Treatment with melatonin after onset of experimental uveitis attenuates ocular inflammation Sande, P. H.; Dorfman, Damián; Fernandez, Diego Carlos; Chianelli, Monica Silvia; Domínguez Rubio, Ana Paula; Franchi, Ana Maria; Silberman, Dafne Magali; Rosenstein, Ruth Estela; Saenz, Daniel Alberto Background and Purpose: Uveitis is a prevalent intraocular inflammatory disease and one of the most damaging ocular conditions. Pretreatment with melatonin prevented ocular inflammation induced by an intravitreal injection of bacterial LPS in the Syrian hamster. Here, we have assessed the anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin administered after the onset of ocular inflammation. Experimental Approach: The eyes of male Syrian hamsters were intravitreally injected with vehicle or LPS. Melatonin was injected i.p. every 24 h, starting 12 or 24 h after the LPS injection. A clinical evaluation (with a score index based on clinical symptoms), the number of infiltrating cells, protein concentration and PGE2 and PGF2α levels in the aqueous humour, as well as retinal NOS activity, lipid peroxidation and TNF-α levels were assessed. Retinal function was assessed by scotopic electroretinography, and light microscopy and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the state of the retinal structure. Key Results: Both treatment regimens with melatonin decreased clinical symptoms, reduced the leakage of cells and proteins, and decreased PG levels in aqueous humour from eyes injected with LPS. In addition, melatonin treatment blocked the decrease in scotopic electroretinogram a- and b-wave amplitude, protected the retinal structure and reduced the increase in NOS activity, lipid peroxidation and TNF-α levels, induced by LPS. Conclusions and Implications: These results indicate that treatment with melatonin, starting after the onset of uveitis, attenuated ocular inflammation induced by LPS in the Syrian hamster and support the use of melatonin as a therapeutic resource for uveitis treatment.

Detecting trends in time series of functional data: a study of antarctic climate change Fraiman, Ricardo; Justel, Ana; Liu, Regina; Llop Orzan, Pamela Nerina The Spanish Antarctic Station Juan Carlos I has been registering surface air temperatures with the frequency of one reading per ten minutes since the austral summer 1987-88. Although this data set contains valuable information about the climate patterns in and around Antarctica, it has not been utilized in any existing climate studies thus far because of the concern of its substantial missing data caused by the difficulty in collecting data in the extreme winter weather conditions there. Such data sets do not fit the standard setting covered by the existing times series techniques. However, by treating the temperature readings for each summer as a function, the temperature data can be viewed as a time series of functional data. We introduce new notions of increasing trends for general time series of functional data based on the so-called record functions, and also develop useful nonparametric tests for such trends. Following our analysis, the data collected from Juan Carlos I Station exhibit an increasing trend in the Antarctic temperature.

Características y distribución de la maleza Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson (Amaranthaceae) en cultivos de soja y maíz de la provincia de Tucumán y del NOA Villagran, Liliana Fernanda; Cabrera, Debora Carina; de la Vega, M.; Figueroa, O.; Castro, E.; Rossi, D. Amaranthus palmeri (“ataco”, “yuyo colorado”, “bledo”) es una maleza introducida desde el hemisferio norte y que fue detectada en Argentina en las campañas de 2011 – 2012 debido a su resistencia a glifosato y a inhibidores de ALS (Tuesca et.al., 2012). Morichetti et al. (2013) mencionan que en nuestro país, ya en 1966, fue coleccionada por J. H. Hunziker y G. Covas, no volviendo a ser citada ni incluida en la flora adventicia quizás por no haber logrado establecerse exitosamente. Pero, colecciones realizadas en 2012 en diferentes lotes cultivados con soja, maní, sorgo y maíz en el Sur de Córdoba y San Luis, permiten ahora incluirla como una maleza establecida y problemática de nuestra flora adventicia. El grave problema que también plantea esta maleza es que puede hibridarse con otras especies de Amaranthus, con lo cual puede transferir genes de resistencia hacia otras especies del Género (Morichetti et. al., 2013).

