Cambios estacionales de la densidad de peces en una laguna del valle aluvial del rio Parana (Argentina)

En aval du confluent du Parana et du Paraguay, les nombreuses espèces de poissons présentes (dont beaucoup d'intérêt commercial) accomplissent des migrations complexes, latérales et longitudinales, encore inexpliquées. La structure et la densité des communautés de poissons sont fonction, pour chaque endroit, de la période de l'année. Ces variations ont été relevées dans une mare permanente de 274,5 ha dans la zone centrale de la plaine d'inondation (31°42'S; 60°37'W), et reliées à la température et au niveau de l'eau. Des estimations mensuelles de densité ont été faites entre janvier 1982 et janvier 1983 par écho-sondage, ainsi que par des pêches expérimentales utilisant les mêmes filets maillants que ceux des pêcheurs locaux. La prise moyenne a été de 21,5 kg par jour pour 100 m2 de file

Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov exhibits a structure similar to native Solar System comets

We processed images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to investigate any morphological features in the inner coma suggestive of a peculiar activity on the nucleus of the interstellar comet 2I/Borisov. The coma shows an evident elongation, in the position angle (PA) ~0-180d direction, which appears related to the presence of a jet originating from a single active source on the nucleus. A counterpart of this jet directed towards PA ~10d was detected through analysis of the changes of the inner coma morphology on HST images taken in different dates and processed with different filters. These findings indicate that the nucleus is probably rotating with a spin axis projected near the plane of the sky and oriented at PA ~100d-280d, and that the active source is lying in a near-equatorial position. Subsequent observations of HST allowed us to determine the direction of the spin axis at RA=17h20m+/-15d and Dec = -35d+\-10d.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures (low resolution). Full-resolution figures and bonus material at this url https://web.oapd.inaf.it/bedin/files/PAPERs_eMATERIALs/BORISOV_comet/ Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letters on 2020 April 1st (not a joke ;

SynaptoPAC, an optogenetic tool for induction of presynaptic plasticity

Optogenetic manipulations have transformed neuroscience in recent years. While sophisticated tools now exist for controlling the firing patterns of neurons, it remains challenging to optogenetically define the plasticity state of individual synapses. A variety of synapses in the mammalian brain express presynaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) upon elevation of presynaptic cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), but the molecular expression mechanisms as well as the impact of presynaptic LTP on network activity and behavior are not fully understood. In order to establish optogenetic control of presynaptic cAMP levels and thereby presynaptic potentiation, we developed synaptoPAC, a presynaptically targeted version of the photoactivated adenylyl cyclase bPAC. In cultures of hippocampal granule cells, activation of synaptoPAC with blue light increases action potential-evoked transmission, an effect not seen in hippocampal cultures of non-granule cells. In acute brain slices, synaptoPAC activation immediately triggers a strong presynaptic potentiation at mossy fiber terminals in CA3, but not at Schaffer collateral synapse in CA1. Following light-triggered potentiation, mossy fiber transmission decreases within 20 minutes, but remains enhanced still after 30 min. Optogenetic potentiation alters the short-term plasticity dynamics of release, reminiscent of presynaptic LTP. SynaptoPAC is the first optogenetic tool that allows acute light-controlled potentiation of transmitter release at specific synapses of the brain, and will enable to investigate the role of presynaptic potentiation in network function and the animal’s behavior in an unprecedented manner. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: SynaptoPAC is a novel optogenetic tool that allows increasing synaptic transmission by light-controlled induction of presynaptic plasticity

Experiencia en la fabricación de titanio con gradiente de porosidad mediante técnicas de pulvimetalurgia

