Assessment of the Insecticidal Potential of the Eupatorium buniifolium Essential Oil Against Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). A Chiral Recognition Approach Guerreiro, Analia Cecilia; Cecati, Francisco Miguel; Ardanaz, Carlos Enrique; Donadel, Osvaldo Juan; Tonn, Carlos Eugenio; Sosa, M.E. In this research, bioactivities toward the Chagas’ disease vector Triatoma infestans (Klug) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) by the essential oil (EO) of Eupatorium buniifolium H. et A. (Asteraceae) are reported. The tests were designed in order to determine ovicidal activity as well as the response to vapor exposure (fumigant) and to topical application (contact toxicity) and as repellent. In the last three bioassays, nymphs from the 3rd and 4th instar were used. The assayed materials were obtained from aerial parts of plants collected during the months of March and December, throughout 4 years, in two locations. The EO samples were subjected to a qualitative analysis by GC-MS and the relative area of each component was reported by GC-FID. The main monoterpene detected was α-pinene and by using a chiral column through GC-MS experiments and having both stereoisomers as standards, we were able to determine that the enantiomer present was S,S-(−)-α-pinene. Although usually in studies of EOs changes in chemical composition are often observed due to the time of collection and the environment where the plant develops, in our case the differences were, with some exception, only at the level of the minor components. The best results were obtained in the experiments to determine ovicidal activity, fumigant action, and repellency. No worthy response was found as insecticide in the trials designed for contact toxicity. The results of the studied bioactivities were independent of the location, month, and year of collection of the plant material. This behavior provides an interesting scope in relation to the potential use of this natural blend for the control of this insect at the nymph stage as repellent as well as for decreasing the population by ovicidal effect. Notably, in the course of the two-choice repellency test, it was possible to demonstrate recognition of one of the enantiomers of the α-pinene, giving rise to a non-common chirality/response effect. In this assay, the levorotatory isomer was the most active as repellent. Considering the abundance of the wild plant under study and the fact that its EO is easy to obtain, it is suggested that it could be an adequate natural resource to control this vector in a sustainable way as a complementary approach to conventional methods.

Optimization-based design of easy-to-make devices for heat flux manipulation Fachinotti, Victor Daniel; Ciarbonetti, Angel; Peralta, Ignacio; Rintoul, Ignacio In this work, we present a new method for the design of heat flux manipulating devices, with emphasis on their manufacturability. The design is obtained as solution of a nonlinear optimization problem where the objective function represents the given heat flux manipulation task, and the design variables define the material distribution in the device. In order to facilitate the fabrication of the device, the material at a given point is chosen between two materials with highly different conductivity. By this way, the whole device can be seen, in the large scale, as a metamaterial having a specific anisotropic effective conductivity. As an application example, we designed a heat flux inverter which was so simple that it could be hand-made. The performance of this device for heat flux inversion was experimentally tested, proving that it was more efficient than a more complex device designed using the classical transformation thermodynamics approach.

Active and intelligent films made from starchy sources/blackberry pulp Gutiérrez Carmona, Tomy José Functional, active and intelligent films were prepared from biopolymeric matrices (plantain starch and pre-gelatinized plantain flour) with and without the addition of a natural filler (blackberry pulp) using the casting methodology. A thorough examination of the physicochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the both the matrices used and the developed films was then carried out. The films developed from matrices incorporating the blackberry pulp were more amorphous, thicker, less sensitive to moisture, and with higher melting temperatures than the films made without this natural filler. The degree of substitution, average molecular weight and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the films made with blackberry pulp suggest that the starch chains were cross-linked. This is probably because the citric acid contained in the pulp functions as a cross-linking agent. Films with added blackberry pulp responded to changes in pH, i.e. were pH-sensitive, and also showed antimicrobial activity especially against Escherichia coli. In general, the addition of blackberry pulp improved the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the films developed due to cross-linking, as well as increasing their antioxidant activity.

