Optimization of emulsification conditions with rice bran concentrates for the preliminary formulation of potential vegan dressings and their characterization Bonifacino, Carla; López, Débora Natalia; Palazolo, Gonzalo Gastón; Panizzolo, Luis Alberto; Abirached, Cecilia A fraction of rice bran (RB), generated during the brown rice polishing, is utilized to extract oil, resulting in defatted RB (DRB). The aim of this study was to optimize the emulsification conditions to enhance the value of this byproduct by formulating potential vegan dressings and characterizing them. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the starch present in DRB yields the DRB concentrate (DRBC). A central composite design was applied and the results were analyzed using response surface methodology to select optimal conditions for an oil-in-water emulsion formula. Two formulations were chosen: one corresponds to the optimal conditions, with 26.5% of oil and 73.5% of DRBC dispersion (eoptimal), andthe other one with 21.7% of oil and 78.3% of dispersion (eED8). The eoptimal formulationexhibited significantly lowermean De Brouckere diameter (D4,3) value and higher viscosity when compared with eED8. For both emulsions, the particle size distribution and D4,3 remained unchanged during storage, whereas viscosity decreased, and backscattering (BS) increased. Initially, both emulsions exhibited solid viscoelastic behavior, whichwas partially lost during quiescent storage. The increase in BS was attributed to particle disaggregation, ultimately leading to the aforementioned change in rheological behavior. In conclusion, although the designed emulsions underwent microstructural changes, they were stableagainst gravitational separation. To improve stability during quiescent storage, it is suggested to incorporate a thickening agent. Hence, it is propose to procced with the development of a vegan dressing based on the eoptimal emulsion, as it exhibits superior physicochemical properties.

An alternative definition of tense operators on residuated lattices Calomino, Ismael Maria; Pelaitay, Gustavo Andrés; Zuluaga Botero, William Javier In this paper, we introduce and study an alternative definition of tense operators on residuated lattices. We give a categorical equivalence for the class of tense ICRDL-algebras, which is motivated by an old construction by J. Kalman. The paper concludes with some applications regarding descriptions of congruences and a 2-contextual translation.

Drainage network dynamics in an agricultural headwater sub-basin Ares, María Guadalupe; Zabala, Maria Emilia; Dietrich, Sebastián; Vercelli, Natalia; Entraigas, Ilda; Gregorini, Camila Ailén; Marcovecchio, Romina; Aispún, Yésica Natalia Headwaters provide many ecosystems services. Currently, these vulnerable systems are subject to threats related to human activities. This work aims to analyse the spatial pattern changes (expansion/contraction) in the drainage network (DN) of a headwater sub-basin under agriculture between 1966 and 2019 in the Argentine Pampas Region. We study and discuss the hydrometeorological and land use context to understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of the DN, and propose a conceptual model that synthesizes the complex interactions between the factors involved in that dynamics. A broad (1950–2019, at the Del Azul Creek basin) and a short (1996–2019, at the sub-basin of the Videla Creek -SVC-) temporal and spatial scale analysis of data were carried out. We studied rainfall, evapotranspiration, water table depth, streamflow and land use. Temporal and spatial changes in the DN of the SVC were analysed by aerial photos and historical satellite images. Four wet and three dry periods were identified, and close surface-subsurface water interactions typical of plains, were found. The area under agriculture showed a first gradual increase (1975–2012), which turned sharp from 2012 (30,908 ha year -1), with a leading role of soybeans' sown area. The area of the DN increased 1.4699*105 m2 between 1966 and 2010, both under dry conditions, which evidenced its expansion. The study of the flatlands' particular hydrology within the current land use and management trends provided key elements to understand DN area's changes. Complex interactions between processes associated with climatic forcing and the system's sensitivity (its state to receive and process the inputs), are involved in the spatial and temporal dynamics of the DN. Our work improves the understanding of the functioning of these vulnerable systems within agricultural areas, nowadays under productive pressures associated with increasing global food demand, and threats to changes in the hydrological dynamics by global change.