Los viajes de estudio de Adolfo S. Carranza y la reforma penitenciaria en Tucumán (1911-1927) González Alvo, Luis Gabriel; Nuñez, Jorge Alberto El movimiento de reforma penitenciaria se caracterizó desde sus inicios por el carácter "viajero" de sus impulsores. Si bien podría elaborarse una larga lista de viajeros entre los reformistas, cabe mencionar, cuanto menos, al "padre" de la escuela penitenciaria clásica, John Howard (quien, a pesar de sus crónicos problemas de salud, recorrió gran parte de Europa para conocer sus instituciones de reclusión) y Alexis de Tocqueville quien fue comisionado por el gobierno francés a los Estados Unidos para estudiar su sistema penitenciario. A comienzos del siglo XX, en el marco de la reforma penitenciaria argentina, el jurista Adolfo S. Carranza (con una larga trayectoria en la provincia de Tucumán), retomó la senda viajera iniciada por John Howard, realizando varios viajes por Sudamérica (Chile y Brasil) y por Europa. En el presente trabajo nos proponemos reflexionar sobre una temática que ha sido escasamente abordada por la historiografía jurídica y social argentina: el papel de los "viajeros penitenciarios" y el impacto producido a posteriori en sus realidades locales a través de la adopción de instituciones extranjeras. Para ello, nos centraremos en el viaje realizado por Carranza a Europa en 1921 y en la construcción de la nueva Penitenciaría de Tucumán en el bienio 1925-1927.; The penitentiary reform movement was characterized from its very beginning by its spearheads' "traveler" spirit. While a large list of travelers could be issued among reformists, the "fathers" of the penitentiary classic school should at least be mentioned. John Howard (who, in spite of his health chronic problems, traveled across Europe to know their detention institutions), and Alexis Tocqueville, who was commissioned by the French government to the United States to study their penitentiary system. At the beginning of the XX century, and within the framework of the Argentine penitentiary reform, the lawyer Adolfo S. Carranza (who held a large professional experience in the province of Tucumán), returned to the traveling pad initiated by John Howard, carrying out several trips to South America (Chile and Brazil) and to Europe. This paper aims to reflect on a subject which has been barely addressed by the argentine legal and social historiography: the role of the "penitentiary travelers" and the evaluation of the impact in their local contexts and realities after the events throughout the adoption of foreign institutions. Therefore we shall focus on the trip carried out to Europe by Carranza in 1921 and the building of the new Penitentiary of Tucumán in the biennium 1925-1927.

Canto y desencanto del Cisne: Rubén Darío en el diario El Orden de Tucumán (Argentina, 1898) Risco, Ana Maria La llegada de Rubén Darío a Buenos Aires y su participación en La Nación constituyen episodios de gran resonancia para el mundo de las letras argentinas, en cuanto a renovación de poéticas –entre naturalismo y modernismo– y dinámica social. En el presente trabajo analizamos dos crónicas de Darío publicadas en noviembre de 1898 en El Orden de Tucumán, periódico de una provincia del noroeste de Argentina. Nuestro análisis identifica los elementos modernistas de sus crónicas y su eventual postura americanista e indigenista. A su vez, con este trabajo nos proponemos rescatar estas crónicas, desconocidas por la crítica, que permanecen en la actualidad bajo la sombra del olvido y de la indiferencia.; The Ruben Dario´s arrival to Buenos Aires and his participation on La Nación are two great resonant episodes for the argentine lettered city, in the sense of a renovation of the poetics –between naturalism and modernism– and the social dynamic. In the present paper we analyze two chronicles from Darío published in November 1898 in El Orden from Tucumán, a newspaper from a province of Northwest Argentina. In this work we identify the modernist elements of his chronicles and his americanist and indigenist eventual position. At the same time, through this work we propose recover these texts from Dario, that today are unknown from the critics, remaining under the shadow of the forgotten and the indifference.

