posible uso sustentable de los taxones. Se colectaron y fijaron ramas leñosas, a partir de las cuales se realizaron preparados histológicos temporarios de cortes transversales y longitudinales. Se describió la morfoanatomía y se calcularon las siguientes variables, que fueron analizadas estadísticamente: área del xilema/área total del tallo, número de vasos por mm2, diámetro y longitud de los vasos. Se obtuvieron índices para evaluar la vulnerabilidad a la sequía, el grado de mesomorfia de las plantas y el agrupamiento de los vasos. El tallo de las especies analizadas, presenta ciertos caracteres anatómicos que son propios de plantas que habitan en ambientes xerofíticos, y que en conjunto, contribuyen a que las mismas puedan desarrollarse a pesar de las escasas precipitaciones y elevadas temperaturas, incluyendo: súber y felodermis con paredes celulares engrosadas; corteza interna con varios estratos celulares; presencia de colénquima; presencia de clorénquima; sustancias ergásticas en corteza, tejido vascular y médula (látex, cristales y granos de almidón); vasos xilemáticos cortos, estrechos, numerosos y agrupados. Los índices evaluados sugieren que los taxones poseen un sistema de conducción seguro y eficaz para el movimiento del agua; se destaca J. macrocarpa por ser la más resistente a la sequía. Este estudio de anatomía ecológica brinda información novedosa sobre tres especies de importancia biológica, industrial y económica, que son potenciales productoras de biodiesel.; atropha (Euphorbiaceae) is a morphologically diverse genus with pantropical distribution. It includes 180 species growing worldwide and has a broad range of uses: medicinal, ornamental and biodiesel production. In Argentina there are ten native species, distributed from the north to the center of the country, and one adventitious. However, the morphoanatomy of the native species of Jatropha is scarcely known, and so far, no anatomical studies of the stem with secondary growth have been performed in any of the native species. In this work, we analyzed the anatomy of the stem with secondary growth of three native species: J. excisa, J. hieronymi and J. macrocarpa, considering aspects related to the arid environment in which plants live, to provide information that it is useful for their conservation and possible sustainable use. Woody branches of each species were collected and fixed to perform temporary histological preparations of transverse and longitudinal sections of stems. We described their morphoanatomy under a light microscope. The following variables were analyzed: xylem area/ total area of the stem, number of vessels per mm2, vessel diameter and length of conductive elements. Indices were obtained to assess the drought vulnerability, the plant mesomorphy degree and to determine vessel clustering. The stems analyzed have several anatomical characters that are typical of plants that inhabit xerophytic environments, and that favor their development despite the scarce rainfall and high temperatures, including: suber and phelodermis with thickened cell walls; inner cortex with various cell layers; presence of chollenchyma; presence of chlorenchyma; ergastic substances in the cortex, vascular tissues and medullary parenchyma (latex, crystals and starch granules); short, narrow, numerous and grouped xylem vessels. The evaluated indexes suggest that the three taxa have a safe and efficient conduction system for water movement, being J. macrocarpa the most drougth resistant. This study provides novel information about these three species of biological, industrial, and economic importance, which are potential sources for biodiesel production.

Las plantas medicinales, patrimonio natural y cultural de la Reserva Hídrica Natural y Recreativa Bamba, La Calera, Córdoba, Argentina Martínez, Gustavo Javier; Audisio, María Carolina; Luján, María Claudia La medicina herbaria ha desempeñado un papel de liderazgo en los sistemas de salud de muchas sociedades tradicionales. El objetivo principal es caracterizar un aspecto del patrimonio natural y cultural de un área protegida de la localidad de La Calera, a través de la documentación de plantas medicinales de la Reserva Natural Acuática y Recreativa de Bamba (RNHRB), en la provincia de Córdoba, Argentina. Se combinaron metodologías de las ciencias sociales y naturales, propias de losenfoques etnoecológicos, complementando con análisis cualitativos y cuantitativos. Se documentaron un total de 221 usos correspondientes a 137 especies medicinales. Las familias más relevantes en cuanto a cantidad de especies y usos son Asteraceae, Fabaceae y Lamiaceae. En todos los casos predomina el estado nativo/salvaje. Las aplicaciones asociadas a afecciones  gastrointestinales son las más frecuentes,seguidas de las dermatológicas, neumonológicas, infecciosas y nefrológicas. Se concluye que la fitoterapia en áreas protegidas brinda valiosa información y esfuerzos para la conservación del patrimonio biocultural en áreas rurales intangibles con espacios urbanizados, así como para el potencial conocimiento y uso de recursos por parte de pequeños productores locales.