Long-lasting isothiazolinone-based biocide obtained by encapsulation in micron-sized mesoporous matrices Mardones, Lucas Emanuel; Legnoverde, María Soledad; Pereyra, Andrea Marisa; Basaldella, Elena Isabel The use of mesoporous silica materials as new hosts for stabilizing isothiazolinone-based biocides was investigated. Two types of porous matrices were synthesized: SBA-15 mesoporous silica and mesocellular siliceous foam (MCF). The physicochemical properties of the silicas (structure, textural properties) were evaluated by SEM, TEM, XRD and adsorption/desorption of N2 in order to determine their ability to encapsulate, stabilize and subsequently release a commercial biocide used for latex preservation (CMIT/MIT). CMIT/MIT consists of an aqueous solution of the active ingredients CMIT (5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one) and MIT (2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one), present in a CMIT/MIT: 3/1 wt ratio. It was observed that the biocide can be encapsulated in both silica frameworks without suffering structural damage. The SBA-15 support exhibits a lower adsorption capacity of biocide molecules than MCF, which may be attributed to both agreater MCF pore volume and pore size. MCF has less hindered diffusion causedby a short channel length, which facilitates the biocide access to the pores ofthe matrix. The long pore length of SBA-15 makes the diffusion of CMIT/MIT mixture more difficult. Biocide release tests in aqueous media indicated that the CMIT/MIT concentration in the leaching solution depends on the matrix nature, the smaller values being obtained when the ordered matrix was used. Additionally, biocide delivery could be delayed by increasing the working pH from 7 to 9. Results showed that biocide encapsulation allows maintaining a long-lasting release, even under alkaline conditions (pH 9), at which the hydrolysis of non-supported CMIT occur. Several release tests at different temperature (318, 323 and 328 K), were carried out for 20 days at pH 7. The biocide loading after the tests was reflected in the IR spectra, and it has been corroborated that biocide encapsulation allows retarding the fast thermal decomposition of CMIT.

TPACK: un modelo para analizar prácticas docentes universitarias. El caso de una docente experta; TPACK: a model to analyze university teaching practices: the case of an expert teacher Flores, Fernando Agustin Santiago; Ortiz, Margarita Cristina; Buontempo, María Paula En este artículo analizamos desde las dimensiones del modelo TPACK la praxis docente de una profesora de la asignatura Educación a Distancia de la Licenciatura en Ciencias de la Educación en el marco del proyecto: La construcción del Conocimiento Didáctico del Contenido en profesores experimentados y principiantes de una universidad del nordeste argentino. Estudio de casos múltiples.Con una perspectiva cualitativa, construimos un caso narrativo, a partir de la doble triangulación: a) de fuentes primarias- observaciones y entrevistas-,secundarias -análisis de documentos personales y curriculares-; y b) de las interpretaciones de la docente e investigadores; con el objetivo de elucidar dimensiones del TPACK en clases presenciales y entornos virtuales.Organizamos los resultados según las categorías emergentes que se detallan: status del TPACK en el conocimiento profesional docente; auto-percepción acerca del uso de las nuevas tecnologías en la asignatura; tipos y frecuencia de uso de las TIC en la enseñanza; visiones sobre los modos de integración del constructo TPACK en la praxis; características centrales de las propuestas de enseñanza y aprendizaje con tecnologías; manifestaciones del TPACK en un ciclo didáctico de la asignatura.A partir del cruce y convergencia de estas categorías y de la trayectoria y posición de la profesora en la función docente, abordamos el entramado de saberes y prácticas con características propias de la experticia docente a partir del TPACK.; In this article we analyze the teaching practice of a teacher of the subject Distance Education of the Degree in Educational Sciences, from the dimensions of the TPACK model. The framework of the article is the project: “The construction of the Pedagogical Content Knowledge in experienced and beginners teachers of the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste in Argentina. Multiple case study”.With a qualitative perspective, we build a narrative case, based on double triangulation: a) from primary sources-observations and interviews-, secondary -analysis of personal and curricular documents-; and b) the interpretations of the teacher and researchers; with the objective of identifying TPACK dimensions in face-to-face classes and virtual environments.We organize the results according to the emerging categories that are detailed: status of the TPACK in the professional knowledge of teachers; self-perception about the use of new technologies in the subject; types and frequency of use of new technologies in education; visions on the integration modes of the TPACK construct in praxis; main characteristics of the teaching and learning proposals with technologies; TPACK manifestations in the pedagogical cycle of the subject.From the convergence of these categories and the teacher’s career and position in the teaching role, we tackled the framework of knowledge and practices with characteristics of the teaching expertise from the TPACK.

