The Mojotoro Range, eastern cordillera, Salta province

The Mojotoro Range (MR) is located at the SE end of the Argentine Eastern Cordillera, to the east of Salta City (Figure 7a,b). From a structural point of view, the MR is a complex anticlinorioum of N–S strike that closes to the north, at the latitude of San Antonio (Jujuy Province), and is cut to the south by the San Agustín fault (Salta Province) (Figure 7b). The anticline core is a clastic basement (late Proterozoic–Early Cambrian) with low grade metamorphism. This basement unconformably underlies (Tilcara unconformity) deposits of the Mesón Group and the Santa Victoria Group. The Salta Group (Cretaceous–Eocene) crops out in the southern end of the Mojotoro Range and lies over different Ordovician units. Deposits of the Oran Group (Tertiary, Neogene) are distributed near the eastern flank of the MR, and the contact of those deposits with the basement or cover rocks is always tectonic (Figures 7b). The Mojotoro Range is a typical structure of the Andean foreland, which is characterized by folding and overthrusts of eastern dip. The displacement took place by means of important reverse faults of N–S direction, affecting the basement and Palaeozoic cover on the eastern flank. The main thrust is located in the middle part of the MR section, where the eastern flank is inverted. There only appear post–Tremadocian deposits because of the faulting that suppressed the Mesón Group and Tremadocian units of the Santa Victoria Group. However, these deposits are well–represented on the western flank of Mojotoro Range. Another fault system of NO–SE direction transversally cuts the Mojotoro Range (Figure 7b), interrupting the lateral continuity of Palaeozoic rocks. They are left–handed faults, probably linked with the dynamics of El Toro Lineament. Two of these faults –Quebrada Honda and San Agustin (Figure 7b)– present evidences of pre–Cretaceous activity: a) It is supposed that the Quebrada Honda fault controlled the southern margin of the Cambrian basin, because deposits of the Mesón Group (only 17 m thick) lend out to the north of this fracture, and do not crop out to the south of it. b) It is verified that the San Agustín fault constitutes an erosive margin of the Ordovician basin (Moya, 1988a), which was worked previously to the deposits of Salta Group. Thick Ordovician deposits of the Mojotoro Range are abruptly interrupted against this fracture; toward the south, in the summits of Castillejo, the Salta Group covers the basement as well as few Ordovician tectonic sheetsFil: Moya, Maria Cristina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Consejo de Investigacion; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; ArgentinaFil: Monteros, Julio A.. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Consejo de Investigacion; ArgentinaFil: Malanca, Susana. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Consejo de Investigacion; ArgentinaFil: Albanesi, Guillermo Luis. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Museo de Paleontología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

Incidence and risk factors for Contegra graft infection following right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction: long-term results

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with Contegra graft (Medtronic Minneapolis, MN, USA) infection after reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract. METHODS One hundred and six Contegra grafts were implanted between April 1999 and April 2010 for the Ross procedure (n = 46), isolated pulmonary valve replacement (n = 32), tetralogy of Fallot (n = 24), double-outlet right ventricle (n = 7), troncus arteriosus (n = 4), switch operation (n = 1) and redo of pulmonary valve replacement (n = 2). The median age of the patients was 13 years (range 0-54 years). A follow-up was completed in all cases with a median duration of 7.6 years (range 1.7-12.7 years). RESULTS There were 3 cases of in-hospital mortality. The survival rate during 7 years was 95.7%. Despite the lifelong endocarditis prophylaxis, Contegra graft infection was diagnosed in 12 (11.3%) patients at a median time of 4.4 years (ranging from 0.4 to 8.7 years). Univariate analysis of preoperative, perioperative and postoperative variables was performed and the following risk factors for time to infection were identified: female gender with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.19 (P = 0.042), systemic-to-pulmonary shunt (HR 6.46, P < 0.01), hypothermia (HR 0.79, P = 0.014), postoperative renal insufficiency (HR 11.97, P = 0.015) and implantation of permanent pacemaker during hospitalization (HR 5.29, P = 0.075). In 2 cases, conservative therapy was successful and, in 10 patients, replacement of the infected valve was performed. The Contegra graft was replaced by a homograft in 2 cases and by a new Contegra graft in 8 cases. Cox's proportional hazard model indicated that time to graft infection was significantly associated with tetralogy of Fallot (HR 0.06, P = 0.01), systemic-to-pulmonary shunt (HR 64.71, P < 0.01) and hypothermia (HR 0.77, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Contegra graft infection affected 11.3% of cases in our cohort, and thus may be considered as a frequent entity that can be predicted by both intraoperative and early postoperative factors. After the diagnosis of infection associated with the Contegra graft was confirmed, surgical treatment was the therapy of choic