fruit set. In both the exotic species and one simultaneously fruiting native species (Schinus patagonicus), high numbers of ripe fruits with a high proportion of viable seeds remained on the plants at a time when fruits of other native species were either Azpilicueta, María M.; Pastorino, Mario Juan; Puntieri, Javier Guido; Barbero, Fernando Alvaro; Martínez Meier, Alejandro; Marchelli, Paula; Gallo, Leonardo The northernmost ‘robles’ of Argentina, located in Lagunas de Epulauquen (northwest Patagonia), are considered a population of Nothofagus obliqua, even though they differ in some respects from individuals of other populations of the species. In order to analyse a possible genetic basis of their distinctive character, we revised previous information and added new evidence based on biochemical (isozyme) and molecular (chloroplast DNA and nuclear microsatellite) markers, as well as quantitative trait variation (seed traits, leaf morphology, plant architecture and field performance). The comparison of Lagunas de Epulauquen specimens with specimens from other areas in Argentina demonstrated their genetic distinction. Glacial history, in conjunction with hybridisation processes, provides support for the main hypothesis to explain these results. Future research lines are proposed, aimed at identifying the taxonomic status of the Lagunas de Epulauquen population. The conservation value of these forests is highlighted.; Los robles más septentrionales de la Argentina, ubicados en Lagunas de Epulauquen (noroeste de Patagonia) son considerados una población de la especie Nothofagus obliqua, pero presentan características diferenciales respecto al resto de las poblaciones argentinas de esa especie. El presente trabajo reúne información generada previamente y otra original que demuestra el carácter genéticamente distintivo de esa población. Se presentan los resultados logrados a través de análisis genéticos con marcadores bioquímicos (isoenzimas) y moleculares (de ADN de cloroplasto y marcadores de microsatélites nucleares), con caracteres cuantitativos seminales, de morfología foliar, de arquitectura de las plantas y de aptitud a campo. La historia glacial de la región, en conjunción con procesos de hibridación pasados, se postula como la causa de esta diferenciación. Se propone la realización de nuevas líneas de investigación que permitan confirmar o re-definir el estatus taxonómico de los árboles de esta población. Adicionalmente se presenta una breve consideración sobre el valor de conservación de los bosques en Lagunas de Epulauquen, en relación a los resultados aquí presentados.

Microbios bajo el sol Libkind Frati, Diego Los microorganismos también deben protegerse de los efectos de la radiación solar, en particular en los lagos andino-patagónicos. Las levaduras, como nosotros, poseen pigmentos y pantallas solares para su foto-protección.

Un queso entre otros. Sueros, familias y relaciones en los cerros jujeños Pazzarelli, Francisco Gustavo En este trabajo indago sobre las relaciones que los huacheños establecen entre su producción diaria de quesos y la vida de las familias en la comunidad (emplazada entre las regiones de quebrada y puna jujeñas, en Huachicocana, Jujuy, Argentina). Enfocado en una etnografía de los procesos técnicos del queso, me interesa comprender de qué modos éstos se involucran en la fabricación y sostenimiento de estas relaciones de parentesco a través de la manipulación diaria y estacional de cuajos, sueros, fermentos y pancheras.; In this work I investigate the relationships established by the huacheños between their daily production of cheese and the lives of families in the community, located between the regions of "quebrada" and "puna", in Huachicocana, Jujuy, Argentina). Based on an ethnography of cheese-making techniques, I'm interested in understanding the ways in which cheese is involved in the manufacture and maintenance of kinship relations, by means of the daily and seasonal manipulation of curds, whey, yeast and pancheras.

Synthesis of divalent ligands of beta-thio- and beta-N-galactopyranosides and related lactosides and their evaluation as substrates and inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase Cano, María Emilia; Agusti, Rosalia; Cagnoni, Alejandro; Tesoriero, María Florencia; Kovenski, José; Uhrig, Maria Laura; Muchnik, Rosa In this work we describe the synthesis of mono- and divalent β-N- and β-S-galactopyranosides and related lactosides built on sugar scaffolds and their evaluation as substrates and inhibitors of the Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase (TcTS). This enzyme catalyzes the transfer of sialic acid from an oligosaccharidic donor in the host, to parasite βGalp terminal units and it has been demonstrated that it plays an important role in the infection. Herein, the enzyme was also tested as a tool for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of sialic acid containing glycoclusters. The transfer reaction of sialic acid was performed using a recombinant TcTS and 3?-sialyllactose as sialic acid donor, in the presence of the acceptor having βGalp non reducing ends. The products were analyzed by high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulse amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD). The ability of the different S-linked and N-linked glycosides to inhibit the sialic acid transfer reaction from 3?-sialyllactose to the natural substrate N-acetyllactosamine, was also studied. Most of the substrates behaved as good acceptors and moderate competitive inhibitors. A di-N-lactoside showed to be the strongest competitive inhibitor among the compounds tested (70% inhibition at equimolar concentration). The usefulness of the enzymatic trans-sialylation for the preparation of sialylated ligands was assessed by performing a preparative sialylation of a divalent substrate, which afforded the monosialylated compound as main product, together with the disialylated glycocluster.