The influence of magnetic field on the cold neutral medium mass fraction and its alignment with density structures Villagran Azuara, Marco Adrian; Gazol, A. To contribute to the understanding of the magnetic field's influence on the segregation of cold neutral medium (CNM) in the solar neighbourhood we analyse magnetohydrodynamic simulations that include themain physical characteristics of the local neutral atomic interstellar medium. The simulations have a continuous solenoidal Fourier forcing in a periodic box of 100 pc per side and an initial uniform magnetic field (B 0 ) with intensities ranging between ~0.4 and ~8 μG. Our main results are as follows. (i) The CNM mass fraction diminishes with the increase in magnetic field intensity. (ii) There is a preferred alignment between CNM structures and B in all our B 0 range but the preference weakens as B 0 increases. It is worth noticing that this preference is also present in two-dimensional projections making an extreme angle (0 or π/2) with respect to B 0 and it is only lost for the strongest magnetic field when the angle of projection is perpendicular to B 0 . (iii) The aforementioned results are prevalent despite the inclusion of self-gravity in our continuously forced simulations with a mean density similar to the average value of the solar neighbourhood. (iv) Given a fixed B 0 and slightly higher mean densities, up to double, the effects of self-gravity are still not qualitatively significant.

¿Una educación estética de la subjetividad democrática?; An esthetic education of democratic subjectivity? Prestifilippo, Agustín Lucas En este artículo analizamos las dimensiones de la significación que puede asumir el arte, y su experiencia, para la formación de la subjetividad democrática. A partir de algunos resultados de estudios de sociología empírica, indagamos el modo en que la teoría social crítica de Adorno interpreta la actitud de rechazo a la experiencia estética que se observa en algunas ideologías vigentes en el mundo contemporáneo. Si, según esta perspectiva, los individuos “carentes de musa” son también aquellos que suelen expresar afirmaciones de agresividad ante la diferencias culturales y una actitud de sumisión irreflexiva a la autoridad moral, de eso puede desprenderse no solamente la pregunta acerca de la afinidad entre experiencia estética y cultura política, sino también si la experiencia estética carga con una fuerza capaz de “educar” a la subjetividad democrática en el sentido de la emancipación. Para responder a esta pregunta, diferenciamos distintos modos de interpretar los efectos en el sujeto práctico que suscita la experiencia del arte. Finalmente, presentamos algunas conclusiones relativas al interés ético-político del arte en la indagación acerca de los prejuicios que ordenan nuestras valoraciones morales, económicas y políticas.; In this paper we analyze the dimensions of the meaning that Art and its experience can assume to configure the democratic subjectivity. Based on some results of empirical sociology studies, we question how Adorno`s Social Critical Theory understands the attitude of rejection of the esthetical experience, which is observed in some of the current ideologies of the contemporary world. If, according to this perspective, individuals “lacking Muse” are also those who express statements of aggressiveness in front of cultural differences and an attitude of a non-reflective submission facing moral authority, then it is possible to deduce not only the question about the affinity between esthetical experience and political culture, but also the question if esthetical experience carries a force capable of “educating” subjectivity in the sense of Democracy. In order to answer these questions, we differentiate ways of interpreting the effects on the subject of praxis of the aesthetical experience. Finally, we present some conclusions related to the ethical-political interest of art in the inquiry on the prejudices that organize our moral, economic and political valuations.

