Insurance Regulation and the Credit Crisis: What's New? Ferro, Gustavo Adolfo Prior to the 2008 global credit crisis, some developments had occurred in the regulation of the insurance industry worldwide. At different speeds, the world was heading toward a more risk-based solvency regulation and some convergence on principles and criteria. We see a common thread in the present discussion and in the way events happened. We consider that the great debate in the industry is a fundamental decision: whether to engage in other than core business activities. If the industry focuses on its insurance business, the argument for specialized regulation and the continuity of a conservative and prudent line of business is strong. Instead, if the industry deepens its identification with other lines of financial business, the specialized supervision arrangement does not hold. The move entails both possibilities of new, riskier and promising business, but also perils, since the industry “buys” the systemic characteristics that distinguish other financial institutions.

¿Tratar o no tratar? la controversia científica sobre el tratamiento para los enfermos de chagas crónico; To treat or not to treat? scientific controversy about the treatment for chronic chagas' disease patients Kreimer, Pablo Rafael; Romero, Lucia Ana; Bilder, Paula Rosana La enfermedad de Chagas es una de las principales endemias de América Latina, cuyo desarrollo se manifiesta en 3 etapas diferenciadas, que han sido caracterizadas por los especialistas como aguda, indeterminada y crónica. Hacia mediados de la década de 1960, dos laboratorios transnacionales desarrollaron dos drogas, cuya eficacia ha sido valorada como contundente en el caso de los enfermos agudos. En cambio, los pacientes crónicos quedaron al margen de este tratamiento específico porque entre los especialistas en el tema no existía acuerdo sobre su efectividad. Mientras unos juzgaron que las drogas ya no eran efectivas en este estadio de la enfermedad, otros lo valoraron efectivo y preventivo de la evolución de la enfermedad y de sus síntomas clínicos. Así, desde 1980 y hasta la actualidad, el tratamiento de los enfermos crónicos de Chagas es objeto de una controversia científico-médica. Esta controversia moviliza diferentes conocimientos, es motorizada por actores diversos (médicos cardiólogos, investigadores científicos, funcionarios del estado nacional, organismos internacionales) y tiene consecuencias sobre los propios enfermos, ya que, según quién los atienda o a qué instituciones acudan, será el tipo de tratamiento que recibirán. En este trabajo caracterizamos los posicionamientos de los diferentes actores involucrados en el desarrollo de la controversia, analizando  los enunciados y conocimientos científicos puestos en cuestión por ellos. Se identifican y especifican las distintas etapas de la controversia, con el objetivo de comprender sus consecuencias sociales y políticas, al nivel de las prácticas de tratamiento, de sus respectivas reglamentaciones y en cuanto al tipo de configuración médica y social del paciente. Mostramos así, que lo que se pone en cuestión y es objeto de disputa, son las concepciones mismas de “enfermedad” y de “cura”, tanto en el campo científico médico local como en el espacio más amplio de organismos nacionales e internacionales de políticas de salud.; Chagas disease is one of the main endemic illnesses in Latin America. Since 1969 up to the present, the treatment of chronic Chagas patients has been the object of a scientific-medical controversy mobilizing several bodies of knowledge and actors. The resolution of the controversy has direct effects on the health of patients; however, they have been systematically excluded of public debates. In this paper we identified and specified four different steps of the controversy, showing the different positions adopted by the actors implicated, analyzing their statements, the scientific knowledge mobilized during the debates and the consequences for the establishment of norms for the treatment. We conclude showing that what makes up the central issue of the controversy is not what the actors implicated explicitly state as it but the criteria (technical and cognitive) through which are measured and defined «illness» and «cure» states. This research is about a case study in Argentina.

Formas de la sobrepoblación relativa y políticas sociales: La política asistencial durante el primer gobierno Kirchnerista (2003-2007) Seiffer, Tamara; Matusevicius, Jorgelina El artículo intenta ser una aproximación crítica a la política asistencial implementada durante el primer gobierno kirchnerista. Parte de reconocer el papel de la política social en el modo de producción capitalista y su relación con la conformación de una sobrepoblación relativa, para llegar al análisis de los tres planes nacionales sobre los que se erigió la política asistencial en el período estudiado.; The article tries to be a critical approach to social policy implemented during the first Kirchner government. It starts by recognizing the role of social policy in the capitalist mode of production and its relation to the conformation of a relative surplus population, in order to analyze the three national plans that organize assistential policy in the period under study.

