Isolation and characterization of atrazine-degrading Arthrobacter sp. strains from Argentine agricultural soils Fernandez, Leticia Andrea; Valverde, Claudio Fabián; Gomez, Marisa Anahi Three bacterial strains capable of degrading atrazine were isolated from Manfredi soils (Argentine) using enrichment culture techniques. These soils were used to grow corn and were treated with atrazine for weed control during 3 years. The strains were nonmotile Gram-positive bacilli which formed cleared zones on atrazine solid medium, and the 16S rDNA sequences indicated that they were Arthrobacter sp. strains. The atrazine-degrading activity of the isolates was characterized by the ability to grow with atrazine as the sole nitrogen source, the concomitant herbicide disappearance, and the chloride release. The atrazine-degrader strain Pseudomonas sp. ADP was used for comparative purposes. According to the results, all of the isolates used atrazine as sole source of nitrogen, and sucrose and sodium citrate as the carbon sources for growth. HPLC analyses confirmed herbicide clearance. PCR analysis revealed the presence of the atrazine catabolic genes trzN, atzB, and atzC. The results of this work lead to a better understanding of microbial degradation activity in order to consider the potential application of the isolated strains in bioremediation of atrazine-polluted agricultural soils in Argentina.

Thyristor-based flexible ac transmission system for controlling the vanadium redox flow battery Ontiveros, Leonardo Javier; Mercado, Pedro Enrique The vanadium redox flow battery (VRB) is a large stationary energy storage system; which presents high-speed response and overload capacity characteristics. The VRB produces a dc voltage between two terminals; so a power conditioning system (PCS), composed principally by a dc/ac Flexible ac Transmission System (FACTS), is required in order to connect the battery to the power system. In this regard, this paper proposes a new FACTS compensator for controlling the VRB based in a 12-pulse thyristor converter with commutated capacitors on the ac side (TCCC). This type of compensator offers a good transient response with low power converter losses. Simulations of the FACTS compensator employing Matlab/Simulink software validate the proposal and show the good performance of the proposed device.

Intra-arterial chemotherapy is more effective than sequential periocular and intravenous chemotherapy as salvage treatment for relapsed retinoblastoma Schaiquevich, Paula Susana; Ceciliano, Alejandro; Millan, Natalia; Taich, Paula Juliana; Villasante, Francisco Eduardo; Fandiño, Adriana Cristina; Dominguez, Julieta; Chantada, Guillermo Luis BACKGROUND: Treatment of eyes with retinoblastoma failing systemic chemoreduction and external beam radiotherapy is seldom efficacious. This study compares the efficacy and toxicity of intra-arterial ophthalmic artery chemotherapy (IAO) to our historical cohort of sequential periocular and systemic chemotherapy in such patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen eyes (15 consecutive patients) were retrospectively evaluated. Eight eyes received IAO for a median of four cycles (range: 2-9) including melphalan alone (n = 3) or after topotecan and carboplatin (n = 4) or topotecan and carboplatin without melphalan (n = 1). Ten eyes received a median of two cycles (range: 1-3) of periocular topotecan (n = 9) or carboplatin (n = 1) followed by intravenous topotecan and cyclophosphamide in three patients if at least stable disease was achieved. Both groups were comparable for disease extension and prior therapy. RESULTS: No extraocular dissemination or second malignancy occurred and all patients are alive. The probability of enucleation-free eye survival at 12 months was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.42-0.97) for the IAO group, compared to 0.1 (95% CI: 0.06-0.35) for the periocular group (P < 0.01). Ocular toxicity was mild and similar in both groups (mostly mild orbital edema). Systemic toxicity was low for IAO and periocular injection, but children who received sequentially intravenous chemotherapy (n = 12 cycles) had five episodes of grade 4 neutropenia, three of which resulted in hospitalizations. No case in the IAO group presented these complications. CONCLUSIONS: IAO is significantly superior to sequential periocular-intravenous topotecan-containing regimens in eyes with relapsed intraocular retinoblastoma with a more favorable toxicity profile.

