Triborder: Xirú

En este artículo nos detenemos en una obra del escritor paraguayo Damián Cabrera, Xirú, que pone en discusión la posibilidad de las fronteras políticas, culturales y lingüísticas en Paraguay. Ubicada en un lugar fantasmal cercano a la Triple Frontera paraguayo-argentina-brasileña, la obra puede concebirse como un rompecabezas-mosaico conformado por fragmentos en el quetoda categorización (en cuanto al género, la cultura o la lengua) resulta difuminada. Xirúdespliega tres lenguas (guaraní, español y portugués), que se entremezclan entre sí en el habla de los diversos personajes, con distintos grados de fosilización de la mezcla (cfr. las variedades de «jopará»y «portuñol»).In this paper we analyze a book of the Paraguayan writer Damián Cabrera, Xirú, which permits to discuss the possibility of determining any political, cultural or language border in Paraguay. Located in a phantasmagoric place near the Triple Frontera(Paraguayan-Argentinian-Brazilian), the book can be conceived as a puzzle-mosaic conformed by fragments in which every categorization (concerning the genre, the culture or the language) results diffuse. Xirúuses three languages (Guaraní, Spanish and Portuguese), that are mixed in the speech of the main characters, showing also different degrees of fossilization of the mixes (cf. the varieties of “jopará”and “portuñol”).Fil: Carbone, Rocco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento; ArgentinaFil: Kornfeld, Laura Malena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Amending Contracts for Choreographies

Distributed interactions can be suitably designed in terms of choreographies. Such abstractions can be thought of as global descriptions of the coordination of several distributed parties. Global assertions define contracts for choreographies by annotating multiparty session types with logical formulae to validate the content of the exchanged messages. The introduction of such constraints is a critical design issue as it may be hard to specify contracts that allow each party to be able to progress without violating the contract. In this paper, we propose three methods that automatically correct inconsistent global assertions. The methods are compared by discussing their applicability and the relationships between the amended global assertions and the original (inconsistent) ones.Comment: In Proceedings ICE 2011, arXiv:1108.014

Biochar: a Sustainable alternative in the development of electrochemical printed platforms

Biochar is a pyrolytic material with several environmental benefits such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering atmospheric carbon and contrasting global warming. However, nowadays, it has moved to the forefront for its conductivity and electron transfer properties, finding applications in the fabrication of electrochemical platforms. In this field, researchers have focused on low-cost biomass capable of replacing more popular and expensive carbonaceous nanomaterials (i.e., graphene, nanotubes and quantum dots) in the realization of sensitive cost-effectiveness and eco-friendly electrochemical tools. This review discusses recent developments of biochar-modified screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). Special attention has been paid to biochar's manufacturing processes, electron-donating capabilities and sensing applications. Examples of representative works are introduced to explain the distinct roles of biochar in several electro-bioanalytical strategies

Impact of heart rate on myocardial salvage in timely reperfused patients with STSegment elevation myocardial infarction. new insights from cardiovascular magnetic resonance

BACKGROUND: Previous studies evaluating the progression of the necrotic wave in relation to heart rate were carried out only in animal models of ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). Aim of the study was to investigate changes of myocardial salvage in relation to different heart rates at hospital admission in timely reperfused patients with STEMI by using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). METHODS: One hundred-eighty-seven patients with STEMI successfully and timely treated with primary coronary angioplasty underwent CMR five days after hospital admission. According to the heart rate at presentation, patients were subcategorized into 5 quintiles: <55 bpm (group I, n = 44), 55-64 bpm (group II, n = 35), 65-74 bpm (group III, n = 35), 75-84 bpm (group IV, n = 37), ≥85 bpm (group V, n = 36). Area at risk, infarct size, microvascular obstruction (MVO) and myocardium salvaged index (MSI) were assessed by CMR using standard sequences. RESULTS: Lower heart rates at presentation were associated with a bigger amount of myocardial salvage after reperfusion. MSI progressively decreased as the heart rates increased (0.54 group I, 0.46 group II, 0.38 group III, 0.34 group IV, 0.32 group V, p<0.001). Stepwise multivariable analysis showed heart rate, peak troponin and the presence of MVO were independent predictor of myocardial salvage. No changes related to heart rate were observed in relation to area at risk and infarct size. CONCLUSIONS: High heart rates registered before performing coronary angioplasty in timely reperfused patients with STEMI are associated with a reduction in salvaged myocardium. In particular, salvaged myocardium significantly reduced when heart rate at presentation is ≥85 bpm

Dolphin Morbillivirus in Eurasian Otters, Italy

We report biomolecular evidence of dolphin morbillivirus in 4 wild Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) from southern Italy; 2 animals showed simultaneous immunohistochemical reactivity against morbilliviral antigen. These cases add further concern and support to the progressively expanding host range of dolphin morbillivirus in the western Mediterranean Sea

Interference of the Developing and Toxin Production of Clostridium botulinum by Lactobacillus paracasei subspecies paracasei

Infant botulism is an intestinal toxic-infection affecting infants younger than one year of age, and currently in some country is the most important form of human botulism by its frequency of occurrence. It is a rare neuroparalytic disease, but potentially fatal, especially if it is not early diagnosed and properly treated. It is caused by botulinum neurotoxins produced by species of Clostridium, principally C. botulinum. C. botulinum spores are widely distributed in nature, and its most common habitat and natural reservoir is the soil, the main source of contamination for the different forms of botulism. C. botulinum spores have been identified in some foods, such as honey, corn syrup, infant formula and in some medicinal plants. Considering the difficulty to prevent the swallowing of spores, is particularly relevant have adequate arrangements to interfere with colonization and/or toxin formation of C. botulinum in the intestine. Different probiotics have been demonstrated utility against several intestinal pathogens. So, we studied and demonstrated the interference of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei on the growth and toxin formation of one strain of C. botulinum type A. Therefore, administering probiotics to infants, perhaps from birth, would be effective in preventing or treating the disease.Fil: Fernandez, Rafael Alfredo. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentina;Fil: Carbone, María Laura.Fil: Sánchez, María Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. Laboratorio de Limnología; Argentina;Fil: Pareja, Virtudes.Fil: de Jong, Laura Irene Teresita.Fil: Bianco, Maria Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología

Positive Digital Communication Among Youth: The Development and Validation of the Digital Flourishing Scale for Adolescents

Research has extensively studied the negative effects of digital communication on adolescents’ well-being. However, positive digital experiences and behavior in adolescence are still poorly understood. The recently developed Digital Flourishing Scale addresses this gap and focuses on the positive perceptions of a user’s experiences and behaviors in digital communication among adults. In this paper, we developed an adolescent version of this scale. Study 1 demonstrated the internal consistency of the scale and the same factor structure for adolescence as for adulthood: connectedness, civil participation, positive social comparison, authentic self-presentation, and self-control. Study 2 confirmed the identified factor structure with a second sample of adolescents and established measurement invariance across genders. The construct validity of the scale was confirmed by investigating associations with related constructs, including the basic psychological needs from self-determination theory (competence, autonomy, and relatedness), secure attachment to a close friend, Internet aggression, social media-induced inspiration, authenticity of posted positive content, and social media self-control failure. The results indicated that not all adolescents flourish equally online. Differences occurred depending on the adolescents’ gender and socioeconomic status. The paper concludes that the newly developed scale is a valid and reliable measure for assessing adolescents’ perceptions of digital thriving and digital empowerment

Theoretical Compartment Modeling of DCE-MRI Data Based on the Transport across Physiological Barriers in the Brain

Neurological disorders represent major causes of lost years of healthy life and mortality worldwide. Development of their quantitative interdisciplinary in vivo evaluation is required. Compartment modeling (CM) of brain data acquired in vivo using magnetic resonance imaging techniques with clinically available contrast agents can be performed to quantitatively assess brain perfusion. Transport of 1H spins in water molecules across physiological compartmental brain barriers in three different pools was mathematically modeled and theoretically evaluated in this paper and the corresponding theoretical compartment modeling of dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) data was analyzed. The pools considered were blood, tissue, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The blood and CSF data were mathematically modeled assuming continuous flow of the 1H spins in these pools. Tissue data was modeled using three CMs. Results in this paper show that transport across physiological brain barriers such as the blood to brain barrier, the extracellular space to the intracellular space barrier, or the blood to CSF barrier can be evaluated quantitatively. Statistical evaluations of this quantitative information may be performed to assess tissue perfusion, barriers' integrity, and CSF flow in vivo in the normal or disease-affected brain or to assess response to therapy

Xirú: amigo-enemigo. Sobre la (im)posibilidadd de las fronteras

En este artículo nos detenemos en una obra del escritor paraguayo Damián Cabrera, Xirú (2012), que pone en discusión la (im)posibilidad de las fronteras políticas, culturales y lingüísticas en Paraguay. Ubicada en un lugar “fantasmal” cercano a la Triple Frontera paraguayo-argentina-brasileña, la obra puede concebirse como un rompecabezas-mosaico conformado por fragmentos en el cual toda categorización (en cuanto al género, la cultura o la lengua) resulta difuminada. Xirú despliega tres lenguas (guaraní, español y portugués), que se entremezclan entre sí en el habla de los diversos personajes, con distintos grados de fosilización de la mezcla (cfr. las variedades de “jopará” y “portuñol”).In this paper we analyze a book of the Paraguayan writer Damián Cabrera, Xirú (2012), which permits to discuss the possibility of determining any political, cultural or language border in Paraguay. Located in a “phantasmagoric” place near the Triple Frontera (Paraguayan-Argentinian-Brazilian), the book can be conceived as a puzzle-mosaic conformed by fragments in which every categorization (concerning the genre, the culture or the language) results diffuse. Xirú uses three languages (Guaraní, Spanish and Portuguese), that are mixed in the speech of the main characters, showing also different degrees of fossilization of the mixes (cf. the varieties of “jopará” and “portuñol”).Fil: Carbone, Rocco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento. Instituto del Desarrollo Humano; ArgentinaFil: Kornfeld, Laura Malena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento. Instituto del Desarrollo Humano; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Metastases risk in thin cutaneous melanoma: Prognostic value of clinical-pathologic characteristics and mutation profile

Background: A high percentage of patients with thin melanoma (TM), defined as lesions with Breslow thickness ≤1 mm, presents excellent long-term survival, however, some patients develop metastases. Existing prognostic factors cannot reliably differentiate TM patients at risk for metastases. Objective: We aimed at characterizing the clinical-pathologic and mutation profile of metastatic and not-metastatic TM in order to distinguish lesions at risk of metastases. Methods: Clinical-pathologic characteristics were recorded for the TM cases analyzed. We used a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) multi-gene panel to characterize TM for multiple somatic mutations. Results: A statistically significant association emerged between the presence of metastases and Breslow thickness ≥0.6 mm (p=0.003). None of TM with lymph-node involvement had Breslow thickness < 0.6 mm. Somatic mutations were identified in 19 of 21 TM analyzed (90.5%). No mutations were observed in two not-metastatic cases with the lowest Breslow thickness (≤0.4 mm), whereas mutations in more than one gene were detected in one metastatic case with the highest Breslow thickness (1.00 mm). Conclusion: Our study indicates Breslow thickness ≥0.6 mm as a valid prognostic factor to distinguish TM at risk for metastases