Income, stress, and sex ratios over 1895-2010 González, Fernando Antonio Ignacio The medical literature has shown that populations under high stress have a lower sex ratio at birth (i.e. number of males for every 100 females). In this paper, I examine the relationship between income, as a source of economic stress, and the sex ratio at a subnational level for the 1895–2010 period. For this, I use census microdata from Argentina -a developing country that experienced rapid growth at the end of the 19th century and stagnated in recent decades- and I estimate from a two-way fixed effects model that exploits the wide temporal and geographic variability in income. The results show that as per capita income increases, the sex ratio at birth also increases. In particular, for every US$ 1,000 increase in per capita income, the sex ratio increases between 0.3 and 0.6 points. These findings make it possible to quantify the lost boys (i.e. those boys who were not born due to high economic stress on their parents) and constitute a call for attention in favor of the implementation of prenatal care policies -especially in periods of stagnation or income decline- to maintain a more balanced sex ratio.

Accessible sampling methodologies to quantify the net methane emission from landfill cells Stadler, Carla Sofía; Fusé, Victoria Susana; Linares, Santiago; Guzmán, Sergio Alberto; Juliarena, María Paula Landfills are one of the main sources of anthropogenic methane (CH4) emissions in urban areas. The environmental conditions specific to each locality, the waste management and the infrastructure of each landfill will influence the emissions of this gas. By applying different methodologies, this study aims to investigate the total contribution of CH4 to the atmosphere from a landfill, as well as the surface fluxes within the cells and the passive gas vents. According to the results, mean atmospheric CH4 concentrations from landfills were measured up to 6 ppm higher than those recorded in urban areas and locations distant from CH4 fixed sources. Two closed cells were selected to study surface fluxes by static chamber technique. CH4 uptake (1.65E-08 to 2.04E-06 g m− 2 d− 1 ) was recorded in between 60% and 87.5% of the chambers, indicating that the surface acted as a sink for the gas, as compared to the mean uptake observed from a control site (1.72E-06 g m-2 d− 1 ). CH4 emissions from gas vents were studied using a tracer technique with permeable capsules, a methodology used for the first time in a landfill. Relatively high emissions were detected, up to 1.20E+04 g d− 1 . Finally, from the net CH4 emission calculated, the energy produced if the emitted CH4 were captured was estimated to be 3.23 GJ. The results highlight the importance of these studies for decision-makers to plan future landfill infrastructure adequately, implement mitigation measures to reduce emissions of this potent greenhouse gas and contribute to the energy system resources.

Intercropping functionally similar species reduces yield losses due to herbivory: A meta-analytical approach Fernandez, Anahi Rocio; Gleiser, Gabriela Laura; Aizen, Marcelo Adrian; Garibaldi, Lucas Alejandro Agroecosystem diversification is often implemented to diminish herbivory and reduce yield losses. However, increasing plant richness does not always reduce herbivory levels, so there is a need for better understanding which polyculture characteristics are effective in deterring herbivores. Here, we evaluated the hypothesis that functional and phylogenetic distances between intercropped species reduce herbivory pressure and enhance natural enemy response. Diminishing herbivory would be brought about by the complementarity and synergy of traits that deter herbivores and benefit herbivore natural enemies, and as a result of a decrease in the availability of host plants for specialized herbivores. Using a meta-analytical approach, we observed lower herbivore abundance and herbivory damage in focal plants when they grew in polycultures. In addition, polycultures showed increased levels of herbivore parasitism and greater abundance of predators and parasitoids, although the effect of the latter two was negligible. Interestingly, the functional distance between crops affected herbivore abundance and herbivory damage in opposite ways, but had no effect on herbivore natural enemy response. Contrary to our expectations, neither herbivory pressure nor natural enemy response appeared to be influenced by phylogenetic distance between intercropped species. Overall, our study provides valuable insights for agroecosystem design aimed at reducing yield loss by strategically intercropping functionally similar species.