Three new genera in Chytridiales from aquatic habitats in Argentina and North America Vélez, Carlos Guillermo; Letcher, Peter M.; Schultz, Sabina; Mataloni, Maria Gabriela; Lefèvre, Emile; Powell, Martha J. Sampling for chytrids in a variety of habitats has resulted in pure cultures that when analyzed have yielded hypotheses of relationships based on molecular and zoospore ultrastructural markers. To extend our understanding of diversity of Chytridiales in eastern Argentina and USA, we isolated and examined the morphology, ultrastructure and 28S and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequences of numerous chytrids from aquatic habitats from these two regions. Three family-level lineages (Chytridiaceae, Chytriomycetaceae, family incertae sedis) are represented in our molecular phylogeny, and three new genera (Avachytrium, Odontochytrium in Chytriomycetaceae, Delfinachytrium in family incertae sedis) are described. These findings of new genera and species emphasize the potential for discovery of additional diversity.

A multi-step pathway connecting short sleep duration to daytime somnolence, reduced attention, and poor academic performance: an exploratory cross-sectional study in teenagers Pérez Lloret, Santiago; Videla, Alejandro J.; Richaudeau, Alba; Vigo, Daniel Eduardo; Rossi, Malco Damián; Cardinali, Daniel Pedro; Pérez Chada, Daniel Background: A multi-step causality pathway connecting short sleep duration to daytime somnolence and sleepiness leading to reduced attention and poor academic performance as the final result can be envisaged. However this hypothesis has never been explored. Objective: To explore consecutive correlations between sleep duration, daytime somnolence, attention levels, and academic performance in a sample of school-aged teenagers. Methods: We carried out a survey assessing sleep duration and daytime somnolence using the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS). Sleep duration variables included week-days' total sleep time, usual bedtimes, and absolute weekdayto-weekend sleep time difference. Attention was assessed by d2 test and by the coding subtest from the WISC-IV scale. Academic performance was obtained from literature and math grades. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the independent relationships between these variables, while controlling for confounding effects of other variables, in one single model. Standardized regression weights (SWR) for relationships between these variables are reported. Results: Study sample included 1,194 teenagers (mean age: 15 years; range: 13-17 y). Sleep duration was inversely associated with daytime somnolence (SWR = -0.36, p < 0.01) while sleepiness was negatively associated with attention (SWR = -0.13, p < 0.01). Attention scores correlated positively with academic results (SWR = 0.18, p < 0.01). Daytime somnolence correlated negatively with academic achievements (SWR = -0.16, p < 0.01). The model offered an acceptable fit according to usual measures (RMSEA = 0.0548, CFI = 0.874, NFI = 0.838). A Sobel test confirmed that short sleep duration influenced attention through daytime somnolence (p < 0.02), which in turn influenced academic achievements through reduced attention (p < 0.002). Conclusions: Poor academic achievements correlated with reduced attention, which in turn was related to daytime somnolence. Somnolence correlated with short sleep duration.

Effect of a reservoir in the water quality of the Reconquista River, Buenos Aires, Argentina Rigacci, Laura Natalia; Giorgi, Adonis David Nazareno; Vilches, Carolina; Ossana, Natalia Alejandra; Salibián, Alfredo The lower portion of the Reconquista River is highly polluted. However, little is know about the state of high and middle basin. The aim of this work was to assess the water quality on high and middle Reconquista River basin and to determinate of the presence of a reservoir in the river has a positive effect on the water quality. We conducted a seasonal study between August 2009 and November 2010 at the mouth of La Choza, Durazno, and La Horqueta streams, at the Roggero reservoir - which receives the water from the former streams-, at the origin of the Reconquista River, and 17 km downstream from the reservoir. We measured twenty five physical and chemical parameters, including six heavy metal concentrations, and performed a multivariate statistical analysis to summarize the information and allow the interpretation of the whole data set. We found that Durazno and La Horqueta streams had better quality than La Choza, and the presence of the reservoir contributed to the improvement of the water quality allowing oxygenation of the water body and processing of organic matter and ammonia. The water quality of the Reconquista River at its origin is good and similar to the reservoir, but a few kilometers dowstream water quality declines as a consequence of the presence of industries and human settlements. Therefore, Roggero reservoir produces a significant improvement of water quality of the RIver but the discharge of contaminants downstream quickly reverses this effect.