Potential source regions of biogenic aerosol number concentration apportioning at King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula Alencar, Alexandre S.; Evangelista, Heitor; Dos Santos, Elaine A.; Correa, Sergio M.; Khodri, Myriam; Garcia, Virginia M. T.; Garcia, Carlos A. E.; Pereira, Enio B.; Piola, Alberto Ricardo; Felzenszwalb, Israel Nowadays it is well accepted that background aerosols in the boundary layer over remote oceans are of marine origin and not aged continental. Particularly in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean at least four main important regions exhibit significant ocean primary productivity. They are the Bellingshausen-Amundsen Sea, the Weddell Sea, the southern Argentinean shelf and the southern Chilean coast. In this work, we have combined ground-based continuous atmospheric sampling of aerosol number concentration (ANC), over-sea dimethyl sulphide (DMS) measurements, chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration provided by Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) satellite images, in situ meteorological data and monthly regional NCEP-NCAR re-analysis wind fields in order to investigate the relative contribution of each of the above regions to the apportionment of the ANC at King George Island (KGI), South Shetland Islands. Our results suggest that, at least during the period from September 1998-December 1999, the southern Argentinean shelf acted as the main contributor to the ANC measured in KGI.

First serological survey of antibodies against pathogenic viruses in a wild vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) population in the Argentinean Andean altiplano Marcoppido, Gisela Ariana; Parreño, Gladys Viviana; Vila, Bibiana Leonor Serum samples from 128 wild vicuñe; as (Vicugna vicugna) were tested for antibodies (Ab) to rotavirus (RV), bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (BPIV-3), bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV-1), foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), bluetongue virus (BTV), equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), and influenza A virus equine (EIV). Samples were collected in Cieneguillas Province of Jujuy, in northern Argentina. Feces from 44 vicuñe; as were also collected to investigate RV shedding. Llamas (Lama glama) and domestic cattle (Bos taurus) from the area studied also were tested for antibodies to these viruses. Antibodies against RV (100%) and BPIV-3 (37%) were detected in the vicuñe; as sampled. No RV antigen was detected in any of the fecal samples tested. One vicuñe; a was positive for Ab to BHV-1 (0.8%) and another for BVDV-1 (0.8%). The Ab prevalences detected in llamas were: 100% (16/16) for RV, 47% (8/17) for BPIV-3, 17.6% (3/17) for BHV-1, and 5.9% (1/17) for BVDV-1. However, domestic cattle had high antibody prevalences for RV and BPIV-3, 100% (13/13) and 73% (11/15), respectively, but were negative for Ab to BHV-1 and BVDV. No antibodies against FMDV, BTV, EHV-1, or EIV were detected in wild vicuñe; as or domestic species. Because no data of viral circulation on wild vicuñe; as are available, this report represents the first evidence of viral infection in wild vicuñe; as from the Argentinean Andean Puna.

Tauziehen um Genprobe Duran, Valeria Vanesa Während der letzten Militärdiktatur in Argentinien (1976 bis 1983) wurden nicht nur Tausende entführt, gefoltert und ermordet, sondern auch systematisch Kinder von Verschwundenen illegal adoptiert. In den meisten Fällen wissen die Kinder bis heute nichts von ihrer ursprünglichen Identität. Ein Fall steht zurzeit besonders im öffentlichen Interesse. Es geht um die Adoptivkinder der Hauptaktionärin der Clarín-Gruppe, dem mächtigsten Medienunternehmen des Landes.