Demócratas insatisfechos: un estudio sobre actitudes hacia la democracia en Córdoba (Argentina); Dissatisfied democrats: a study of democratic attitudes in Argentinian citizens Alonso, Daniela Rocío; Brussino, Silvina Alejandra; Civalero Gottero, Luciana María Este trabajo propone un abordaje de las actitudes ciudadanas hacia la democracia y el rol de aspectos psicosociales en su análisis. De modo específico, se estudiaron las diferencias en las actitudes hacia la democracia respecto a tres dimensiones relacionadas: preferencia por el régimen político democrático, valoración de la democracia como ideal y satisfacción con el funcionamiento de la democracia. Además, se analizó la contribución de los valores psicosociales, el autoposicionamiento ideológico, la tolerancia a la corrupción política, evaluación de los actores políticos, participación política y aspectos sociodemográficos a la explicación de estas dimensiones de las actitudes hacia la democracia. Para ello, se tomó una muestra de 252 ciudadanos de Córdoba (AR), de entre 18 y 65 años, a través de un muestro cuotificado por edad, sexo y nivel socioeconómico. Los datos se recogieron mediante un cuestionario cerrado en formato papel y, para su análisis, se hicieron pruebas de diferencia de medias y análisis de regresión múltiple. Los resultados permitieron dar cuenta de que los ciudadanos realizan evaluaciones diferenciales de la democracia como sistema político abstracto y de su capacidad de brindar resultados deseables. Se discute el rol de las variables estudiadas en las evaluaciones sobre democracia, destacando la importancia de aspectos ideológicos y normativos.; This article access citizens’ attitudes towards democracy and the role that psycho-social aspects play on their explanation. Specifically, differences in attitudes towards democracy based on three related dimensions are studied: preference for a democratic political system, evaluation of democracy as an ideal and satisfaction with the functioning of democracy. In addition, we address the contribution of psychosocial values, ideology, tolerance of political corruption, evaluation of political actors, political participation and socio-demographic aspects to the explanation of these three dimensions of attitudes toward democracy. We selected a sample of 252 citizens of Córdoba (AR), between 18 and 65 years old, through sampling with age, sex and socioeconomic status quotification. Data was collected through the application of a closed questionnaire and mean difference tests and multiple regression analysis were performed. The results evidenced that citizens make differential assessments of democracy as an ideal and about its ability to provide desirable results. The role of the variables studied in relation to the different assessments of democracy is discussed, highlighting the importance of ideological and normative aspects.

Membrane-shed vesicles from the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis: characterization and their association with cell interaction Nievas, Yésica Romina; Cóceres, Verónica Mabel; Midlej, Victor; de Souza, Wanderley; Benchimol, Marlene; Pereira Neves, Antonio; Vashisht, Ajay A.; Wohlschlegel, James A.; Johnson, Patricia J.; de Miguel, Natalia Trichomonas vaginalis is a common sexually transmitted parasite that colonizes the human urogenital tract, where it remains extracellular and adheres to epithelial cells. Infections range from asymptomatic to highly inflammatory, depending on the host and the parasite strain. Despite the serious consequences associated with trichomoniasis disease, little is known about parasite or host factors involved in attachment of the parasite-to-host epithelial cells. Here, we report the identification of microvesicle-like structures (MVs) released by T. vaginalis. MVs are considered universal transport vehicles for intercellular communication as they can incorporate peptides, proteins, lipids, miRNA, and mRNA, all of which can be transferred to target cells through receptor–ligand interactions, fusion with the cell membrane, and delivery of a functional cargo to the cytoplasm of the target cell. In the present study, we demonstrated that T. vaginalis release MVs from the plasma and the flagellar membranes of the parasite. We performed proteomic profiling of these structures demonstrating that they possess physical characteristics similar to mammalian extracellular vesicles and might be selectively charged with specific protein content. In addition, we demonstrated that viable T. vaginalis parasites release large vesicles (LVs), membrane structures larger than 1 µm that are able to interact with other parasites and with the host cell. Finally, we show that both populations of vesicles present on the surface of T vaginalis are induced in the presence of host cells, consistent with a role in modulating cell interactions.

El Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCyT) anuncia los resultados del proceso de admisibilidad para la convocatoria PICTO COVIAR mediante Disposición Administrativa N°026/18.