“Towards the East, Towards Jerusalem”: Orientations in Jewish Religious Practices in the southern Argentinian Chaco Mudrik, Armando In this paper, archaeo- and ethnoastronomical methods are used to investigate the orientation of synagogues, graves and prayer among Ashkenazi Jewish communities in the central-northern part of the Argentinian Province of Santa Fe, in the southern Gran Chaco region of South America. These communities have their origin in Jewish agricultural colonies, which were established by immigrants from central and eastern Europe who arrived during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The study shows the complexity of the logics involved in the construction of the meaning of spatial orientations in local Jewish religious practices, and also the necessity of ethnographic surveys as a complement to quantitative studies of orientations.

Datos Verano 2022 plaza San Martín Las ciudades son las principales responsables de transformar el paisaje natural, ya que modifican sus condiciones medioambientales. Los espacios verdes como parques y plazas tienen un rol importante en el microclima urbano pues aportan diversos beneficios. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar el comportamiento microclimático de una plaza urbana, definida como caso representativo de la ciudad de Mendoza -San Martín- con el fin de determinar el impacto de las distintas configuraciones de espacio abierto en el confort de los mismos. Para ello se realizaron monitoreos mediante estaciones micrometeorológicos y microadquisidores de datos en la estación verano. Se relevó y caracterizó la composición vegetal y material en tres espacios de la plaza - bosque, prado y centro-.

Explotación de guanacos en la Sierra de San Luis durante el Holoceno tardío final. Análisis del sitio La Angostura 1 (departamento Coronel Pringles, provincia de San Luis, Argentina); Guanano exploitation in the Sierra de San Luis during the final late Holocene. Analysis of the La Angostura 1 site (Coronel Pringles Department, San Luis Province, Argentina) Carrera Aizpitarte, Manuel Pedro El guanaco constituye el recurso faunístico más abundante y con mayores evidencias de procesamiento antrópico en La Angostura 1. En el conjunto se han identificado individuos adultos y subadultos con distintos grados de representación anatómica. La buena preservación de los especímenes y la ausencia de preservación diferencial vinculada con la densidad ósea, permiten considerar que la frecuencia de partes esqueletarias observada responde principalmente a conductas y prácticas sociales. Debido a ello este sitio presenta una excelente oportunidad para abordar diferentes interrogantes relacionados con la forma en que las sociedades tardías explotaron esta especie animal. En este sentido, el objetivo del trabajo es indagar acerca del uso diferencial de los grupos etarios, los recursos aprovechados y las conductas sociales o económicas que incidieron en las frecuencias anatómicas registradas. Para ello, se tuvieron en cuenta distintos índices económicos y propuestas alternativas que agrupan diferentes regiones anatómicas en función del producto primario predominante en ellas. Además, se consideraron los productos no alimenticios que pudieron haber sido utilizados. Los resultados alcanzados indican que ambos grupos etarios (adultos y subadultos) fueron explotados en forma similar. Asimismo, las representaciones anatómicas registradas no estarían mediadas por la selección de un producto alimenticio en particular ya que, en términos generales, las carcasas fueron transportadas casi completas hasta el lugar de consumo. Esta situación podría vincularse con una estrategia de explotación integral de los animales donde, además del alimento, cobran relevancia otros subproductos empleados con fines tecnológicos.; Guanaco is the most abundant faunal resource and the one with the greatest evidence of anthropic processing in La Angostura 1. Both adult and subadult individuals with different degrees of anatomical representation were identified in the assemblage. The good preservation of the specimens and the absence of differential preservation related to bone density suggest that the observed frequency of skeletal parts primarily reflects social behaviors and practices. Therefore, this site provides an excellent opportunity to address several questions concerning the exploitation of this species by late societies. In this sense, this paper aims to assess the differential use of age groups, the resources consumed, and the social or economic behaviors that influenced the anatomical frequencies recorded. To achieve this, we considered various economic indexes and alternative proposals that group different anatomical regions according to the predominant primary product. Additionally, we considered non-food products that could have been used. The results indicate that both age groups (adults and subadults) were similarly exploited. Likewise, the anatomical representations recorded would not have been mediated by the selection of a particular food product, since carcasses were generally transported intact to the place of consumption. This situation could be linked to a strategy of integral exploitation of the animals, where, in addition to food, other by-products used for technological purposes become relevant.