Gluconeogenic pathway does not display metabolic cold adaptation in liver of Antarctic notothenioid fish Magnoni, Leonardo Magnoni; Scarlato, Norberto A.; Ojeda, F. Patricio; Wöhler, Otto C. Antarctic notothenioid fish display specializations related to cope with their chronically cold environment, such as high triacylglycerol (TAG) content in tissues. The metabolic fate of glycerol, a product of TAG mobilization, has not been studied in Antarctic fish. To assess the importance of glycerol as a substrate for gluconeogenesis and to determine whether this pathway is metabolically cold adapted (MCA), key hepatic enzyme activities were measured in Antarctic (Notothenia coriiceps, Gobionotothen gibberifrons, and Chionodraco rastrospinosus) and nonAntarctic (Dissostichus eleginoides, Patagonotothen ramsayi, and Eleginops maclovinus) notothenioid fish. Fructose 1,6-biphosphatase (FBP), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glycerol kinase (GK) activities were similar in both groups at common temperatures (1, 6, 11, or 21 C). In particular, thermal sensitivity for the reactions catalyzed by FBP and PEPCK was analogous between Antarctic and non-Antarctic species, reflected by similar values for Arrhenius energy of activation (Ea) and Q10. Additionally, hepatic glycerol, glucose, and glycogen contents together with plasma glycerol and glucose concentrations were similar for all of the species studied. Our results do not support the concept of MCA in hepatic gluconeogenesis and may indicate that the use of glycerol as a precursor for glucose synthesis by this pathway is of low physiological importance in Antarctic fish.

Pesticide-induced decrease in rat testicular steroidogenesis is differencilly prevented by lipoate and tocopherol Astiz, Mariana; Hurtado de Catalfo, Graciela E.; García, Marcela; Galletti, Susana M.; Errecalde, Ana Lia; Tacconi, Maria Josefa; Marra, Carlos Alberto We have previously demonstrated that the sub-chronic administration of low doses of Toc or α-Toc, glyphosate and zineb to rats (i.p. 1/250 LD50, three times a week for 5 weeks) provoked severe oxidative stress (OS) in testicles. These effects were also reflected in plasma. Lipoic acid (LA) and α-tocopherol are considered as antioxidants due to their ability to neutralize reactive oxygenated species (ROS) and reset endogenous antioxidant levels. To investigate the possible protective effect on reproductive function, LA and Toc (i.p. 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) were administered simultaneously with the pesticide mixture (PM) for 5 weeks. Both drugs prevented OS and the damage to proteins and lipids caused by PM in a dose-dependent manner. The PM-induced increase levels of prostaglandins E2 and F2α was completely restored by LA but not by Toc. Similarly, only LA was able to restore the inhibition of testosterone production, the decrease of 3β- and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases activities, and the elevation of gonatropins (FSH and LH) levels produced by PM. Furthermore, LA was more efficient than Toc in normalizing the histological alterations produced by PM administration, suggesting that pesticides act though other mechanisms that generate oxidative stress. In our experimental model LA displayed a higher protective role against pesticide-induced damage than that observed by Toc administration. Our results suggest that LA administration is a promising therapeutic strategy for coping with disorders suspected to be caused by OS generators – such as pesticides – in male reproductive system.

Methoprene and protein supplements accelerate reproductive development and improve mating success of male tephritid flies Teal, P. E. A.; Pereira, R.; Segura, Diego Fernando; Haq, I.; Gomez Simuta, Y.; Robinson, A. S.; Hendrichs, J. We have been studying the behavioural and physiological mechanisms associated with coordination of reproductive maturity and sex pheromone communication in male tephritid flies in order to develop methods for acceleration of reproductive maturity among sterilized males. Our studies revealed that exposure to the juvenile hormone analogue methoprene can accelerate the rate of sexual maturity in some but not all tephritid species tested. Additionally, we have determined that incorporation of protein hydrolysate into the adult diet improves sexual performance of sterile males. Coupling a diet enriched with protein hydrolysate for adult food and application of methoprene to adult males or pupae was found to advance significantly the age at which males of a number of species of flies from the genus Anastrepha and Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillet) become sexually mature and improve reproductive success of the males. These results have led to the development of a novel strategy to accelerate the reproductive development and increased competitiveness of mass-reared fruit flies for use in the sterile insect technique by incorporating methoprene treatment and protein hydrolysate diets into protocols for fruit fly emergence and release facilities. The following reviews research conducted to develop the system and our suggestions for use in improving efficacy of mating by sterile males destined for release in programmes to control some species of tephritid flies using the sterile insect technique.