Fil: Grinschpun, L. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.Fil: Oldani, C. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.Fil: Valdemarin, M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.El titanio se reconoce como el mejor material metálico para reemplazo óseo. Este consenso está basado en sus buenas propiedades mecánicas, adecuadas para aplicaciones donde se deban soportar cargas (módulo elástico de 100-110 GPa y resistencia a la tracción entre 240-550 MPa) [1], su muy buena resistencia a la corrosión y su excelente respuesta in vivo debido a su capacidad osteoinductiva y osteointegradora. A pesar de esto, el titanio presenta algunos inconvenientes ya que es un material bioinerte (no reacciona adversamente con el tejido) y estable químicamente (resistencia a la corrosión excelente, especialmente frente a los ambientes fisiológicos) y en consecuencia, el organismo tiende a formar una cápsula de tejido fibroso a su alrededor comprometiendo la osteointegración del implante (capacidad de establecer una conexión directa, estructural y funcional, entre el hueso y la superficie del implante). Los posibles micromovimientos que ocurren en la intercara biomaterial-tejido, generan a mediano y largo plazo, un crecimiento de la fina capa de tejido fibroso ya existente, incrementándose el riesgo de aflojamiento del implante.Fil: Grinschpun, L. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.Fil: Oldani, C. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.Fil: Valdemarin, M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.Ingeniería de los Materiale

Experiencias en la fabricación de titanio con gradiente de porosidad mediante técnicas de pulvimetalurgia

Fil: Grinschpun, L. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.Fil: Oldani, C. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.Fil: Valdemarin, M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.Titanium is recognized as the best biometal for applications in bone implant.However it presents some difficulties as is the mismatch between its modulus of elasticity(stiffness) and that of the bone that replace. This difference produce stress-shielding, aphenomenon by which bone is retracted, weakens and can suffer a new fracture. One possiblesolution is to decrease the stiffness by obtaining a porous structure with controlled porosity innumber, size and shape of the pores. The presence of different tissues in contact with theimplant makes ideal to have a titanium metal structure with porosity gradients. A suitabletechnique for obtaining this structure is powder metallurgy (PM). This paper use PMtechniques with TiH2 as the titanium source and ammonium bicarbonate as pore spacerparticles, sintered at 1000 ° C in argon atmosphere. There were obtained samples withlongitudinal and radial porosity gradient. The main drawbacks are found in matrix fillingtechniques for compact the greens. This causes joints between layers with different porositynot adequate and separated by differential shrinkage during the sintering treatment. Despitethis, optimization of the treatment conditions enables the samples obtained present very goodadhesion between layers.Fil: Grinschpun, L. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.Fil: Oldani, C. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.Fil: Valdemarin, M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Materiales; Argentina.Ingeniería de los Materiale

Craniofacial modifications in children with habitual snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea: A case-control study

Habitual snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea in children, which are frequently associated with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, may begin early in life and in relation with orocraniofacial features. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of early bone craniofacial modifications in young children with along history of habitual snoring. Twenty-six habitually snoring children (mean age 4.6 yrs) were studied by nocturnal portable recording or diurnal polysomnography, cephalometry and orthodontic evaluation. A comparison of cephalometric findings was made between the studied group and 26 age-matched children (mean age 5.1 yrs) with no history of snoring or respiratory problems during sleep. The cephalometric analyses showed a significant increase in craniomandibular intermaxillar, lower and upper goniac angles with a retroposition and posterior rotation of the mandible (high angle face) and a reduction in the rhinopharynx space caused by higher thickness of adenoids in habitually snoring children compared with controls. Cross-bites and labial incompetence as well as daytime symptoms and familiarity for habitual snoring were found in most of the studied group of snorers compared with controls. The results indicate that upper airway obstruction during sleep is associated with mild but significant cephalometric and craniofacial modifications in children complaining of habitual snoring. Whether this skeletal conformation is genetically determined or influenced by the early onset of habitual snoring remains to be assessed

Surface modification of starch based biomaterials by oxygen plasma or UV-irradiation