Adaptive second order sliding mode control of an oscillating water column Mosquera, Facundo; Evangelista, Carolina Alejandra; Puleston, Pablo Federico; Ringwood, John V. The energy from waves has a vast untapped potential to contribute to renewable energy supply and diversification. For that reason, wave energy conversion systems have been a topical research area in recent years. In particular, harnessing wave energy with an oscillating water column converter has proved to be one suitable solution, which has also seen a number of successful deployments. Nevertheless, additional research is required for this technology in order to reach full commercial maturity and economic performance. This paper proposes an adaptive second order sliding mode controller to maximise the converted energy. In particular, the proposed adaptive control setup maintains the sliding mode robust features, while reducing high frequency oscillations and abrupt control actions produced by fixed-gain algorithms. A comparison of energy generation performance shows better energy conversion efficiency of the proposed control strategy over standard speed regulation control strategies, even considering air compression dynamics and hydrodynamics in the tests.

La Vida del Espíritu en el horizonte de la reflexión moral arendtiana: Un análisis del pensamiento, la voluntad y el juicio; The Life of the Mind in the horizon of the arendtian moral reflection: An analysis of thinking, will and judge Milotich, Alejandro Luego de la asistencia de Hannah Arendt al juicio a Eichmann en Jerusalén comienza a desarrollarse una preocupación moral por parte de la pensadora alemana que se irá complejizando durante los años 60 y 70 con la introducción de las “facultades del espíritu”: pensamiento, voluntad y juicio. Arendt realizará en su obra póstuma La Vida del Espíritu el desarrollo más acabado de estas facultades, aunque su indagación quedará inconclusa por su fallecimiento antes de escribir el apartado dedicado al juicio. Este trabajo intenta mostrar la posible articulación entre pensamiento, voluntad y juicio, concentrándose en la mencionada obra póstuma. Nuestro horizonte de lectura más general es que en La Vida del Espíritu, es posible encontrar, por un lado, ciertas claves para pensar en esa relación; por otro, que esa relación tiene como dirección general la posibilidad de una ética postotalitaria que pueda ser pensada en su unidad con la política; por último, que la respuesta arendtiana a la “cuestión moral” otorga cierta prioridad a la facultad de juzgar como centro de un pensamiento moral mundano, sin dejar de lado la importancia y la autonomía del pensamiento y la voluntad.; After Arendt’s assistance to Eichmann’s trial in Jerusalem a moral concern begins to develop, that will become more complex in the ’60 and ’70 with the introduction of the “faculties of the mind”: thinking, will and judge. Arendt will carry out in her posthumous work The Life of the Mind a more complete develop of these faculties, although her investigation will remain inconclusive due to his death before writing the section dedicated to the judge. This work tries to show the possible articulation between thinking, will and judge, concentrating on the aforementioned posthumous work. Our reading horizon is that in The Life of the Mind, on the one hand, it is possible to find certain keys to think about that relation; on the other hand, that that relation has as a general direction the possibility of a postotalitarian ethic that can be thought on her unity with politics; at last, that the arendtian answer to the “moral question” gives certain priority to the faculty of judge as a centre of a mundane moral thinking, without neglecting the importance and the autonomy of thinking and the will.