Improvement of the boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) by the previous administration of the histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate for the treatment of thyroid carcinoma Perona, Marina; Rodríguez, C.; Carpano, Marina; Thomasz, Lisa; Nievas, Sergio Rolando; Olivera, M.; Thorp, Silvia Inés; Curotto, Paula; Pozzi, Emiliano César Cayetano; Kahl, S.; Pisarev, Mario Alberto; Juvenal, Guillermo Juan; Dagrosa, María Alejandra We have shown that boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) could be an alternative for the treatment of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC). Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI) like sodium butyrate (NaB) cause hyperacetylation of histone proteins and show capacity to increase the gamma irradiation effect. The purpose of these studies was to investigate the use of the NaB as a radiosensitizer of the BNCT for PDTC. Follicular thyroid carcinoma cells (WRO) and rat thyroid epithelial cells (FRTL-5) were incubated with 1 mM NaB and then treated with boronophenylalanine 10BPA (10 μg 10B ml−1) + neutrons, or with 2, 4-bis (α,β-dihydroxyethyl)-deutero-porphyrin IX 10BOPP (10 μg10B ml−1) + neutrons, or with a neutron beam alone. The cells were irradiated in the thermal column facility of the RA-3 reactor (flux = (1.0 ± 0.1) × 1010 n cm−2 s−1). Cell survival decreased as a function of the physical absorbed dose in both cell lines. Moreover, the addition of NaB decreased cell survival (p < 0.05) in WRO cells incubated with both boron compounds. NaB increased the percentage of necrotic and apoptotic cells in both BNCT groups (p < 0.05). An accumulation of cells in G2/M phase at 24 h was observed for all the irradiated groups and the addition of NaB increased this percentage. Biodistribution studies of BPA (350 mg kg−1 body weight) 24 h after NaB injection were performed. The in vivo studies showed that NaB treatment increases the amount of boron in the tumor at 2-h post-BPA injection (p < 0.01). We conclude that NaB could be used as a radiosensitizer for the treatment of thyroid carcinoma by BNCT.

La geografía histórica, la imaginación y los imaginarios geográficos Zusman, Perla Brigida Las nociones de imaginación e imaginación geográfica son ampliamente usadas en la geografía en la actualidad. El objetivo de este texto es identificar las formas a través de las cuales algunos geógrafos anglosajones han construido su noción de imaginación e imaginación geográfica, qué papel le han otorgado en su proyecto disciplinar y cómo han articulado estas ideas en sus análisis de geografías pasadas. En primer lugar, se han trabajado las propuestas de geógrafos de la décadas de 1960 y 1970 que recurrieron a estas nociones para superar el escaso interés por lo social y cultural de la geografía. En segundo lugar se presentan las perspectivas desarrolladas en la década de 1990 de la mano de las geografías poscoloniales y de la cultura visual. Finalmente se presentan las repercusiones de estas perspectivas en algunas líneas de trabajo en América del Sur.; Notions of geographical imagination and imagination are widely used in Geography today. The purpose of this paper is to identify the assumptions of these notions within some Anglo-Saxon geographers; specifically we are interested in studying the role of these ideas in their own discipline project and how these ideas were articulated in their analysis of past geographies. Firstly this paper discusses the concepts of imagination and geographical imagination used during the 1960s and 1970s with the aim of overcoming little Geography awareness with social and cultural aspects. Secondly we present perspectives around these ideas developed in the 1990s by postcolonial geographies and visual culture studies. Finally, we recognize their impact on some lines of research that are being developed in South America in the last decades.