Electrospun Nanofibrous Mats: From Vascular Repair to Osteointegration Ribba, Laura Gabriela; Parisi, Marián Luciana; D'accorso, Norma Beatriz; Goyanes, Silvia Nair Electrospinning is a versatile technique for generating a mat of continuous fibers with diameters from a few nanometers to several micrometers. The diversity of electrospinnable materials, and the unique features associated with electrospun fibers make this technique and its resultant structures attractive for applications in the biomedical field. This article presents an overview of this technique focusing on its application for tissue engineering. In particular, the advantages and disadvantages of using an electrospinning mat for biomedical applications are discussed. It reviews the different available electrospinning configurations, detailing how the different process variables and material types determine the obtained fibers characteristics. Then a description of how nanofiber based scaffolds offer great promise in the regeneration or function restoration of damaged or diseased bones, muscles or nervous tissue is reported. Different methods for incorporating active agents on nanofibers and controlling their release mechanisms are also reviewed. The review concludes with some personal perspectives on the future work to be done in order to include electrospinning technique in the industrial development of biomedical materials.

Carvedilol protects the peritubular capillaries and kidney structure in spontaneously hypertensive rats Cao, Gabriel Fernando; Milei, Jose; Muller, Angelica del Carmen; Ottaviano, Graciela Mabel; Gómez Llambí, Hernan Carvedilol improves autoregulation of renal blood flow by virtue of its ability to reduce intrarenal vascular resistance [1] and modify the vascular reactivity in non-denervated kidney [2]. Long-term changes in renal blood flow, for example during essential hypertension, may induce progressive modifications in the microvascular (MV) tone, given that the chronic vascular constriction can lead to peritubular capillary loss and increased intrarenal vascular resistance. The severity of these changes may affect the kidney functions, a phenomenon known as vascular rarefaction [3].

Árboles de Misiones: Helietta apiculata Benth Bohren, Alicia Violeta; Grance, Luis Alberto; Keller, Hector Alejandro; Aguilera, María Angélica; Kupers, Guillermo Federico Resumen: en la ficha técnica se incluyen diversos caracteres dendrológicos, morfológicos, anatómicos de Helietta apiculata (Rutaceae) que son de interés para el sector forestal

A hybrid configuration interaction treatment based on seniority number and excitation schemes Alcoba, Diego Ricardo; Torre, Alicia; Lain, Luis; Oña, Ofelia Beatriz; Capuzzi, Pablo; Van Raemdonck, Mario; Bultinck, Patrick; Van Neck, Dimitri We present a configuration interaction method in which the Hamiltonian of an N-electron system is projected on Slater determinants selected according to the seniority-number criterion along with the traditional excitation-based procedure. This proposed method is especially useful to describe systems which exhibit dynamic (weak) correlation at determined geometric arrangements (where the excitation-based procedure is more suitable) but show static (strong) correlation at other arrangements (where the seniority-number technique is preferred). The hybrid method amends the shortcomings of both individual determinant selection procedures, yielding correct shapes of potential energy curves with results closer to those provided by the full configuration interaction method.

E(in)migración italiana en la Argentina y conflictos lingüísticos. Representaciones literarias y variaciones en las dos orillas Bravo Herrera, Fernanda Elisa Este trabajo se propone analizar algunas representaciones de los conflictos lingüísticos que se han producido por la e(in)migración italiana en la Argentina, atendiendo no solamente producciones literarias argentinas sino también italianas, ubicadas entre los siglos XIX y XX. De esta forma se espera reconstruir una especie de mapa de configuraciones de la alteridad y de la identidad, partiendo de las estilizaciones lingüísticas, que proponen el proceso de reacomodamiento cultural vinculado con las e(in)migraciones y que ha significado un replanteo de las identidades nacionales y de los proyectos político-culturales relacionados con éstas. Algunas de las cuestiones que se relevarán se vinculan con el cocoliche, con la interlingua, con el lunfardo, con los contactos lingüísticos ya estudiados por Giovanni Meo-Zilio, pero se centrará, sobre todo, en la cuestión identitaria que emerge de las mismas. Las diferentes representaciones del uso de la lengua de los e(in)migrantes italianos en la Argentina en los espacios literarios de Argentina y de Italia permite configurar las distintas perspectivas socio-ideológicas que han modelizado el proceso migratorio y los mecanismos de integración (o no) que interactúan y lo determinan. Entre los varios autores que se estudian en este trabajo se incluyen: José Hernández, Armando Discépolo, Leopoldo Marechal, Roberto Cossa, Roberto Raschella, Edmondo De Amicis, Antonio Marazzi, Enrico Corradini y Mariangela Sedda.