The Cretaceous of the Neuquén Basin in the Central Andes Aguirre-urreta, Maria Beatriz The Neuquén Basin, located at the foothills of the Central Andes of Argentina, with superb and extended exposures is a natural laboratory. It is important not only for its continuous sedimentary record and superb palaeontological biota but also for its significant economic hydrocarbon resources. This synthesis is intended to provide an update only on the Cretaceous timespan in the basin development. It is characterized by a succession of sedimentary rocks that were deposited in different environments over time, interspersed with volcanic rocks associated with an active volcanic arc. High-precision geochronology dating on the tuffs establishes robust chronological ages to constrain the different stages. As this brief review only shows a fragment of the information presently available, an effort has been made to compile a comprehensive and up-to-date bibliography to compensate for the brevity of the text.

Metrics reloaded: recommendations for image analysis validation Maier Hein, Lena; Reinke, Annika; Godau, Patrick; Tizabi, Minu D.; Buettner, Florian; Christodoulou, Evangelia; Glocker, Ben; Isensee, Fabian; Kleesiek, Jens; Kozubek, Michal; Reyes, Mauricio; Riegler, Michael A.; Wiesenfarth, Manuel; Kavur, A. Emre; Sudre, Carole H.; Baumgartner, Michael; Eisenmann, Matthias; Heckmann Nötzel, Doreen; Rädsch, Tim; Acion, Laura; Antonelli, Michela; Arbel, Tal; Bakas, Spyridon; Benis, Arriel; Ferrer, Luciana; Tiulpin, Aleksei; Tsaftaris, Sotirios A.; Van Calster, Ben; Varoquaux, Gaël; Jäger, Paul F. Increasing evidence shows that flaws in machine learning (ML) algorithm validation are an underestimated global problem. In biomedical image analysis, chosen performance metrics often do not reflect the domain interest, and thus fail to adequately measure scientific progress and hinder translation of ML techniques into practice. To overcome this, we created Metrics Reloaded, a comprehensive framework guiding researchers in the problem-aware selection of metrics. Developed by a large international consortium in a multistage Delphi process, it is based on the novel concept of a problem fingerprint—a structured representation of the given problem that captures all aspects that are relevant for metric selection, from the domain interest to the properties of the target structure(s), dataset and algorithm output. On the basis of the problem fingerprint, users are guided through the process of choosing and applying appropriate validation metrics while being made aware of potential pitfalls. Metrics Reloaded targets image analysis problems that can be interpreted as classification tasks at image, object or pixel level, namely image-level classification, object detection, semantic segmentation and instance segmentation tasks. To improve the user experience, we implemented the framework in the Metrics Reloaded online tool. Following the convergence of ML methodology across application domains, Metrics Reloaded fosters the convergence of validation methodology. Its applicability is demonstrated for various biomedical use cases.

Contribution of Mine-Derived Airborne Particulate Matter to Ca, Fe, Mn and S Content and Distribution in the Lichen Punctelia hypoleucites Transplanted to Bajo de la Alumbrera Mine, Catamarca (Argentina) Hernández, Juan Martín; de la Fournière, Emmanuel Marie; Ramos, Cinthia Paula; Debray, Mario Ernesto; Plá, Rita Rosa; Jasan, Raquel Clara; Invernizzi, Rodrigo; Rodríguez Brizuela, Luis Germán; Cañas, Martha Susana The aim of this work was to relate the contribution of mine-derived airborne particulate matter to Ca, Fe, Mn and S content and distribution in Punctelia hypoleucites transplanted to Bajo de la Alumbrera, an important open-pit mine in Catamarca, Argentina. Lichen samples were transplanted to four monitoring sites: two sites inside the mine perimeter and two sites outside the mine. After three months, elemental distribution in samples was analyzed by microparticle-induced X-ray emission (microPIXE), and elemental concentration was determined by specifc techniques: Ca and Fe by instrumental neutron activation analysis, Mn by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and S by a turbidimetric method. A diferential distribution of S and Ca in thalli transplanted in-mine sites was detected compared to that of samples transplanted outside-mine sites. An overlap of Fe and S in the upper cortex of the apothecium section was observed, leading to infer a mineral association of both elements. Similar association was observed for Ca and S. In addition to these results, the signifcantly higher concentration detected for S and Mn in in-mine site samples suggests a contribution of Fe, S, Ca and Mn of mining origin to the content and distribution of these elements in P. hypoleucites. MicroPIXE complemented with Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis determined the presence of pyrite particles together with other iron-bearing minerals displaying diferent degrees of oxidation. These results point to a mining origin of the airborne particulate matter trapped by the lichen thalli transplanted to Bajo de la Alumbrera. These fndings indicate that P. Hypoleucites acts as an excellent air quality biomonitor in the Bajo de la Alumbrera mine area.