Transformaciones urbanas y de la estructura social de un barrio de la ciudad de Buenos Aires; Urban transformations and transformations of the social structure of a neighborhood in the City of Buenos Aires Baer, Luis Enrique Algunos estudios urbanos abordan los procesos sociales que replantean la estructura, los usos del suelo y el paisaje de la ciudad; otros indagan los impactos de estos cambios en las condiciones de vida, las prácticas colectivas y las representaciones sociales. Este trabajo intenta ubicarse entre ambas perspectivas. Por un lado, recorremos las intervenciones urbanas que reestructuraron un barrio de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires entre 1998 y 2004, el “barrio del Abasto”. Esta transformación fue impulsada por el sector privado y consistió en el acondicionamiento de grandes emplazamientos urbanos para usos comerciales, residenciales y de entretenimiento. Por otro lado, indagamos los cambios urbanos desde las prácticas y representaciones cotidianas de los residentes de las “Torres de Abasto”, un grupo de personas que se mudó al barrio cuando ya había iniciado su reconversión. Específicamente, analizamos los vínculos y las representaciones que establecen en dicho complejo residencial y en el barrio que lo rodea.; Some scholars tace the urban processes that restate the structure, soil use and city landscape; some others analyze the effect of these changes on the life conditions, collective practices and social representations. This work tries to be halfway the aforementioned perceptions; we account the urban interventions which restructured a neighborhood in the city of Buenos Aires between 1998 and 2004, namely del Abasto neighborhood. This transformation was fostered by the private sector and it consisted of the adaptation of large urban sites for commercial, residential and leisure uses. We researched the urban changes from the quotidian practices and representations of the residents of the Torres de Abasto, a group of people who moved in the neighborhood when its reconversion had already begun. We analyzed the links and representations which are established in said residential complex and in the surrounding neighborhood.

Calidad de vida y políticas de hábitat: Programa de Mejoramiento Barrial en Córdoba, Argentina. Caso de estudio: barrio Malvinas Argentinas; Quality of Life and Housing Policy: Neighborhood Improvement Programs in Cordoba, Argentina. Case study: Malvinas Argentinas neighborhood Marengo, Maria Cecilia; Elorza, Ana Laura En este artículo analizamos los supuestos sobre la calidad de vida que orientan el Programa de Mejoramiento Barrial –Promeba– implementado en el medio local, y reflexionamos sobre el alcance que los mismos han tenido en términos de incidir positivamente en la calidad de vida de las familias destinatarias del programa. La base empírica de la investigación es un estudio de caso: el barrio Malvinas Argentinas, 1ª Sección (localizado en el área metropolitana de Córdoba, Argentina). La metodología consideró la triangulación en la recolección de datos. La articulación de esta doble información, la escrita y la recabada a partir de las valoraciones de los diferentes actores intervinientes, permitió comprender los supuestos que sustenta la política implementada y los alcances de su actuación.En este artículo, analizamos los supuestos sobre la calidad de vida que orientan el Programa de Mejoramiento Barrial (PROMEBA) implementado en el medio local, y por el otro, reflexionamos sobre el alcance que los mismos han tenido en términos de incidir positivamente en la calidad de vida de las familias destinatarias del programa. La base empírica de la investigación es un estudio de caso: el barrio Malvinas Argentinas Primera Sección (localizado en el área metropolitana de Córdoba- Argentina). La metodología consideró la triangulación en la recolección de datos. La articulación de esta doble información, la escrita y la recabada a partir de las valoraciones de los diferentes actores intervinientes, permitió comprender los supuestos que sustenta la política implementada y los alcances de su actuación. In the seventies the category quality of life takes importance as a measure and objective of countries development. From this re-thinking it begins to be the goal of public policy, globally promoted by international financing agencies through programs of poverty alleviation. In this article we analyze the assumptions about quality of life that guide the Program of Neighborhood Improvement (PROMEBA) implemented in the local arena, and we reflect on the extent they have had in terms of positives impacts in the quality of life of the targeting families. The empirical research is based on the case study: Malvinas Argentinas neighborhood (located in Córdoba metropolitan area, in Argentina). The methodology considered triangulation in data collection. The double articulation the information crossed -written and compiled from reviews of the different actors involved- allowed us to understand the assumptions behind the housing policy implemented and the extent of its performance.; In this article we analyze the assumptions about quality of life that guide the Program of Neighborhood Improvement –Promeba– implemented in the local arena, and we reflect on the extent to which they have had a positive impact on the quality of life of the targeted families. The empirical research is based on the case study: Malvinas Argentinas neighborhood (located in Córdoba metropolitan area, in Argentina). The methodology considered triangulation in data collection. The double articulation the information crossed –written and compiled from reviews of the different actors involved– allowed us to understand the assumptions behind the housing policy implemented and also its performance.