Summer food habits of the Patagonian opossum, Lestodelphys halli (Thomas, 1921), in southern arid Patagonian shrub-steppes; Hábitos alimenticios estivales de la comadrejita patagónica, Lestodelphys halli (Thomas, 1921), en el sureste de la estepa patagónica Zapata, Sonia Cristina; Procopio, Diego Esteban; Travaini, Alejandro; Rodríguez, Alejandro The summer diet of the Patagonian opossum Lestodelphys halli was studied in southern Argentinean Patagonia. Faeces of opossums captured alive and stomach contents from dead animals were collected and analyzed. A wide variety of invertebrates (87.2% frequency of occurrence) followed by birds and reptiles (10.64%) occurred both in faeces and stomachs, and fruits were occasionally consumed. Although the Patagonian opossum was reported as a carnivorous species in captivity, feeding mainly on rodents, reptiles, birds and invertebrates, we did not find remains of rodents in the diet of the opossums. We suggest that Patagonian opossums are not an efficient rodent predator in the wild. The high consumption of invertebrates, reptiles, birds and fruits during the warm season when these items are abundant reflects the opportunistic behavior of this species.; Estudiamos la dieta estival de la comadrejita patagónica Lestodelphys halli en el sureste de la Patagonia Argentina, por medio del análisis de contenidos estomacales provenientes de animales muertos y de fecas. Encontramos una gran variedad de invertebrados (87,2% de frecuencia de ocurrencia) seguido de aves y reptiles (10,64%) tanto en estómagos como en fecas. Los frutos fueron escasos en la dieta. En cautividad, la comadrejita patagónica se alimenta fundamentalmente de roedores, reptiles, aves e invertebrados. Sin embargo, no encontramos restos de roedores en la dieta de la comadrejita. Sugerimos que la comadrejita patagónica no es un predador eficiente de roedores en estado silvestre. El alto consumo de invertebrados, reptiles, aves y frutos durante el verano, cuando estos ítems son abundantes, refleja el comportamiento oportunista de esta especie.

Control of a supercapacitor energy storage system for microgrid applications Inthamoussou, Fernando Ariel; Pegueroles Queralt, Jordi; Bianchi, Fernando Daniel The proper operation of a microgrid requires storage devices that increase the inertia and avoid instability of the system. This paper presents the control of an energy storage system (ESS) based on supercapacitors in the context of grid-connected microgrids. The ESS is composed of ac/dc and dc/dc converters tied by a dc link. A single sliding mode strategy is proposed to control a bidirectional dc/dc converter, capable of working properly under all operating conditions. The switching devices are commanded by a single sliding function, dynamically shaped by references sent from the microgrid central controller. This feature facilitates the implementation and design of the control law and simplifies the stability analysis over the entire operating range. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is illustrated by experimental results.

Isolation and Identification of possible entomopathogenic fungi and their evaluation of their effectiveness against Tribolium confusum, Sitophilus zea mais and Rhyzoperta dominica, vectors of aflatoxigenic fungi in stored maize Barra, Paula Sabina; Rosso, L.; Nesci, Andrea Verónica; Etcheverry, Miriam Graciela The objective of this study was to isolate and identify native entomopathogenic fungi from different components of maize agroecosystem, and evaluate their virulence against Tribolium confusum, Rhyzopertha dominica, and Sitophilus zeamais, three insect pest vectors of aflatoxigenic fungi. Paecilomyces and Metarhizium were the most abundant genera isolated from the soil. Identifi- cation of fungal cultures by DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing showed that all isolates macro- and micromorphological identified as P. lilacinus were Purpureocillium lilacinum. The isolate JQ926223 showed the lowest LT50 for T. confusum (4, 66 days) and R. dominica (9, 38 days), and the isolate JQ926212 demonstrated similar LT50 for the three insects evaluated between the range of 11, 7 to 14, 95 days. Maximum mortality rate was observed for the isolate JQ926223. The isolates of Purpureocillium lilacinum JQ926223 and JQ926212 may be considered good candidates for biologic control in the ecosystem of stored maize.