Can Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 postbiotic improve emergency myelopoiesis in immunocompromised mice? Gramajo Lopez, Andres Daniel; Vasile, Brenda Estefania; Kolling, Yanina Noralí; Ivir, Héctor Maximiliano; Gutiérrez, Florencia; Alvarez, Gladis Susana; Salva, Maria Susana We evaluated whether viable and non-viable Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 (Lr05V or Lr05NV, respectively) was able to improve emergency myelopoiesis induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) infection. Adult Swiss-mice were orally treated with Lr05V or Lr05NV during five consecutive days. The Lr05V and Lr05NV groups and untreated control group received an intraperitoneal dose of cyclophosphamide (Cy-150 mg/kg). Then, the mice were nasally challenged with Sp (107 UFC/mice) on day 3 post-Cy injection. After the pneumococcal challenge, the innate and myelopoietic responses were evaluated. The control group showed a high susceptibility to pneumococcal infection, an impaired innate immune response and a decrease of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs: Lin Sca-1þc-Kitþ), and myeloid multipotent precursors (MMPs: Gr-1þLy6GþLy6C ) in bone marrow (BM). However, lactobacilli treatments were able to significantly increase blood neutrophils and peroxidase-positive cells, while improving cytokine production and phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages. This, in turn, led to an early Sp lung clearance compared to the control group. Furthermore, Lr05V was more effective than Lr05NV to increase growth factors in BM, which allowed an early HSCs and MMPs recovery with respect to the control group. Both Lr05V and Lr05NV were able to improve BM emergency myelopiesis and protection against respiratory pathogens in mice undergoing chemotherapy.