A comparative study of invasive Helianthus annuus populations in their natural habitats of Argentina and Spain; Poblaciones invasoras de Helianthus annuus en Argentina y España; Populations envahisseurs de Helianthus annuus en Argentine et en Espagne Poverene, María Mónica; Cantamutto, Miguel Ángel Wild Helianthus annuus is native to North America but it naturalized in other parts of the world as well. Although the origin of exotic populations is uncertain, they have probably evolved very differently in different countries. To unravel the origin of invasive populations from Argentina and Spain, morphological and agro-ecological data of nine populations from central Argentina, six from Andalusia and one from Gerona were collected in their natural habitats during three exploration trips in 2007 and 2008. In Argentina wild H. annuus was found mainly in disturbed areas between roads and fences. In a few cases the populations were located on the margins of cultivated fields. The Argentinean populations are spread across more than 50,000 m2 at a density of about 25 plants m-2. In Spain, the populations were found mainly in croplands. The largest population covered about 1,500 m2 and comprised no more than 200 plants. The Argentinean populations had taller plants with a higher number of heads of small size, while the Spanish populations were characterized by bigger heads with wider ligules and bracts. Plants were shorter and leaf size was larger in Gerona than in Andalusia. Multivariate analysis differentiated populations from Argentina and Spain by many traits. Wild-crop gene flow is likely the source of genetic variation among them. In Argentina, the populations keep the appearance of early wild introductions, while the Spanish populations are weedier and probably originated from pollen contamination of commercial seed with wild plants or crop-wild hybrids.

Testing detection and discrimination of vegetation chemical cues in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum Schleich, Cristian; Zenuto, Roxana Rita Previous studies on the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum (tuco-tuco) have shown that this species has the ability to use olfaction to orient their digging while foraging. As a continuation of these works, we assess whether direct contact with vegetation chemical signals is required for food odour recognition, and whether this subterranean rodent is also able to discriminate plants of different nutritional quality by the chemical signals released by them into the soil. First, we test animal responses to plant extracts and controls (water) covered with a wire mesh or without it. Also, we assess individual digging response in an artificial Y-maze whose arms were filled with soil in which plants of different nutritional quality have been grown. The results of this study suggest that (i) volatile chemical cues allow food odour recognition and direct contact with the odour source does not enhance such recognition in C. talarum, and (ii) olfaction could play a key role in the finding of food patches, allowing individuals to direct their excavation towards plant species of high nutritional quality. © 2010 Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica dell'Universitá, Firenze, Italia.

Identification of the long polar fimbriae gene variants in the locus of enterocyte effacement-negative Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from humans and cattle in Argentina Galli, Lucía; Torres, Alfredo G.; Rivas, Marta The long polar fimbriae (Lpf) is one of few adhesive factors of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and it is associated with colonization of the intestine. Studies have demonstrated the presence of lpf genes in several pathogenic E. coli strains, and classification of variants based on polymorphisms in the lpfA1 and lpfA2 genes has been adopted. Using a collection of Argentinean locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE)-negative STEC strains, we determined that the different lpfA types were present in a wide variety of serotypes with no apparent association between the types of lpfA1 or lpfA2 genes and the severity of human disease. The lpfA2-1 was the most prevalent variant identified, which was present in 95.8% of the isolates, and lpfA1-3 and lpfA2-2, proposed as specific biomarkers of E. coli O157:H7, were not found in any of the serotypes studied. The prevalence of lpf genes in a large number of strains is useful to understand the genetic diversity of LEE-negative STEC and to define the association of some of these isolates carrying specific lpf-variants with disease.

Morphofunctional patterns in Neotropical felids: Species co-existence and historical assembly Morales, Miriam Mariana; Giannini, Norberto Pedro Extant felids are morphologically homogeneous, probably as a result of recent radiation and constraints from their predatory specializations. The Neotropical assemblage comprises 12 of the 41 extant felid species, which occupy all habitats available, with many species coexisting locally. We studied this assemblage on the basis of 31 craniodental variables reflecting morphofunctional variation, measured from 229 specimens representing all 12 species. Multivariate patterns were summarized allowing for phylogenetic covariation. Additional factors (geographical distribution, use of habitat and stratum, and activity pattern) were coded for each species. As expected, body size accounted for most variation, covarying with membership to three deep clades and, to a lesser extent, with large-scale geographic variation. The species tend to segregate in morphospace plus one or more factors (e.g. habits) that make interspecific overlap in niche space minimal. Using dated phylogenies, biogeographic history, and the fossil record, we reconstructed the historical assembly of the Neotropical felid guild. We found a pattern of successive invasions and speciation in which new lineages occupied previously vacant areas of morphospace, or new species occupied overlapping areas but with contrasting habits. This may be general among antagonistic species of historically structured guilds, and we predict similar patterns in other continents.

