Models of classroom assessment for course-based research experiences

Course-based research pedagogy involves positioning students as contributors to authentic research projects as part of an engaging educational experience that promotes their learning and persistence in science. To develop a model for assessing and grading students engaged in this type of learning experience, the assessment aims and practices of a community of experienced course-based research instructors were collected and analyzed. This approach defines four aims of course-based research assessment—(1) Assessing Laboratory Work and Scientific Thinking; (2) Evaluating Mastery of Concepts, Quantitative Thinking and Skills; (3) Appraising Forms of Scientific Communication; and (4) Metacognition of Learning—along with a set of practices for each aim. These aims and practices of assessment were then integrated with previously developed models of course-based research instruction to reveal an assessment program in which instructors provide extensive feedback to support productive student engagement in research while grading those aspects of research that are necessary for the student to succeed. Assessment conducted in this way delicately balances the need to facilitate students’ ongoing research with the requirement of a final grade without undercutting the important aims of a CRE education

Phylogenetic classification of the world's tropical forests

Knowledge about the biogeographic affinities of the world’s tropical forests helps to better understand regional differences in forest structure, diversity, composition, and dynamics. Such understanding will enable anticipation of region-specific responses to global environmental change. Modern phylogenies, in combination with broad coverage of species inventory data, now allow for global biogeographic analyses that take species evolutionary distance into account. Here we present a classification of the world’s tropical forests based on their phylogenetic similarity. We identify five principal floristic regions and their floristic relationships: (i) Indo-Pacific, (ii) Subtropical, (iii) African, (iv) American, and (v) Dry forests. Our results do not support the traditional neo- versus paleotropical forest division but instead separate the combined American and African forests from their Indo-Pacific counterparts. We also find indications for the existence of a global dry forest region, with representatives in America, Africa, Madagascar, and India. Additionally, a northern-hemisphere Subtropical forest region was identified with representatives in Asia and America, providing support for a link between Asian and American northern-hemisphere forests.</p

New Mucoadhesive Polymeric Film for Ophthalmic Administration of Acetazolamide

This article reports the results concerning the design and manufacture of a novel polymeric film for ocular ad-ministration of acetazolamide (AZM), and a patent document presented to INPI- National Institute of Industrial/Intelectual Property. The system was designed using mucoadhesive polymers, such as carbomer (CB974P) and sodium car-boxymethylcellulose (NaCMC), combined with the poloxamer (POL407) which behaves as a swelling modulator, surfac-tant and slightly plasticizer. The maximum amount of AZM to be incorporated without loss of homogeneity or precipita-tion of the drug, was 0.04 mg AZM/mg of the film. The addition of a polymeric coating based on Eudragit RSPO (cati-onic permeable polymethacrylate polymer) allowed optimizing drug release. The coating in a proportion of 10% (deter-mined as percentage of total weight of the film) seemed to be the most adequate, since 80% of controlled drug release was achieved along 240 minutes. This coating membrane did not affect the mucoadhesive properties of the swellable poly-mers. Thus, the system obtained, showed good efficiency and the intra ocular pressure (IOP) decreased according to the results derived from in vivo studies performed on normotensive rabbits. Finally, irritation scored studies demonstrated that these systems were not irritant for rabbit ́s ocular mucosa.Fil: Tartara, Luis Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; ArgentinaFil: Palma, Santiago Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; ArgentinaFil: Ahumada, Maria I.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Allemandi, Daniel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; ArgentinaFil: Llabot, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; Argentin

Association Models for Binding of Molecules to Nanostructures

The interaction between nanoparticles and molecules plays a key role in determining the activity and performance of a given nanostructure. These interactions are pivotal for a variety of applications including drug delivery, surface manipulation for targeted therapies, and catalysis. However, to this day, gathering precise association parameters for the interaction of the molecules with nanostructures remains elusive and mostly imprecise. In this review, we present a critical discussion of the most commonly used techniques and models intended for determining the association of molecules with nanoparticles. Particular emphasis has been put on discussing the limitations and pitfalls related to determining association constants in this tutorial review.Fil: Ahumada, Manuel. University Of Ottawa; CanadáFil: Lissi, Eduardo. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; ChileFil: Montagut, Ana Maria. University Of Ottawa; CanadáFil: Valenzuela Henríquez, Francisco. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso; ChileFil: Pacioni, Natalia Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Alarcon, Emilio I.. University of Ottawa; Canad

Late Miocene–Early Pliocene mammals from the Tupungato–Piedras Coloradas Anticlines, Mendoza, Argentina