Comments on Digital Current Control in a Rotating Reference Frame-Part I: System Modeling and the Discrete Time-Domain Current Controller With Improved Decoupling Capabilities Busada, Claudio Alberto; Gómez Jorge, Sebastián; Solsona, Jorge Alberto A recent paper presents a discrete time model in a rotating dq reference frame of an R-L filter, and its current control. The purpose of this note is: 1) To show that the discrete model presented in the paper behaves differently to the sampled continuous time model of the plant, formulated in the stationary reference frame. 2) To find the proper discretization of the plant in dq coordinates. 3) To verify that there is cross coupling between axis d and q in the closed loop system if the original model is used, and that this coupling is not present when using the model found in this note. In the note it is verified that having a precise model of the plant allows to fulfill the control objective of obtaining the complete decoupling between axis.

Effect of milk production on reproductive performance in dairy herds Rearte, R.; LeBlanc, S. J.; Corva, S. G.; de la Sota, Rodolfo Luzbel; Lacau, Isabel María; Giuliodori, M. The objective of the present study was to assess the relationship between individual cow milk yield and fertility, accounting for the contextual effect of the herd. A dataset including 657,968 lactations from 677 dairy herds in Argentina from 2001 to 2012 was used. The odds of pregnancy by 100 DIM were assessed by a multilevel logistic model (with cow as the first and herd as the second hierarchical level), and time to pregnancy by a proportional hazards regression model. Multilevel logistic models included the fixed effects of milk yield by 80 DIM, parity, year and calving season at cow level and quartiles of herd milk yield by 80 DIM as a contextual effect. The proportional hazards model included the effect of daily milk yield as time dependent variable and herd-level milk yield as stratification variable. Cows producing 1 SD (400 kg) over the mean milk yield of their herd had 1.0 percentage points lower pregnancy by 100 DIM (from 31.4% to 30.4%, odds ratio (OR) = 0.942) when in herds in the top quartile of milk yield, whereas they increased 0.4 percentage points (from 27.9 to 28.3%) when in herds in the lowest quartile of milk yield. Only 4% of the observed variation in pregnancy by 100 DIM was explained by the random effect of the herd. Similarly, cows producing 1 SD (8 kg/d) greater than the herd daily milk had 1.3% lower hazard of pregnancy (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.987) at 63 DIM in herds in the top quartile of milk yield whereas they had 14.8% higher hazard (HR = 1.148) in herds in the lowest quartile of milk yield. The magnitude of the negative association between the cow´s daily milk yield and the hazard of pregnancy increased with DIM.In conclusion, the relationship between milk yield and reproductive performance is statistically significant but the effect size is practically small, it is modulated by herd productivity.

El Fondo Tecnológico Argentino (FONTAR) anuncia los resultados del proceso de evaluación y reconsideración para las convocatorias ANR 4800 2017 C1 y C2 mediante Resolución de Directorio N°270 y 274/18.

El Fondo Tecnológico Argentino (FONTAR) anuncia los resultados del proceso de evaluación para la convocatoria ANR SOCIAL 2017 C2 mediante Resolución de Directorio N°276/18.

Anomalous reduction in the long-time flux creep relaxation in superconducting Ca10(Pt4As8)((Fe1-xPt x )2As2)5 (x ≈ 0.05) single crystals Haberkorn, Nestor Fabian; Huang, Silu; Jin, R. We report the vortex dynamics of superconducting a Ca10(Pt4As8)((Fe1-xPtx)2As2)5 (x ≈ 0.05) single crystal with T c = 26 K investigated by performing magnetic measurements. The field dependence of the magnetization displays a second peak (SPM), typically related to a crossover between elastic and plastic vortex relaxation in a weak pinning scenario. Long-time flux creep relaxation measurements for fields smaller that of the SPM show that the vortex dynamics can be separated in two different regions. For magnetic fields smaller than the lower end of the SPM, glassy relaxation (with a characteristic glassy exponent μ) is observed. For magnetic fields between the lower end and the SPM, the flux creep rate decreases systematically to values below to the ones predicted by the collective theory. This effect can be understood by considering a stable vortex lattice configuration. As the field position of the SPM can be adjusted by modifying the quenched potential, our results suggest that extremely low flux creep relaxation rate may be tuned in many other superconducting materials.