Surface plasmon resonance aided electrochemical immunosensor for CK-MB determination in undiluted serum samples Garay, Fernando Sebastian; Kisiel, Greggory; Fang, Aiping; Lindner, Erno This article presents a simple chronoamperometric immunosensor for the quantitative assessment of creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) in 50 μL undiluted serum samples. The immunosensor consists of gold working and counter electrodes patterned onto a glass chip by thin-film photolithography and an external Ag|AgCl reference electrode. The detection limit (DL) of the chronoamperometric method is 13 ng mL-1 (DL = 2×RMSD/S, where RMSD is the residual mean standard deviation of the measured points around a calibration curve with a slope of S). In spiked serum samples, the response was linear up to 300 ng mL-1 of CK-MB. A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system with simultaneous electrochemical detection (EC-SPR) aided the development of the sandwich immunoassay. Real-time monitoring of the SPR signal was used to optimize the capture antibody immobilization, CK-MB and detection antibody binding, as well as to minimize the nonspecific adsorption of serum proteins to the sensor surface. The detection antibody has been labeled with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme for sensitive electrochemical detection. ALP catalyzes the hydrolysis of ascorbic acid phosphate and generates ascorbic acid, which is measured chronoamperometrically. The electrochemical immunoassay for CK-MB was less sensitive to nonspecific adsorption related interferences, had a better detection limit, and required a lower volume of sample than the SPR method. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.

Effects of the inclusion of bending-to-stretching transitions in the non-LTE modeling of ozone vibrational temperatures Fernandez, Rafael Pedro; Kaufmann, Martín; Toselli, Beatriz Margarita A description of the non-LTE intramolecular ozone relaxation cascade considering the relative importance of different transitions on the O3(v1v2v3) vibrational levels has been studied by quantifying the kinetic law of every process and transition that affect each level population. The analysis considers the inclusion for the first-time of bending-to-stretching (k2D) transitions in the energy relaxation cascade of ozone after it is formed by three-body recombination. In this way, the vibrational temperatures and the relative contribution of every transition are presented as a function of altitude. The results show that the inclusion of the bending-to-stretching transitions in the O3 non-LTE relaxation scheme decreases the ν2-mode overpopulation and therefore the stretching levels' population increases, as required for a correct radiance simulation of the 4.8γm ozone emission in the upper atmosphere.

Design and synthesis of active vitamin D analogs Eduardo, Silvina Laura; Fraga, Ramón; Sigüeiro, Rita; Marco, Maria; Rochel, Natacha; Moras, Dino; Mouriño, Antonio A review of the design and synthesis of structural analogs of the vitamin D hormone recently investigated in our laboratories, and the first report on a new class of vitamin D analogs characterized by an aromatic D-ring, is described.

Direct and correlated responses to artificial selection for high and low knockdown resistance to high temperature in Drosophila buzzatii Sambucetti, Pablo Daniel; Scannapieco, Alejandra Carla; Norry, Fabian Marcelo Knockdown resistance to high temperature (KRHT) is a genetically variable trait for thermal adaptation in insects. Selection for KRHT may affect a number of fitness components as well as resistance to several forms of environmental stress. To test for heritable (co)-variation in KRHT, we examined direct and correlated responses to bi-directional selection on this trait in Drosophila buzzatii. Replicated lines were artificially selected for decreased and increased KRHT. After 12 generations of artificial selection, lines diverged significantly for high KRHT only. Starvation resistance increased in two lines that strongly responded to selection for high KRHT, and these two lines also showed relatively longer chill-coma recovery time. Developmental time and body size showed no correlated responses to KRHT-selection. These results suggest that KRHT is a heritable trait that can evolve towards increased thermotolerance with no genetic trade-offs associated to starvation resistance, developmental time and body size.