Enhanced viral production and virus-mediated mortality of bacterioplankton in a natural iron-fertilized bloom event above the Kerguelen Plateau Malits, Andrea; Christaki, U.; Obernosterer, I.; Weinbauer, M. G. Above the Kerguelen Plateau in the Southern Ocean natural iron fertilization sustains a large phytoplankton bloom over 3 months during austral summer. During the KEOPS1 project (KErguelen Ocean and Plateau compared Study1) we sampled this phytoplankton bloom during its declining phase along with the surrounding high-nutrient?low-chlorophyll (HNLC) waters to study the effect of natural iron fertilization on the role of viruses in the microbial food web. Bacterial and viral abundances were 1.7 and 2.1 times, respectively, higher within the bloom than in HNLC waters. Viral production and virus-mediated mortality of bacterioplankton were 4.1 and 4.9 times, respectively, higher in the bloom, while the fraction of infected cells (FIC) and the fraction of lysogenic cells (FLC) showed no significant differences between environments. The present study suggests viruses to be more important for bacterial mortality within the bloom and dominate over grazing of heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNFs) during the late bloom phase. As a consequence, at least at a late bloom stage, viral lysis shunts part of the photosynthetically fixed carbon in iron-fertilized regions into the dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool with potentially less particulate organic carbon transferred to larger members of the food web or exported.

Effect of probiotic administration on the intestinal microbiota, current knowledge and potential applications de Moreno, Maria Alejandra; Leblanc, Jean Guy Joseph Although it is now known that the human body is colonized by a wide variety of microbial populations in different parts (such as the mouth, pharynx and respiratory system, the skin, the gastro- and urogenital tracts), many effects of the complex interactions between the human host and microbial symbionts are still not completely understood. The dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota is considered to be one of the most important contributing factors in the development of many gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and colorectal cancer, as well as systemic diseases like obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fecal microbial transplantations appear to be promising therapies for dysbiosis-associated diseases; however, probiotic microorganisms have been growing in popularity due to increasing numbers of studies proving that certain strains present health promoting properties, among them the beneficial balance of the intestinal microbiota. Inflammatory bowel diseases and obesity are the pathologies in which there are more studies showing this beneficial association using animal models and even in human clinical trials. In this review, the association of the human gut microbiota and human health will be discussed along with the benefits that probiotics can confer on this symbiotic activity and on the prevention or treatment of associated diseases.

Change in southern right whale breathing behavior in response to gull attacks Fazio, Ana; Argüelles, María Belén; Bertellotti, Nestor Marcelo Animals may develop behavioral responses to avoid discomforting situations. In particular, pain can result in learned avoidance behaviors. We report such a case in southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) that have been the target of attacks by kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) that feed on their skin and blubber in the surrounded waters of Península Valdés, Chubut (Argentina) since the 1980s. The increase in the attacks over the years triggered on whales the development of alternative postures to keep their backs protected from the gulls. Recently, a particular avoidance behavior has been observed, the “oblique breathing,” in which whales breathe with only the head out of the water. The main goal of this work is to describe the emergence of oblique breathing in two areas of Golfo Nuevo (P. Valdés) which have high number of whales and gull attacks, during the whale reproductive seasons in 2010, 2012 and 2013. Results suggest that all age and sex classes of whales can breathe obliquely. Emergence of the oblique breathing seems to have proceeded in three stages: (1) the origin, with rare observations, (2) the spread, when the behavior was registered only during gull attacks and (3) the establishment, when whales performed it in a preventive manner, even when attacks were not occurring. Oblique breathing is likely to pose extra energy costs, which could be detrimental to whales, especially for recently born calves. However, given the increasing prevalence of this behavior, it seems to be a useful strategy to prevent harassment by gulls.