Diversity and stress tolerance in rhizobia from Parque Chaqueño region of Argentina nodulating Prosopis alba Chávez Díaz, Lucía Valeria; Gonzalez, Pablo; Rubio, Esteban; Melchiorre, Mariana Noemi The aim of this work was to investigate the genetic diversity, symbiotic effectiveness, drought tolerance, and indole acetic acid production of indigenous rhizobial populations in the Parque Chaqueño of Argentina able to nodulate Prosopis alba, the dominant forest tree of this region. The populations were sampled at five locations from the Arid, Semi-arid, and Humid Chaco in the Parque Chaqueño region. A set of rhizobial strains able to nodulate P. alba was obtained and selected based on their molecular diversity. Data obtained by BOX-PCR indicated that the highest molecular variability was observed in rhizobial isolates from Semi-arid Chaco. High level of indolic compound production and tolerance to osmotic treatment were significantly (p≤0.05) correlated with water restrictions of the environments where the strains belonged. A small set of rhizobial strains that stimulate P. alba growth was selected from a large group of strains. The strains were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as belonging to the genera Mesorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Ensifer. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. alba nodulation by strains other than Mesorhizobium chacoense, which was already described for the Parque Chaqueño.

La dispersión local de las alturas afecta la inducción tonal; Local pitch dispersion affects tonality induction Toledo, Pablo; Anta, Juan Fernando Estudios previos sugerían que la inducción tonal se basa en información acerca de las clases de alturas presentes en una secuencia. Sin embargo, en Anta (2013b) se observó que, aun cuando tal información se conserve constante, la dispersión en el registro de las notas de la secuencia (i.e., la distancia en semitonos que hay entre ellas) afecta la inducción; específicamente, se observó que a mayor distancia entre notas, menor eficiencia en la inducción, y viceversa. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar si los resultados observados en Anta (2013b) se debieron a la variabilidad en la dispersión local de las notas, o en la dispersión global (i.e., a la distancia entre cada nota y la siguiente o entre todas las notas en general, respectivamente). Los análisis aquí realizados sugieren que lo que afectó la inducción tonal fue el incremento de la dispersión local de las notas.; Previous studies suggested that tonality induction is based on the pitch-class related information a sequence shows. However, Anta (2013b) found that, even if that information is kept constant, pitch dispersion (i.e., the distance in pitch/semitones between tones) affects tonality induction; specifically, it was found that the larger the distance between pitches, the weaker the induction, and vice versa. The aim of the present study was to assess whether the results found in Anta (2013b) were due to variability in the local dispersion of pitches, or in their global dispersion (i.e., due to the distance between successive pitches or between all pitches in general, respectively). The analyses conducted here suggest that tonality induction is affected by the local dispersion of pitches.

Entre tijeras, “apoyo crítico” y transparencia La compleja construcción discursiva de un liderazgo local en la Argentina posneoliberal; Among scissors, "critical support" and transparency: the complex discursive construction of local leadership in the post-neoliberal Argentina Pagani, María Laura; Schuttenberg, Mauricio El objetivo del artículo es presentar un análisis del discurso de un intendente del Conurbano Bonaerense, en tanto referente de una fuerza de construcción local y de prédica “progresista” en la política Argentina contemporánea. Se abordarán los tópicos del discurso polémico y cómo se construyen discursivamente los adversarios políticos que refuerzan una identidad basada en la transparencia, la eficiencia, la reconstrucción del Estado. Tópicos que construyen límites y articulaciones frente a otros discursos e identidades políticas.; The aim of this paper is to present an analysis of discourse a mayor of Gran Buenos Aires, while regarding a local building strength and preaching "progressive" politics in contemporary Argentina. It will address topics which are controversial speech and how they are constructed discursively political opponents that reinforce an identity based on transparency, efficiency, state reconstruction. Topics that build joint limits and against other speeches and political identities.