Eficiencia agronómica del azufre elemental relativa a una fuente azufrada soluble en trigo en la región pampeana; Agronomic efficiency of elemental sulphur in wheat relative to a soluble sulphur source in the Pampas Region Torres Duggan, Martin; Rodríguez, Monica B.; Lavado, Raul Silvio; Melgar, Ricardo La eficiencia agronómica del azufre elemental (AE) en relación a fuentes azufradas solubles y sulfatadas, depende de su reactividad (e.g. tamaño de partícula) y de las condiciones edafo-climáticas. Para las condiciones de la Región Pampeana algunas publicaciones sugieren que el AE puede ser una fuente de S tan efectiva como las fuentes solubles, aunque la información no concluyente. Se hipotetiza que en las condiciones de la Región Pampeana, ambas fuentes poseen similar eficiencia agronómica en la mayoría de los años. Los objetivos del trabajo fueron: i. Evaluar la respuesta al agregado de S con una fuente reactiva de AE en relación a un fertilizante azufrado sulfatado, aplicado en trigo en diferentes dosis y en distintas condiciones edafo-climáticas; ii. Comparar, para el conjunto de experimentos, la eficiencia agronómica del S aplicado con las distintas fuentes. iii. Relacionar las respuestas a la fertilización azufrada con variables de suelo y clima. Se realizaron ocho ensayos de campo durante dos años consecutivos en lotes de producción ubicados en la Región Pampeana. Se aplicó un diseño en bloques completos aleatorizados con cuatro o seis repeticiones en un arreglo factorial de tratamientos (factor 1: fuente azufrada, factor 2: dosis de S). Los tratamientos fueron: un testigo absoluto; fertilización con AE micronizado (95% de S) en dos niveles de dosis y fertilización con sulfato de amonio granulado (SA, 24% S), también en dos niveles de dosis. Las dosis evaluadas fueron 10 y 30 kg ha-1 de S (año 1) y 15 y 30 kg ha1 (año 2). La fertilización azufrada afectó significativamente (p<0,05) los rendimientos del trigo en cuatro de cinco sitios en el primer año y en todos los sitios durante el segundo año de experimentos. Las respuestas del trigo al S se ubicaron en el rango de 231 a 857 kg ha-1 en el primer año y entre 702 y 2.119 kg ha-1 en el segundo año. No se observaron efectos significativos de fuente (efectividad) en las respuestas observadas o en la eficiencia agronómica del S aplicado (kg de grano kg de S aplicado en la mayoría de los sitios), confirmándose que, para el conjunto de experimentos, ambos fertilizantes fueron igualmente efectivos para proveer SO 2-al cultivo. Tampoco se detectó efecto significativo de dosis o interacción fuente x dosis (p>0,05) en la mayoría de los sitios. La dosis más baja (10 o 15 kg ha-1) fue suficiente para cubrir el requerimiento de S del cultivo. Se observó una asociación positiva entre las respuestas y el contenido de MO del suelo y las precipitaciones (macollaje y total del ciclo) y una relación inversa con el contenido de S-SO42- disponibles a la siembra, ésta última con bajo ajuste (r2 medio=0,18). No se observó asociación entre las respuestas y la temperatura en macollaje o en el ciclo. Se concluye que el AE resultó una fuente azufrada con similar eficiencia que el SA para aportar S al trigo en la Región Pampeana.; Agronomic efficiency of elemental sulphur (AE) compared with soluble and S-sulphate sulphur sources depends on reactivity of AE (e.g. particle size) and environmental conditions (soil and climate). Although there is published information suggesting that elemental sulphur has similar effectiveness than soluble sulphur sources, the information is not conclusive. We hypothesized that agronomic efficiency of AE and soluble S sources are similar under the Pampas Region conditions. The objectives of the study were to: i. Evaluate S grain response to a reactive source of AE compared to a soluble S source under different S rates and soil and climate conditions. ii. Compare, for the group of experiments, agronomic S efficiency between S sources. iii: Relate S responses with soil and climatic variables. Eight field experiments were conducted during two successive years on cropping systems in the Pampas Region. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four or six replicates and a factorial treatment arrangement (factor 1: S source, factor 2: S rate). The treatments were: check (without S application), fertilization with a micronized source of AE (95% of S) and a fertilization treatment with ammonium sulphate (SA, 24%). Both sulphur sources were applied at two S rates. Sulphur rates were 10 and 30 kg ha1 (year 1) and 15 and 30 kg ha-1 (year 2). In the first year, wheat responded significantly to S in four of five sites (p<0.05) with yield increases of 231 to 857 kg ha-1. Significant yield increases were observed in all sites in the second year, ranging from 702 to 2,119 kg ha-1. There were no significant differences in grain yield among S sources, rates or interaction source x S rates (p>0.05) in most sites. When all sites were combined, sulphur sources presented similar agronomic S efficiencies (p>0.05). The lower S rate (10 or 15 kg ha1) was enough to provide S to the crop under the Pampas Region conditions. Grain yield responses to S were positively correlated with organic matter content and rainfall (during tillering or the whole crop cycle) and inversely associated with SO42- at planting, although with a poor adjustment. No correlation was detected between S response and temperatures during tillering or the whole crop cycle.