Pucho vs. Vapo - Smoking vs. Vaping Arrieta, Ezequiel Martín; Mónaco, Facundo Humanshave been consuming tobacco for 4500 years. It started as a part ofreligious rituals but became popular when suggested to cure diseasesand considered cool. Nowadays, it is associated with 15% of totaldeaths worldwide, and represent one of the main Public Health issuesin the agenda. Most tobacco users need between eight to ten attemptsto quit smoking. In this context, vaping emerges as a saferalternative to conventional smoking. However, vaping might not becompletely safe. In this article, originally published in El Gato yLa Caja,pros and cons of vaping versus smoking are presented.

Risk of developing type 2 diabetes according to FINDRISC and socioeconomic status Elgart, Jorge Federico; Marin, Gustavo Horacio; Silvestrini Viola, Constanza; Gagliardino, Juan José The risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) is significantly related to low socioeconomic status (SES) in developed countries, but there is a dearth of evidence for such a relationship in developing countries. We aimed to verify the relationship between the risk-frequency of developing T2D and SES in a local population of Argentina.

Bioplastics are revolutionizing the packaging industry Ehman, Nanci Vanesa; Area, Maria Cristina The production of bioplastics is a growing trend. The utilization of renewable sources, in some cases currently wasted, to replace petroleum derivatives, is providing opportunities to achieve more environmentally friendly product life cycles. The possibility of producing biodegradable products under normal environmental conditions is another goal of recent studies. This editorial summarizes current aspects in the production of bioplastics. We highlight new studies that make it possible to obtain biodegradable composites using a natural, renewable, high availability, and low-cost material, such as cellulose.

Quasi-bifurcation and Imperfection-sensitivity of Cylindrical Shells under Pressures due to an Explosion Ameijeiras, Mariano Pablo; Godoy, Luis Augusto The static and dynamic behavior of a horizontal cylindrical shell (as used to store fuels in tanks) is investigated in this work by means of computational modeling. Under a distributed pressure commonly used to model effects due to explosions, the geometrically nonlinear behavior is explored to identify bifurcation and limit points along the static equilibrium path, and the associated displacements. Critical load reductions due to imperfections are found in the order of 25%. The dynamic analysis is next presented to identify the possibility of reaching a quasi-bifurcation. It is found that the first peak in the transient response at which the displacement reaches the same value as in the limit static case occurs for a load which is about 3.5 times the static bifurcation load. The velocity is zero at this state and is identified as a quasi-bifurcation, at which the shell is expected to display a static instability. Imperfection-sensitivity of the quasi-bifurcation load is found to be of the same order as the static one. This is the first quasi-bifurcation study of a shell to identify dynamic buckling due to a nearby explosion.

Potentials of constrained sliding mode control as an intervention guide to manage COVID19 spread Nuñez, Sebastián; Inthamoussou, Fernando Ariel; Valenciaga, Fernando; Garelli, Fabricio This work evaluates the potential of using sliding mode reference conditioning (SMRC) techniques as a guide for non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) to control the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, for the epidemiological problem addressed here, it is used to compute the contact rate reduction requirement in order to limit the infectious population to a given threshold. The SMRC controller allows the desired output variable limit and its approaching rate to be tuned explicitly. Implementation issues are taken into account and a periodically update of the NPI is proposed for the real life application. The strategy is evaluated under different scenarios where its distinctive features are exhibited.

