Changes in Species Richness and Composition of Tiger Moths (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) among Three Neotropical Ecoregions Beccacece, Hernán Mario; Zeballos, Sebastián Rodolfo; Zapata, Adriana Inés Paraná, Yungas and Chaco Serrano ecoregions are among the most species-richterrestrial habitats at higher latitude. However, the information for tiger moths, one of the most speciose group of moths, is unknown in these ecoregion. In this study, we assess the species richness and composition on these three ecoregion. Also we investigated whether tiger moths species composition is influenced by climatic factors and altitude. Tiger moths species were obtained with samples from 71 sites using standardized protocols (21 sites were in Yungas, 19 in Paraná and 31 in Chaco Serrano). Rarefaction-extrapolation curves, non-parametric estimators for incidence and sample coverage indices were performed to assess species richness in the ecoregions studied. Non metric multidimensional scaling and adonis test were performed to compare the species composition of tiger moths among ecoregions. Permutest analysis and Pearson correlation were used to evaluate the relationship among species composition and annual mean temperature, annual temperature range, annual precipitation, precipitation seasonality and altitude. Among ecoregions Paraná was the richest with 125 species, followed by Yungas with 63 species and Chaco Serrano with 24 species. Species composition differed among these ecoregions, although Yungas and Chaco Serrano were more similar than Paraná. Species composition was significantly influenced by climatic factors and altitude. This study showed that species richness and species composition of tiger moths differed among the three ecoregions assessed. Furthermore, not only climatic factors and altitude influence the species composition of tiger moths among ecoregions, but also climatic seasonality at higher latitude in Neotropical South America region becomes an important factor.

Bee, hummingbird or mixed pollinated Salvia species mirror pathways to pollination optimization: a morphometric analysis based on the Pareto front concept Strelin, Marina Micaela; Sazatornil, Federico David; Benitez-Vieyra, Santiago Miguel; Ordano, Mariano Andrés Optimization of flower phenotypes to ensure pollination by agents differing in their match with fertile flower structures can involve fitness trade-offs if the aspects of the phenotype that enhance the fitness contribution of one pollinator are detrimental for pollination by the other agents. If these trade-offs are substantial, flower optimization for specialized pollination is expected. However, optimization for generalized pollination may also take place in trade-off scenarios, as long as the joint contribution of two or more types of pollinators to global pollination fitness is greater than each individual contribution. We use an observational approach to evaluate the role of pollination fitness trade-offs in flower trait optimization, a matter seldom addressed because of the difficulties in conducting experiments. A pattern searching tool based on the Pareto front concept, borrowed from the fields of economics and engineering, was used to test for fitness trade-off patterns in the flower shape of four Salvia (Lamiaceae) species. Two are pollinated exclusively either by bees or by hummingbirds; the remaining present mixed pollination systems, with varying contributions of bee and hummingbird pollination. The patterning of flower shape in this study suggests a bee-hummingbird pollination trade-off in Salvia and the optimization of generalized flower shapes.

Terpenes: Natural Products for Controlling Insects of Importance to Human Health?A Structure-Activity Relationship Study Dambolena, José Sebastián; Zunino, María Paula; Herrera, Jimena María; Pizzolitto, Romina Paola; Areco, Vanessa Andrea; Zygadlo, Julio Alberto Many insects affect food production and human health, and in an attempt to control these insects the use of synthetic insecticideshas become widespread. However, this has resulted in the development of resistance in these organisms, human diseases,contamination of food, and pollution of the environment. Plants natural products and essential oil components such as terpenesand phenylpropenes have been shown to have a significant potential for insect control. However, the molecular properties relatedto their insecticidal activity are not well understood. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the toxicity ofterpene compounds against three insects of importance to human health: lice, cockroaches, and Triatominae bugs and to evaluatewhich molecular descriptors are important in the bioactivity of terpenes. For the insects studied, quantitative structure-activityrelationship (QSAR) studies were performed in order to predict the insecticidal activity of terpene compounds. The obtainedQSAR models indicated that the activity of these compounds depends on their ability to reach the targets and to interact withthem.The QSAR analysis can be used to predict the bioactivities of other structurally related molecules. Our findings may providean important contribution in the search for new compounds with insecticidal activity.