New research in the petroliferous area of Tupungato, Mendoza Province, central-western Argentina, has revealed a much richer fossil assemblage than previously known for this zone. First mammal remains from this area go back to the 1930s, but only three taxa were recognized since then, two notoungulates, the mesotheriid Typotheriopsis silveyrai and the hegetotheriid Hemihegetotherium achathaleptum, and the caviid rodent Cardiatherium paranense. A recent project, focused on geological and paleontological aspects of the Tupungato–Piedras Coloradas Anticlines, has allowed us to improve the geological knowledge of the area and increase its faunal diversity. This is one of the best localities for the study of the uppermost section of the Cacheuta foreland basin, and we present the first detailed section of the Río de los Pozos Formation (including part of previously considered Mogotes Formation). Concerning fossils, xenarthrans (sloths and armadillos), pachyrukhine hegetotheriids, a toxodontid, and different families of rodents (Chinchillidae, Octodontidae, Caviidae Dolichotinae, and Abrocomidae) are recognized for the first time in this locality, together with new remains of T. silveyrai, H. achathaleptum, and C. paranense. The comparison with Late Miocene–Pliocene Argentinean faunas reveals general similarities with most assemblages assigned to the Huayquerian Stage/Age, somewhat closer to those from the Cerro Azul Formation, and there are also shared taxa with Early Pliocene faunas. The biostratigraphic data presented here agree with published ages obtained for the Río de los Pozos Formation in the La Pilona Anticline.Fil: Cerdeño Serrano, Maria Esperanza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Montalvo, Claudia I.. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Hernández del Pino, Santiago Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Suriano, Julieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Ciancio, Martin Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Morfología Evolutiva y Desarrollo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Pujos, François Roger Francis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Schmidt, Gabriela Ines. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Salgado Ahumada, Juan Sebastián. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentin

Insecticide Resistance and Its Intensity in Populations of Malaria Vectors in Colombia

Insecticide resistance in malaria vectors threatens malaria prevention and control efforts. In Colombia the three primary vectors, Anopheles darlingi, An. nuneztovari s.l., and An. albimanus, have reported insecticide resistance to pyrethroids, organophosphates, carbamates, and DDT; however, the insecticide resistance monitoring is not continuous, and the data on the prevalence of resistance is scarce and geographically limited. We describe the resistance levels and intensity of previously detected resistant populations among primary malaria vectors from the most endemic malaria areas in Colombia. The study was carried out in 10 localities of five states in Colombia. Bioassays were carried out following the methodology of CDC Bottle Bioassay using the discriminating concentration and in order to quantify the intensity the specimens were exposed to 2, 5, and 10X discriminating concentrations. Five insecticides were tested: deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, alpha-cypermethrin, permethrin, and DDT. The results provide evidence of low resistance intensity and resistance highly localized to pyrethroids and DDT in key malaria vectors in Colombia. This may not pose a threat to malaria control yet but frequent monitoring is needed to follow the evolution of insecticide resistance

Key issues of the upstream segment of biofuels supply chain: a qualitative analysis

The role that liquid biofuels will play in future energy systems will depend on biomass-to-energy supply chain to overcome the barriers that may hinder the development and international trade, as well as a sustainable and efficient production of biomass resources. This research paper is based on an extensive literature review, and its purpose is to identify and to investigate the variables that, throughout the agricultural biomass-to-energy supply chain, give rise to the barriers that are common to most varieties of biomass. For achieving it and to assess the effects of referred barriers were used techniques of the Soft Systems methodology. Although biomass-to-energy supply chains are diverse in terms of pattern and operations, the characteristic of the barriers involved in the research provides a broad insight into the issues and challenges to define consistent strategies and interventions for overcoming them. So, this review might be useful for further research related to agricultural biomass-to-energy supply chain optimization that is needed

Procesos de fronterización y desfronterización en territorios

El auge de la globalización en los años 1990 hizo plantear a muchos intelectuales la idea del fin de las fronteras, algunos más aventureros expresaron que entrábamos en una “era postcolonial”, en la cual el Estado-nación era fuertemente cuestionado. Sin embargo, desde entonces hemos sido testigos del “retorno de las fronteras”. Con dolor e impotencia hemos visto la multiplicación de muros fronterizos, más de treinta muros desde el 11-S, quince solamente en el 2016. Este fenómeno denominado “fronterización” ha significado una transformación de las fronteras, cumpliendo más bien la función de “filtro de flujos” para llevar a mejor término un tratamiento diferenciado de los mismos. A pesar de que este fenómeno no sólo atañe a la migración, ésta ha sido la principal afectada, debido al aumento de la migración irregularizada y por tanto de los cruces clandestinos