La inclusión masiva de tecnologías digitales en el ámbito escolar. Un estudio comparativo de la apropiación de TIC por estudiantes de clases populares y clases medias en el marco del Programa Conectar Igualdad en el Gran La Plata Benitez Larghi, Hector Sebastian; Lemus, Magdalena; Welschinger Lascano, Nicolás Sebastían El trabajo expone a partir de un abordaje comparativo los modos diferenciales de apropiación de la computadora e Internet por parte de jóvenes estudiantes de escuela secundaria de clases populares y de clases medias, en el contexto de la implementación del Programa Conectar Igualdad (PCI) en Argentina. En particular, se indaga en las modalidades de acceso a las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) con las que se encuentra el PCI y cómo su implementación interviene en el trazado de trayectorias de apropiación de tecnologías digitales y en el vínculo docente - alumno; en el modo en que los estudiantes perciben la influencia del PCI sobre sus propias habilidades y competencias tecnológicas; y en la manera en que el conocimiento y las disposiciones asociados a los nuevos medios digitales se articulan con los modos del saber promovidos por el formato y la institucionalidad escolar. Los principales hallazgos indican una significativa reducción de la brecha digital de acceso a las TIC a partir de la implementación del PCI, así como un mayor peso de la escuela como lugar de aprendizaje de habilidades para el uso de las tecnologías digitales, y una valoración positiva por parte de los alumnos hacia los docentes que incorporan las netbooks en las clases.; The paper presents a comparative approach of the differential computer and Internet appropriation methods by adolescents in secondary school, coming from popular and middle classes in the context of the implementation of Connecting Equality Programme [Programa Conectar Igualdad] in Argentina. The article focuses in several research questions: what existing access methods does PCI encounter? And how does its implementation participate in the design of trajectories of ICTs appropriation? How do the students themselves perceive the influence of PCI on their own technological abilities and competence? How do knowledge and aptitudes associated to new digital media articulate with the knowledge manners promoted by the school format and institutionalism? How does the massive introduction of netbooks affect the interaction among different school actors (students-teachers)? The main findings are related to a decrease in the first-level digital gap as well to a increase of the school as an important place to learn technological skills. Moreover, students value positively those teachers who use the netbooks to teach during classes.

Search for neutral Higgs bosons of the minimal supersymmetric standard model in pp collisions at √8 = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector Aad, G.; Abbott, B.; Abdallah, J.; Abdel Khalek, S.; Abdinov, O.; Otero y Garzon, Gustavo Javier; Piegaia, Ricardo Nestor; Sacerdoti, Sabrina; Reisin, Hernan Diego; Alconada Verzini, María Josefina; Alonso, Francisco; Anduaga, Xabier Sebastian; Arduh, Francisco Anuar; Dova, Maria Teresa; Monticelli, Fernando Gabriel; Wahlberg, Hernan Pablo; Zhukov, K.; Zibell, A.; Zieminska, D.; Zimine, N. I.; Zimmermann, C.; Zimmermann, R.; Zimmermann, S.; Zimmermann, S.; Ziolkowski, M.; Zobernig, G.; Zoccoli, A.; Nedden, M. zur; Zurzolo, G.; Zutshi, V.; Zwalinski, L.; The ATLAS Collaboration A search for the neutral Higgs bosons predicted by the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) is reported. The analysis is performed on data from proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The samples used for this search were collected in 2012 and correspond to integrated luminosities in the range 19.5–20.3 fb−1 . The MSSM Higgs bosons are searched for in the τ τ final state. No significant excess over the expected background is observed, and exclusion limits are derived for the production cross section times branching fraction of a scalar particle as a function of its mass. The results are also interpreted in the MSSM parameter space for various benchmark scenarios.

Self-determination, behavioral engagement, disaffection, and academic performance: A mediational analysis González, Antonio; Paoloni, Paola Veronica Rita The present study examined the role of behavioral engagement and disaffection as mediators between self-determination and academic performance. Participants were 545 secondary students (53.4% girls) aged 12 to 19 years. Variables were assessed in the Spanish language classroom over a nine-month period. Students estimated their self-determination, and their teachers assessed student engagement, disaffection, and performance. Structural equation models corroborated the hypotheses: the types of self-determination differentially predicted engagement (R 2 =.39) and disaffection (R 2 =.24), and were progressively more adaptive the higher the autonomy; self-determination, behavioral engagement, and disaffection predicted performance (R 2 =.43); engagement and disaffection partially mediated the relationship from external regulation (β = -.097; p <.002; Confidence Interval = -.177, -.051), identified regulation (β =.109; p <.006; CI =.054,.165), and intrinsic motivation (β =.139; p <.002; CI =.086,.206) to performance. The implications of these findings for current theory and educational intervention are discussed.