Radiation is widely used in biomaterials science for surface modification and sterilization. Herein, we describe the use of plasma and UV-irradiation to improve the biocompatibility of different starch-based blends in terms of cell adhesion and proliferation. Physical and chemical changes, introduced by the used methods, were evaluated by complementary techniques for surface analysis such as scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, contact angle analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effect of the changed surface properties on the adhesion of osteoblast-like cells was studied by a direct contact assay. Generally, both treatments resulted in higher number of cells adhered to the modified surfaces. The importance of the improved biocompatibility resulting from the irradiation methods is further supported by the knowledge that both UV and plasma treatments can be used as cost-effective methods for sterilization of biomedical materials and devices.I. P. thanks the FCT for providing her a postdoctoral scholarship (SFRH/BPD/8491/2002). This work was partially supported by FCT, through funds from the POCTI and/or FEDER programs, The European Union funded STREP Project HIPPOCRATES (NNM-3-CT-2003-505758) and the European NoE EXPERTISSUES (NMP3-CT-2004-500283)

Aquivion® PFSA-based spray-freeze dried composite materials with SiO2 and TiO2 as hybrid catalysts for the gas phase dehydration of ethanol to ethylene in mild conditions

Aquivion PFSA resin, a perfluorinated ion-exchange polymer, has been used as a heterogeneous strong acid catalyst for a range of reactions; however, the activity of this material is limited due to the extremely low surface area of the polymer. In this paper we described the one-step synthesis of Aquivion® PFSA-based hybrid materials using heterocoagulation and spray-freeze-drying of sols containing the precursor of the active phases. The intimated encapsulation of different nano-oxides, such as TiO2 and SiO2 in the superacid resin matrix was easily obtained using this technique and compared with similar catalysts prepared by the impregnation conventional route. The approach led to the preparation of porous micro-granules characterised by a high homogeneity in the phase distribution and high surface area. The prepared materials were active and selective for the gas phase dehydration of ethanol to ethylene in mild conditions. The increase of the porosity improved the activity of the composites, compared to the pure Aquivion® PFSA, and allowed to reduce the amount of the superacid resin. Moreover, the type of encapsulated oxide, TiO2 or SiO2, modified the improved performance of the catalysts, having TiO2 the higher efficiency for ethanol conversion and selectivity in ethylene at very low temperature

Sinterizado de viruta de aleación AZ91D

Fil: Milne, R. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Grinschpun, L. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Oldani, C. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Prudencio, R. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Schneiter, M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.La viruta proveniente de los procesos de mecanizado de autopartes para la industria automotriz, fabricadas con aleaciones de magnesio AZ91D, presenta un problema de contaminación ambiental debido a los aceites refrigerantes adheridos a la viruta. El magnesio y sus aleaciones además, está declarado como material de alto riesgo debido a su alta inflamabilidad, dificultando su almacenamiento para procesos posteriores. En este trabajo proponemos un reprocesado de la viruta mediante técnicas de pulvimetalurgia, buscando la obtención de un material con características similares a la aleación de origen. Los ensayos mecánicos realizados a los materiales obtenidos, mostraron que los mejores resultado son obtenidos para temperaturas de sinterizado en fase solido + liquido. A esta temperatura se produciría un cambio volumétrico de las partículas de polvo de la aleación que facilita la rotura de la capa de óxido que cubre a las mismas y que de otra manera, impide o dificulta la unión partícula--partícula. Las muestras obtenidas fueron caracterizadas metalográfica y mecánicamente, determinando la resistencia a la compresión del material. Los tratamientos de sinterizado se realizaron a temperaturas de 500, 600 y 650ºC, variando los tiempos de permanencia a las distintas temperaturas entre 1 y 4 horas. Se alcanzaron valores de resistencia mecánica de 115,7 MPa para las muestras sinterizadas a 600ºC durante una hora, valor cercano al 30% de los valores de la aleación original (400 MPa) y un 50% en relación a la aleación refundida (325 MPa). La caracterización metalográfica muestra que el sinterizado a las menores temperaturas utilizadas en este trabajo, presenta un alto grado de porosidad el cual se traduce en pobres propiedades mecánicas.Fil: Milne, R. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Grinschpun, L. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Oldani, C. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Prudencio, R. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Schneiter, M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Otras Ingeniería de los Materiale