Afrontamiento docente en tiempos de COVID-19; Teacher coping strategies in times of COVID-19; Enfrentamento de professores em tempos de covid-19 Marsollier, Roxana Graciela; Expósito, Cristián David INTRODUCCIÓN. Las personas enfrentan cotidianamente en el mundo del trabajo distintas situaciones que pueden ser estresantes y conflictivas. Frente a ellas, desarrollan determinados pensamientos o acciones para eliminar los estresores externos o bien mitigar sus efectos. En tiempos de pandemia, las estrategias de afrontamiento desarrolladas por las personas han sido cruciales en su manera de posicionarse ante la crisis y hacer frente a la situación. OBJETIVO. La presente investigación tiene por finalidad indagar sobre las estrategias de afrontamiento utilizadas por los docentes frente al desafío que presenta la enseñanza virtual en situación de confinamiento social a causa de la pandemia por COVID-19 durante el año 2020. MÉTODO. Se trabajó con una muestra intencional de docentes y directivos (n=777) de instituciones de distintos niveles educativos de Mendoza, Argentina. Se aplicó la prueba psicométrica Brief COPE-28 sobre afrontamiento y se evaluaron otras variables de base y contextuales. RESULTADOS. Los resultados indican que ante la situación de crisis predomina un estilo de afrontamiento efectivo o funcional, mediante el uso de estrategias de afrontamiento activo, aceptación, planificación y reinterpretación positiva, entre las más señaladas. DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIONES. Los hallazgos obtenidos impulsan a seguir investigando las complejas consecuencias educativas acaecidas durante esta pandemia. A su vez, invitan a generar nuevas acciones de intervención orientadas al fortalecimiento de estrategias efectivas que mitiguen el impacto de los riesgos psicosociales emergentes.; INTRODUCTION. People live every day in the world of work in situations that can be stressful and conflictive. This leads people to develop certain thoughts or actions to eliminate external stressors or mitigate their effects. In times of pandemic, the coping strategies developed by people have been crucial to position themselves in the face of the crisis and coping the situation. OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study is to research the coping strategies used by teachers in the face of the challenge presented by virtual teaching in a situation of social confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020. METHOD. We worked with an intentional sample of teachers and directors (n=777) of institutions of different educational levels in Mendoza, Argentina. The Brief COPE-28 psychometric test on coping strategies was applied and other sociodemographic variables were evaluated. RESULTS. The results indicate that in the face of the crisis situation, an effective or functional coping style predominates, through the use of active coping strategies, acceptance, planning and positive reinterpretation, among the most indicated. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The results obtained encourage further investigation of the complex educational consequences that occurred during this pandemic. In turn, they invite the generation of new intervention actions aimed at strengthening effective strategies that mitigate the impact of emerging psychosocial risks.

Evaluation of a physiologically based model to predict Dalbulus maidis occurrence in maize crops: validation in two different subtropical areas of South America Rossini. Luca; Virla, Eduardo Gabriel; Luft Albarracin, Erica Beatriz; Van Nieuwenhove, Guido Alejandro; Speranza, Stefano The maize leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is a specialist herbivore that develops on maize plants (Zea mays L., Poaceae). Every year, it is responsible for considerable reductions in yields of the maize fields of the Americas, because alongside its direct damages it is also a vector of three relevant plant pathogens. The transmitted diseases come to have a high incidence, resulting in significant yield losses, thereby forcing farmers and technicians to attempt a tight control of the fields mostly using non-specific insecticides. Decision support systems based on mathematical models may be valuable in helping to reduce the use of agrochemicals in this regard, as they can provide a projection of the future situation based on past and present data. With this precondition, this work aims to apply and validate a physiologically based model to describe populations of D. maidis developing in two experimental fields located in Argentina, which are characterised by different climatic conditions. Experimentation in the two fields involved a 3-year survey during the growing seasons 2009, 2010, and 2011, where the adult populations of maize leafhoppers were monitored from the sowing of maize plants to the end of the phenological stage at which they are most susceptible to D. maidis activity. Results showed a good response of the model in describing maize leafhopper populations, also allowing the possibility of setting a threshold for intervention and a projection of the situation if any control action is applied.

Screening methods for isolation of biocontrol epiphytic yeasts against penicillium digitatum in lemons Pereyra, Martina María; Diaz, Mariana Andrea; Soliz Santander, Fabricio Fabián; Poehlein, Anja; Meinhardt, Friedhelm; Daniel, Rolf; Dib, Julian Rafael Worldwide, the green rot caused by Penicillium digitatum is one of the most aggressive postharvest diseases of lemons. Searching for sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides, epi-phytic yeasts as potential biocontrol agents were isolated from citrus fruits using a tailor-made selective medium. For disclosing their antagonistic potential against P. digitatum, obtained isolates were subjected to direct screening methods, both in vitro and in vivo. In the course of the primary in vitro screening that comprised dual culture assays, 43 yeast strains displaying antagonistic activities against the pathogen were selected. Subsequently, such strains were subjected to an in vivo screening that consisted of a microscale test, allowing the selection of six yeast strains for further analysis. In the final screening using macroscale in vivo tests, three strains (AcL2, AgL21, and AgL2) displaying the highest efficiencies to control P. digitatum were identified. The protection efficiencies in lemons were 80 (AcL2), 76.7 (AgL21), and 75% (AgL2). Based on sequence analysis of the PCR amplified D1/D2 domains of the 26S rRNA genes, they were identified as representatives of the species Clavispora lusitaniae. Interestingly, the strains exhibited a broad action spectrum among citrus fruits as they were also able to combat the green mold disease in grapefruit and two orange varieties. The direct screening methods applied in this study favored the recovery of effi-cient candidates for application as biological control agents to combat fungal infestations of citrus fruits.