Structural and vibrational study on the acid, hexa-hydrated and anhydrous trisodic salts of antiviral drug Foscarnet Iramain, Maximiliano Alberto; Brandan, Silvia Antonia The structural and vibrational properties of acid species, hexa-hydrated and anhydrous trisodic salts of antiviral drug foscarnetin gas phase and in aqueous solution have been studied in this work by using the hybrid B3LYP method with the 6-31G* and6-311++G** basis sets. The properties in solution were carried out with the self consistent reaction force (SCRF) method by usingthe integral equation formalism variant polarised continuum (IEFPCM) and SD models while the complete vibrational assignmentsfor those three species were performed in both media by using the experimental available infrared spectrum of hexa-hydratedtrisodic salt and the scaled quantum mechanical force field (SQMFF) methodology. The natural bond orbital (NBO) studies suggestthat the hexa-hydrated salt in solution is most stable than the anhydrous one in the same medium but in gas phases the anhydroussalt shows a higher stability in solution. The atoms in molecules (AIM) analyses have revealed the ionic characteristics of the O---Na bonds in both salts supporting the higher stability of the hexa-hydrated salt in solution. The evaluation of the frontier orbitalsshow that the anhydrous salt is the most reactive species in solution, as supported by its higher solvation energy and volumevariation. Apparently, the presences of phosphate group in foscarnet probably increase its activity when it is used as drug. Theexperimental infrared bands observed in the hexa-hydrated species at 1059 and 983 cm-1 are clearly attributed to the stretchingmodes of phosphate group while the strong bands at 1445 and 1333 cm-1 are associated to the stretching modes of carboxylategroup. In addition, the force constants for the carboxylate and phosphate groups are reported.

La Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT), a través del Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCyT) llama, en forma conjunta con Sinergium Biotech S.A., a la presentación de proyectos de investigación científica y tecnológica para la adjudicación de subsidios a grupos de investigadores formados y activos de las áreas de ciencias biológicas, químicas, y tecnológicas.

Mercury in the feathers of bird scavengers from two areas of patagonia (Argentina) under the influence of different anthropogenic activities: A preliminary study Di Marzio, Alessandro; Gómez Ramírez, Pilar; Barbar, Facundo; Lambertucci, Sergio Agustin; García Fernández, Antonio Juan; Martínez López, Emma Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in food chains and is associated with adverse effects in both humans and wildlife.We used feather samples from bird scavengers to evaluate Hg concentrations in two different areas of Northern Patagonia. Hg concentrations were analyzed in feathers obtained from turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus), and southern crested caracaras (Caracara plancus) from the two areas of Northern Patagonia (Argentina): Bariloche and El Valle. Hg was detected in all the samples analyzed, but the concentrations can be considered low for the three species in both sampling areas. The mean concentration of Hg in Bariloche was 0.22 ± 0.16 mg/kg dry weight (d.w.) in black vulture, 0.13 ± 0.06 mg/kg d.w. in turkey vulture, and 0.13 ± 0.09 mg/kg d.w. in southern crested caracara; in El Valle, the mean concentration of Hg was 1.02 ± 0.89 mg/kg d.w. in black vulture, 0.53 ± 0.82 mg/kg d.w. in turkey vulture, and 0.54 ± 0.74 mg/kg d.w. in southern crested caracara. Hg concentrations in feathers were explained by the sampling area but not by the species. The concentrations of Hg contamination were comparable to those obtained in other studies of terrestrial raptors and aquatic bioindicator raptors. The species of the present study occur throughout much of North and South America. Thus, they may be appropriate bioindicators across the species’ range, which is particularly useful as a surrogate, especially in distribution areas shared with endangered scavengers such as the California condor (Gymnopsys californianus) and the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus).

El Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCyT) anuncia los resultados del proceso de adjudicación para la convocatoria PCE PORTA Hnos. mediante Resolución N°258/18.

El Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCyT) anuncia los resultados del proceso de adjudicación para la convocatoria PCE GSK mediante Resolución N°257/18.