Multiple endocytic pathways of G protein-coupled receptors delineated by GIT1 sensitivity.

Recently, we identified a GTPase-activating protein for the ADP ribosylation factor family of small GTP-binding proteins that we call GIT1. This protein initially was identified as an interacting partner for the G protein-coupled receptor kinases, and its overexpression was found to affect signaling and internalization of the prototypical beta(2)-adrenergic receptor. Here, we report that GIT1 overexpression regulates internalization of numerous, but not all, G protein-coupled receptors. The specificity of the GIT1 effect is not related to the type of G protein to which a receptor couples, but rather to the endocytic route it uses. GIT1 only affects the function of G protein-coupled receptors that are internalized through the clathrin-coated pit pathway in a beta-arrestin- and dynamin-sensitive manner. Furthermore, the GIT1 effect is not limited to G protein-coupled receptors because overexpression of this protein also affects internalization of the epidermal growth factor receptor. However, constitutive agonist-independent internalization is not regulated by GIT1, because transferrin uptake is not affected by GIT1 overexpression. Thus, GIT1 is a protein involved in regulating the function of signaling receptors internalized through the clathrin pathway and can be used as a diagnostic tool for defining the endocytic pathway of a receptor

La inoculación de Azospirillum brasilense mejora la calidad de las plántulas de un mezquite (Prosopis juliflora)

Inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria in plants can improve their growth and physiological status, which could be particularly important for agricultural and forestry plants used for the revegetation of arid areas. Prosopis juliflora is a forest pioneer species that is drought resistant and has multiple uses (fodder, shade and shelter for livestock; timber and firewood, live fences and windbreaks in agroforestry systems). Azospirillum brasilense is a rhizobacterium that improves the growth of many agricultural crops. The hypothesis of this study was that P. juliflora seedlings produced in the nursery can respond positively to inoculation with A. brasilense CECT 590. Five months after inoculation, we examined the growth, water relations (osmotic potential at full turgor, osmotic potential at zero turgor, and the modulus of elasticity at full turgor), and concentration and content of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) in the seedlings. Subsequently, a trial was conducted to analyse root growth potential. A. brasilense CECT 590 inoculation caused an osmotic adjustment in P. juliflora seedlings but decreased the elasticity of the cell walls. Inoculation with A. brasilense CECT 590 significantly improved plant growth due in part to an increase of N concentration in the seedlings. A. brasilense CECT 590 inoculation also caused an increase in the root growth potential. The increased growth of P. juliflora seedlings inoculated with A. brasilense was probably caused by more than one mechanism. Inoculation with A. brasilense at the nursery may be a suitable technique for producing improved seedling material for restoration purposes.La inoculación de hongos de micorrizacion y rizobacterias en las plantas puede mejorar su crecimiento y calidad fisiológica, especialmente en plantas agrícolas y forestales empleadas para la regeneración de zonas áridas. Prosopis juliflora es una especie forestal pionera, resistente a la sequía, y de usos múltiples (forraje, sombra y cobijo para el ganado, madera y leña, cercas vivas y cortinas cortavientos en sistemas agroforestales). Azospirillum brasilense es una rizobacteria que mejora el crecimiento de muchos cultivos agrícolas. La hipótesis de este estudio fue que las plántulas de P. juliflora producidas en vivero pueden responder positivamente a la inoculación con A. brasilense CECT 590. Cinco meses después desde la inoculación, se analizó el crecimiento, relaciones hídricas (potencial osmótico en saturación, potencial osmótico en el punto de pérdida de turgencia, y módulo de elasticidad a total turgor), concentración y contenido de macronutrientes (N, P, K, Ca y Mg) en las plántulas. Posteriormente se realizó un ensayo para analizar el Potencial de Crecimiento Radical. La inoculación de A. brasilense CECT 590 causó un ajuste osmótico de las plántulas de P. juliflora, pero disminuyó la elasticidad de las paredes celulares. A. brasilense CECT 590 mejoró significativamente el crecimiento de la planta, debido en parte al incremento de la concentración de N en las plántulas. La inoculación con A. brasilense CECT 590 también causó un incremento del potencial de crecimiento radical. El incremento del crecimiento en las plántulas de P. juliflora inoculadas con A. brasilense fue probablemente debido a más de un mecanismo. La inoculación con A. brasilense en vivero puede ser una técnica adecuada para la producción de material de plántulas mejorado con fines de restauración