The relationship between endometrial cytology during estrous cycle and cutoff points for the diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in grazing dairy cows Madoz, Laura Vanina; Giuliodori, Mauricio Javier; Jaureguiberry, María; Plöntzke, J.; Drillich, M.; de la Sota, Rodolfo Luzbel The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of the stage of estrous cycle on the percentage of endometrial polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) obtained by cytobrush to determine cutoff values for the diagnosis of subclinical endometritis under pastoral conditions, to measure the prevalence of subclinical endometritis 21 to 62 d in milk (DIM), and to evaluate the effect of subclinical endometritis on reproductive performance in grazing dairy cows. The first experiment was conducted on a commercial dairy farm in Buenos Aires province (Argentina), where 17 postpartum cyclic dairy cows without clinical endometritis were selected and synchronized by Ovsynch protocol. Endometrial cytology (cytobrush technique) and blood (tail vessels) samples were obtained on d 0, 4, 11, and 18 of the estrous cycle (corresponding to estrus, metestrus, diestrus, and proestrus, respectively) and used for measuring percentage of PMN and P4 concentration, respectively. The percentage of PMN was determined 3 times by blinded count by 2 operators. Data were analyzed with PROC MIXED, PROC GENMOD, and PROC FREQ from SAS 9.1. The percentage of PMN did not vary with the stage of the estrous cycle. In addition, PMN counts were below any of the reported thresholds in this study (4%) for most of the cows. Therefore, the risk for false positive test results as a consequence of physiological changes in the counts of PMN during estrous cycle is low. The second experiment was conducted on 4 commercial dairy farms in Buenos Aires province (Argentina), where lactating Holstein dairy cows (n = 418) 21 to 62 DIM without clinical endometritis were studied. Samples of endometrial cytology were collected with the cytobrush technique. Data were analyzed with receiver operator characteristic curves with Sigmaplot 10.0, and with PROC GLIMMIX, PROC PHREG, and PROC LIFETEST from SAS 9.1. Cutoff values for the diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in grazing dairy cows are 8% PMN for 21 to 33 DIM, 6% PMN for 34 to 47 DIM, 4% PMN for 48 to 62 DIM, and overall 5% PMN for 21 to 62 DIM; the prevalence of subclinical endometritis 21 to 62 DIM was 17%. Finally, subclinical endometritis diagnosed at 21 to 62 DIM decreases the hazard for pregnancy (hazard ratio = 0.668; 95% confidence interval = 0.492–0.909) and increases the calving to conception interval by d 30 compared with normal cows (median 95% confidence interval = 133 vs. 93, respectively).

Web-GIS models: accomplishing modularity with aspects Urbieta, Mario Matías; Oliveira, Ana; Araújo, João; Rodrigues, Armanda; Moreira, Ana; Gordillo, Silvia Ethel; Rossi, Gustavo Héctor Spatial concerns of Web geographical information systems (Web-GIS) are inherently crosscutting and volatile: crosscutting because they affect multiple functionalities of Web-GIS systems, and volatile because their status may change often. If these concerns are not modularized properly, the quality of Web-GIS services, particularly with regard to adaptation and evolution, can be severely compromised. This paper uses aspect-orientation to model crosscutting and volatile spatial concerns. By modeling both types of concerns, crosscutting and volatile, as candidate aspects, one can use dynamic weaving to add or remove them from a system at runtime. The aspect-oriented approach proposed starts with the identification and specification of crosscutting concerns and follows by composing these using modeling aspects using a transformation approach, an aspect-oriented modeling technique. The conflicts that can emerge due to the composition order are also taken into consideration. Finally, this paper proposes a set of reusable GIS crosscutting concerns, documenting them in a concern catalogue.

The role of small woodland remnants on ground dwelling insect conservation in Chaco Serrano, central Argentina Moreno, Maria Laura; Fernandez, María Guadalupe; Molina, Silvia Itatí; Valladares, Graciela Rosa Most terrestrial ecosystems are changing due to extensive land use, with habitat fragmentation being a major threat to biodiversity. We studied the effects of patch size, isolation and edge/interior localization on the ground dwelling insect communities associated to Chaco Serrano woodland remnants, in central Argentina. Sampling was carried out in December 2003 and March 2004 in nine remnants (0.57-1000ha) using pitfall traps. In total, 7071 individuals representing 12 orders and 79 families were recorded. The taxonomic composition of these communities was linked to remnant size. Insect abundance increased (as did their richness, albeit marginally) as remnant area decreased, with no significant effects of isolation or edge/interior localization on abundance, richness or diversity. No differential area effects were observed when abundance and richness of predators, scavengers and herbivores were compared. Thus, ground insect communities in fragmented Chaco Serrano seem to respond mainly to patch level, rather than to within-patch (edge effects) or landscape (isolation) level variables. Our results suggest that small Chaco Serrano remnants, by supporting larger ground-dwelling insect assemblages, may play an important role from a conservation viewpoint.