First record and revised description of Herpetocypris helenae G. W. Müller, 1908 (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from the Neotropics (central-west Argentina) D'ambrosio, Débora Sabina; Diaz, Analia Roxana; García, Adriana Laura; Claps, Maria Cristina The genus Herpetocypris Brady & Norman, 1889 has a wide distribution in most of the zoogeographical regions except in the Neotropical Region, where only three species have so far been found these being H. reptans (Baird, 1835), H. chevreuxi (Sars, 1895) and H. pectinata Brehm, 1934. We here report the first record of Herpetocypris helenae G. W. Müller, 1908 from the Neotropical Region, and provide a complete revised description and illustration of the valves and soft parts of this species, as well as information on ecological factors affecting its distribution and aspects of morphological variability of its valves.

Challenges in the conservation of the work of León Ferrari Baldomá, Gabriela; Maier, Marta Silvia When dealing with contemporary art, conservators have to address not only the material aspects of the artwork but also other highly complex issues. The Argentinian artist Leon Ferrari is a representative example. He created avant-garde art installations but also worked with traditional techniques. His works raise dilemmas over concepts such as authorship, authenticity, legitimacy of art. Some of his artworks only interested him as a means to express his opinions and he was not concerned about alterations in their appearance. Therefore, what should be kept in them is not in an area of certainty for conservators. An essential key for achieving a responsible and respectful conservation result, is to understand the ideology involved in each ‘art piece’ created by Ferrari.

El Fondo Fiduciario de Promoción de la Industria del Software (FONSOFT) anuncia los resultados del proceso de reconsideración y evaluación para la convocatoria ANR FONSOFT 2015 C1 y C2 mediante Resolución de Directorio N°415 y 419/16.

El Fondo Fiduciario de Promoción de la Industria del Software (FONSOFT) anuncia los resultados del proceso de evaluación para la convocatoria Emprendedores FONSOFT 2015 C1 mediante Resolución de Directorio N°418/16.

Pollination biology of Echinopsis leucantha (Cactaceae): Passerine birds and exotic bees as effective pollinators Gorostiague, Pablo; Ortega Baes, Francisco Pablo Cactus flowers have traditionally been considered to be specialized to certain pollination guilds, but pollination studies reveal that most species are actually generalists. This suggests that floral traits are not always predictive of the animal visitors that pollinate cactus flowers. Here, we studied the pollination of Echinopsis leucantha (Gillies ex Salm-Dyck) Walp., an endemic cactus of Argentina, whose floral traits would suggest that it is pollinated by moths. The floral lifespan and flower availability throughout the reproductive period were evaluated. Field experiments were carried out to study the reproductive system and the identity and effectiveness of floral visitors. Echinopsis leucantha flowers had a nocturnal anthesis time that extended into the following morning. The species was self-incompatible. Floral visitors included moths, bees, and passerine birds. However, diurnal visitors were more effective as pollinators than nocturnal ones. The flowers of E. leucantha were phenotypically specialized (sphingophily); however, the pollination system was functionally and ecologically generalized. The results confirm that generalized pollination systems are widespread among species of the Echinopsis genus with nocturnal flowers, for which diurnal pollinators seem to have a key role in fruit and seed production. Our study constitutes the first record of passerine bird pollination in the Cactaceae for mainland South America.

El titular de la Agencia participó del congreso de gerontología y destacó los aportes del sistema científico tecnológico a las necesidades del sector.

El Fondo Tecnológico Argentino (FONTAR) anuncia los resultados del proceso de evaluación para la convocatoria ANR FONTAR I+D 2016 mediante Resolución de Directorio N°445/16.

El Fondo Tecnológico Argentino (FONTAR) anuncia los resultados del proceso de evaluación para la convocatoria ANR Social 2016 mediante Resolución de Directorio N°445/16.