If it does take a village to raise a child, how should the village do it? Insights from the kids in places initiative

Cross-sector collaborations are some of the strategies used to promote early childhood development and wellbeing. Without these collaborations, key services for families with young children may be missed or even duplicated. By drawing from experiences in Canada and Italy, we share findings from a study that aimed to understand the factors that make cross-sector collaborations (CSC) succeed or fail. Specifically, the study focused on understanding how CSC promoting early child development are created, maintained, and consolidated; and on identifying the social psychological, organizational, and economic aspects of CSC that help or hinder their functioning. Based on qualitative analysis of data gathered from four focus groups and thirteen interviews conducted across seven Canadian and Italian communities, we conclude that the success of CSC depend of a series of factors that transcend context, language and culture

Modelos Geológicos en la Historia Temprana de las Ciencias en Córdoba, Argentina

This study is about the concept of “model” in geology, considering its conception, stability or the appearance of recurrent innovations according to its application to the explanation of particular problems of the Earth sciences. With the purpose of observing the effectiveness of geological models to address the explanation of different problems, three case studies were chosen to explain: the cause of the design of the Suquía (or Primero) River network and its meanders, the disposition of basaltic effusions in the south-western sector of the Córdoba Province, and the structural profile of the Sierras de Córdoba and the deep underground of the Pampas Plain, in latitudinal direction from Córdoba City to the Uruguay River. The comparison of the different case studies reveals that some models remain stable to explain different phenomena from the same cause, such as the directions of the drainage and the lava effusions, and other models change, depending on the appearance of new data by new technologies, such as the structural profile referred to. We conclude that the models can be reissued in subsequent time horizons, maintaining stability, or can be renewed with the addition of new variables and the consequent emergence of new properties.Este trabajo trata sobre el concepto de “modelo” en geología, considerando su concepción, su estabilidad o la aparición de innovaciones recurrentes de acuerdo con su aplicación a la explicación de problemas particulares de las ciencias de la Tierra. Con el propósito de observar la eficacia de modelos geológicos para abordar la explicación de distintos problemas, se eligieron tres casos de estudio para explicar: la causa del diseño de la red fluvial del Río Suquía (o Primero) y sus meandros, la disposición de las efusiones basálticas en el sector sur-occidental de la provincia de Córdoba, y el perfil estructural de las Sierras de Córdoba y del subsuelo profundo de la Llanura Pampeana, en dirección latitudinal desde la ciudad de Córdoba al Río Uruguay. La comparación de los distintos casos de estudio, revela que algunos modelos permanecen estables para explicar fenómenos distintos a partir de la misma causa, tales como las direcciones del drenaje y de las efusiones lávicas, y otros resultan cambiantes, según la aparición de datos que proporcionan las nuevas tecnologías, como el perfil estructural referido. Se concluye que los modelos pueden reeditarse en horizontes temporales posteriores, manteniéndose estables, o pueden renovarse con el agregado de nuevas variables y la consecuente emergencia de propiedades nuevas