Modulaciones krauso-positivistas para una pedagogía antiautoritaria: “Medio ambiente”, “acción fructífera” y “gobierno propio” en Carlos Norberto Vergara Visaguirre, Leonardo Las recepciones, reelaboraciones del krausismo en América Latina y específicamente en la Argentina integran un nodo temático que no ha sido suficientemente explorado por la historia de las ideas filosóficas y pedagógicas. Si nos centramos en la incidencia en la pedagogía en la educación argentina de principio de siglo XX las vacancias son aún mayores. Los antecedentes más importantes de este tema son las investigaciones de Arturo Roig y Hugo Biagini en el ámbito filosófico y su incidencia en otras esferas sociales, políticas y culturales, y los trabajos sobre historia de la educación de Adriana Puiggrós y de Sandra Carli, entre otros y otras. Nuestro objetivo es dar cuenta de la repercusión de las ideas krausistas en el normalista Carlos Norberto Vergara (1859 1929). La metodología propuesta pertenece a una intersección entre Historia de las ideas filosóficas y pedagógicas (Roig, 1993, 2009; Arpini, 2003; Ramaglia, 2020) y la Epistemología crítica (Díaz, 2007). Partimos de una anticipación de sentido, la incidencia de las ideas krausistas en Carlos Vergara y el trabajo de reapropiación situado en su horizonte histórico que realiza para elaborar una pedagogía antiautoritaria. Ponemos el foco en la producción discursiva del mencionado pensador krausista, específicamente en su voluminoso libro Revolución pacífica (1911). Su obra y accionar dan cuenta de un lugar de enunciación diferencial que disputa el sentido del proceso de modernización estatal argentino de fines del siglo XIX y principio del siglo XX. Discute con la educación autoritaria estatal y su intención de formar una población obediente y útil a las necesidades de una burguesía terrateniente. En oposición propone una educación republicana y libertaria en el sentido krausista armonicista.; The reworkings of krausism in Latin America -and specifically in Argentina- are part of a thematic cluster that has not been sufficiently explored by the history of philosophical and pedagogical ideas. Moreover, when considering its impact on pedagogy and in Argentinian education at the beginning of the twentieth century, the gaps are even wider. The most important precedents on this subject include the philosophical research conducted by Arturo Roig and Hugo Biagini, and its bearing on other social, political, and cultural spheres, as well as the work on the history of education by Adriana Puigros and Sandra Carli, among others. This paper seeks to provide an account of the influence of krausist ideas on Carlos Norberto Vergara (1859- 1929), a strong advocator of normal schools in Argentina. The methodology adopted is located at the intersection between the history of philosophical and pedagogical ideas and critical epistemology. The analysis proceeds from the anticipation of the incidence of krausist ideas in Carlos Vergara, considering the work of reappropriation that he carried out within his historical horizon in order to establish an anti-authoritarian pedagogy. The focus is set on the discursive production of this krausist thinker, specifically in his voluminous 1911 book Revolución pacífica (Peaceful Revolution). His work and actions reveal a differential place of enunciation that disputed the meaning of the process of state modernization in late 19th and early 20th century Argentina. He challenged the authoritarian state education system and its intention to train the population to be obedient and useful to the needs of the landed bourgeoisie. In opposition, he advocated for a republican and libertarian education, following the harmonic krausist way.

Zooarchaeological perspectives in the framework of the Anthropocene: Contributions to ecological, environmental and conservation studies from South America Mignino, Julian; López, José Manuel; Samec, Celeste Tamara This special volume considers major recent changes in southern South American animal communities. Eleven papers consider megafauna, pinnipeds, marine mammals, small terrestrial mammals and birds and are grouped under four sub-headings: (1) Isotopic insights into guanaco populations; (2) Historical sources and marine ecosystem change; (3) Changes in small mammal communities and human impacts; and (4) megafaunal extinction, domestication, avifauna and recent interactions with humans. Although some of these contributions include changes that occurred earlier in the Holocene, many highlight a current decrease in the taxonomic diversity of communities and ecosystems in different environments, which are likely to have been caused by modern human activities. The Anthropocene concept is seen as providing a useful framework for understanding and mitigation of such adverse human impacts.