El Fondo Tecnológico Argentino (FONTAR) anuncia los resultados del proceso de reconsideración para la convocatoria FIN SET 2015 mediante Resolución de Directorio N°442/16.

El Fondo Tecnológico Argentino (FONTAR) anuncia los resultados del proceso de reconsideración para la convocatoria ANR 2200 2015 C3 mediante Resolución de Directorio N°416/16.

El Fondo Tecnológico Argentino (FONTAR) anuncia los resultados del proceso de reconsideración para la convocatoria ANR Plan Argentina Innovadora 2020 Temas Estratégicos 2015 mediante Resolución de Directorio N°444/16.

El Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCyT) anuncia los resultados del proceso de adjudicación para la convocatoria mediante Resolución N°449/16.

El Fondo Fiduciario de Promoción de la Industria del Software (FONSOFT) anuncia los resultados del proceso de evaluación para la convocatoria Crédito Exporta 2014 mediante Resolución de Directorio N°413/16.

A partir del financiamiento otorgado por el Fondo Tecnológico Argentino (FONTAR), una empresa rionegrina adquirió nuevas tecnologías que le permitieron detectar y minimizar la presencia de agroquímicos, metales pesados y micotoxinas en productos alimenticios.

Systems-level effects of ectopic galectin-7 reconstitution in cervical cancer and its microenvironment Higareda Almaraz, Juan Carlos; Ruiz Moreno, Juan S.; Klimentova, Jana; Barbieri, Daniela; Salvador Gallego, Raquel; Ly, Regina; Valtierra Gutierrez, Ilse A.; Dinsart, Christiane; Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrián; Stulik, Jiri; Rösl, Frank; Rincon Orozco, Bladimiro ckgroundGalectin-7 (Gal-7) is negatively regulated in cervical cancer, and appears to be a link between the apoptotic response triggered by cancer and the anti-tumoral activity of the immune system. Our understanding of how cervical cancer cells and their molecular networks adapt in response to the expression of Gal-7 remains limited.MethodsMeta-analysis of Gal-7 expression was conducted in three cervical cancer cohort studies and TCGA. In silico prediction and bisulfite sequencing were performed to inquire epigenetic alterations. To study the effect of Gal-7 on cervical cancer, we ectopically re-expressed it in the HeLa and SiHa cervical cancer cell lines, and analyzed their transcriptome and SILAC-based proteome. We also examined the tumor and microenvironment host cell transcriptomes after xenotransplantation into immunocompromised mice. Differences between samples were assessed with the Kruskall-Wallis, Dunn?s Multiple Comparison and T tests. Kaplan?Meier and log-rank tests were used to determine overall survival.ResultsGal-7 was constantly downregulated in our meta-analysis (p < 0.0001). Tumors with combined high Gal-7 and low galectin-1 expression (p = 0.0001) presented significantly better prognoses (p = 0.005). In silico and bisulfite sequencing assays showed de novo methylation in the Gal-7 promoter and first intron. Cells re-expressing Gal-7 showed a high apoptosis ratio (p < 0.05) and their xenografts displayed strong growth retardation (p < 0.001). Multiple gene modules and transcriptional regulators were modulated in response to Gal-7 reconstitution, both in cervical cancer cells and their microenvironments (FDR < 0.05 %). Most of these genes and modules were associated with tissue morphogenesis, metabolism, transport, chemokine activity, and immune response. These functional modules could exert the same effects in vitro and in vivo, even despite different compositions between HeLa and SiHa samples.ConclusionsGal-7 re-expression affects the regulation of molecular networks in cervical cancer that are involved in diverse cancer hallmarks, such as metabolism, growth control, invasion and evasion of apoptosis. The effect of Gal-7 extends to the microenvironment, where networks involved in its configuration and in immune surveillance are particularly affected.

La Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, a través del Fondo Tecnológico Argentino (FONTAR), llaman a la presentación de Proyectos de Innovación Tecnológica para la adjudicación de Aportes No Reembolsables (ANR 3500) destinados al financiamiento de proyectos de desarrollo tecnológico presentados por empresas PyMEs en el marco del Programa de Innovación Tecnológica IV (PIT IV).