Garlic powder and wheat bran as fillers: Their effect on the physicochemical properties of edible biocomposites Fama, Lucia Mercedes; Bittante, Ana Mônica B. Q.; Sobral, Paulo J. A.; Goyanes, Silvia Nair; Gerschenson, Lia Noemi Biocomposites with two different fillers, garlic and wheat bran, were studied. They were based on cassava starch and contained glycerol as a plasticizer and potassium sorbate as an antimicrobial agent and were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The mechanical performance at room and lower temperatures was also studied. SEM micrographies of fractured surfaces of the wheat bran composite films showed some ruptured particles of fiber while fibrils of garlic on the order of nanometers were observed when garlic composite films were studied. Mechanical tests, at room temperature, showed that the addition of wheat bran led to an increment in the storage modulus (E′) and hardening and a decrease in Tan δ, while the garlic composite showed a diminishing in the E′ and hardening and did not produce significant changes in Tan δ values when compared with systems without fillers (matrix). In the range between -90 °C and 20 °C, all the materials studied presented two peaks in the Tan δ curve. In the case of the wheat bran composite, both relaxation peaks shifted slightly to higher temperatures, broadened and diminished their intensity when compared with those of the matrix; however garlic composite showed a similar behavior to the matrix. DSC thermograms of aqueous systems showed a slight shift of gelatinization temperature (Tgelatinization) to higher values when the fillers were present. Thermograms of films showed that both, garlic and wheat bran composites, had a lower melting point than the matrix. IR data indicated that interaction between starch and fillers determined an increase in the availability of hydroxyl groups to be involved in a dynamic exchange with water.

Von Willebrand's disease diagnosis and laboratory issues Castaman, G.; Montgomery, R. R.; Meschengieser, S. S.; Haberichter, S. L.; Woods, Adriana Inés; Lazzari, María Ángela In this paper, the recent developments in the diagnosis and laboratory issues of von Willebrand's disease (VWD) are presented. Dr. Castaman reviews the functional tests available for the diagnosis of VWD and their pathophysiological significance, focusing on which tests are best used in the diagnosis and classification of VWD. Dr Montgomery reviews an emerging issue that is accelerated clearance of von Willebrand factor (VWF) occurring in some variants of VWD. This phenotype can be suspected by the presence of an increased ratio between the VWF propeptide and the VWF antigen. These patients have typically a robust, but short-lived increase of FVIII and VWF after desmopressin. Dr Meschengieser reviews the determinants of bleeding after surgery in patients with VWD, emphasizing the role of bleeding history in predicting this risk. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

The INGV–CMCC Seasonal Prediction System: Improved Ocean Initial Conditions Alessandri, Andrea; Borrelli, Andrea; Masina, Simona; Cherchi, Annalisa; Gualdi, Silvio; Navarra, Antonio; Di Pietro, Pierluigi; Carril, Andrea Fabiana The development of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)–Centro Euro-Mediterraneo per i Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC) Seasonal Prediction System (SPS) is documented. In this SPS the ocean initial-conditions estimation includes a reduced-order optimal interpolation procedure for the assimilation of temperature and salinity profiles at the global scale. Nine-member ensemble forecasts have been produced for the period 1991–2003 for two starting dates per year in order to assess the impact of the subsurface assimilation in the ocean for initialization. Comparing the results with control simulations (i.e., without assimilation of subsurface profiles during ocean initialization), it is shown that the improved ocean initialization increases the skill in the prediction of tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures of the system for boreal winter forecasts. Considering the forecast of the 1997/98 El Nin˜o, the data assimilation in the ocean initial conditions leads to a considerable improvement in the representation of its onset and development. The results presented in this paper indicate a better prediction of global-scale surface climate anomalies for the forecasts started in November, probably because of the improvement in the tropical Pacific. For boreal winter, significant increases in the capability of the system to discriminate above-normal and below-normal temperature anomalies are shown in both the tropics and extratropics.