Fossil cutin of Karinopteris (Middle Pennsylvanian pteridosperm) from the “paper” coal of Indiana, U.S.A. D`angelo, José Alejandro; Hower, James C.; Camí, Gerardo For the first time, a cutin-like, highly chemically resistant macropolymer has been isolated from rachises of Karinopteris sp. (lyginopteridalean pteridosperm, Middle Pennsylvanian). Samples are obtained from a cuticular or "paper" coal-shale, i.e., an organic-rich and highly clastic rock associated with the Upper Block Coal Member of the Brazil Formation, Parke County, west-central Indiana, U.S.A. Karinopteris specimens are preserved as naturally oxidized compressions, termed “fossilized cuticles”, and possibly represent vegetation of mineral substrate environments. Employing laboratory oxidation reactions, the fossilized cuticle of Karinopteris rachises is used to obtain the cuticle. After additional and long-term oxidation treatment, the cuticle yields the cutin-like macropolymer, here referred to as “cutin” for simplicity. The fossilized cuticle, cuticle, and cutin samples of Karinopteris sp. are chemically analyzed using semi-quantitative Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Cutin IR spectra of Karinopteris rachises are characterized by (a) a predominantly aliphatic composition as indicated by intense aliphatic (CHal) C-H stretching peaks at 3000-2700 cm-1, which are assigned to methylene (CH2) and methyl (CH3) groups; (b) carbonyl (C=O) groups at 1730-1640 cm-1, and aromatic carbon (C=C) absorption bands at 1600-1500 cm-1. A comparison with the cuticle, the cutin stands out due to relatively higher values of CH2/CH3 and C=O/C=C, while displaying notably low values of CHal/C=O and C=C contribution. Specifically, the relatively low value of CHal/C=O ratio obtained for the cutin of Karinopteris rachises is consistent with those found in the cutin of extant and fossil leaves. This lower CHal/C=O ratio indicates the important role likely played by C=O groups in creating a deformable and flexible structure in both the cutin and the cuticle. Such a reduced rigidity suggests a high level of rachis flexibility of the once-living Karinopteris plant, supporting the interpretation of a climbing or liana habit. Cutin isolation and its chemical characterization shed light on the probable biomechanical (flexibility) properties of Karinopteris rachises, thereby enhancing our understanding of the plant growth habit.

Flux creep regimes and vortex phase diagram in β-FeSe single crystals Lanoel, Lucio; Haberkorn, Nestor Fabian; Nieva, Gladys Leonor We analyze the relationship between critical current densities (JC) and flux creep rates (S) in β-FeSe single crystals. This analysis was based on magnetization measurements. Additionally, we establish correlations with the recently reported magnetic field-induced geometrical deformation of the vortex lattice, transitioning from hexagonal to square shape due to a rhombic distortion [A. V. Putilov et al. Phys. Rev 99 (2019) 144514]. The results show that the magnetic field dependence of Jc displays distinct regimes, which is reflected by changes in S. The vortex dynamics is analyzed within the framework of the collective creep theory. S is characterized by low pinning energies and glassy exponents according to the expectation for small-bundles at low temperatures and magnetic fields where a hexagonal vortex lattice was reported. Conversely, we observe a systematic increase in S, resembling a shift from small to large vortex bundles, at magnetic fields corresponding to the rhombic distortion. Last, the relaxation rates exhibit significant values for magnetic fields where a square vortex lattice is expected, suggesting a potential crossover from elastic to plastic creep. Our findings highlight a direct relationship between vortex lattice deformations and a decrease in vortex pinning related to vortex-defect interactions.

Seeking for Regulatory Mechanisms of Phospholamban Expression Mundiña, Cecilia Beatriz In this issue of Circulation Research, Ren et al13 introduced a novel transcription factor involved in the regulation of PLN expression, ZBTB20. ZBTB20 is a member of the broad complex, Tramtrack, and bric-a-brac and POZ (poxvirus and zinc finger) family of transcriptional repressors. ZBTB20 is involved in the regulation of various biological processes in different tissues, such as cellular proliferation and differentiation, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation, tissue repair, and oncogenesis.Due to its versatility, global knockout mice lacking ZBTB20 exhibit mortality within the first month of age.14 Up to day 16 postpartum, besides hypotension, the transgenic mice display defects in cardiac development and contractility, suggesting a potential cardiac role of ZBTB20. In the current study, Ren et al13 go a step further in exploring the importance of this transcription factor in cardiac function by generating a mouse model with cardiomyocyte-specific ablation of ZBTB20. These mice exhibited normal heart development but showed an increase in basal contractility and SERCa2a activity, attributed to a reduction in PLN expression. The results identify ZBTB20 as a novel transcription factor implicated in the regulation of PLN expression. Unfortunately, it was somewhat disappointing to find that the promoter region of the PLN gene lacks ZBTB20 binding sites. Therefore, additional investigation will be required to understand the mechanism by which ZBTB20 controls PLN expression.