Arhythmorhynchus comptus (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae) from shorebirds in Patagonia, Argentina, with some comments on a species of profilicollis

Adult and immature Arhythmorhynchus comptus (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae) were found parasitizing the Baird’s Sandpiper, Calidris bairdii, and the White-rumped Sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (Aves: Scolopacidae), from several locations in Patagonia, Argentina. This is the first record of A. comptus in the southern part of South America and from C. fuscicollis and C. bairdii, expanding both its geographical and host distribution. Additionally, immature specimens belonging to the genus Profilicollis were found in both bird species.Fil: Capasso, Sofía Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, Julia Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentin

Impacts of Trade Liberalization on Poverty and Inequality in Argentina

Using the most recent estimates of agricultural price distortions, this chapter studies the economic, poverty, and income inequality impacts of both global and domestic trade reform in Argentina, with a special focus on export taxes. Argentina offers an interesting case study as the only large agricultural exporter that has, at many points in its history, applied export taxes to several of its agricultural products. The chapter combines results from a global economy-wide model (World Bank’s Linkage model), a national CGE model, and microsimulations. The results suggest that liberalization of world trade (including subsidies and import taxes, but not export taxes), both for agricultural and non-agricultural goods, reduces poverty and inequality in Argentina. However, if only agricultural goods are included, indicators for poverty and inequality do not improve and even deteriorate somewhat. This is particularly the case if export taxes are eliminated. The chapter discusses the possible reasons for those results, offers some caveats, and suggests some lines for further research.Distorted incentives, agricultural and trade policy reforms, national agricultural development, Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, F13, F14, Q17, Q18,

Aid, service delivery, and the millennium development goals in an economy-wide framework

In many developing countries, achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 will require significant increases in expenditures on social services and in foreign assistance. It will also require careful planning of the sector allocation and sequencing of public spending. Especially for low-income countries, the challenges of the MDGs cannot be well understood unless sector issues are seen in the context of constraints at the macro level and in labor markets. To help countries analyze policies aimed at making progress toward the goals, the World Bank has developed a new tool, the Maquette for MDG Simulations (MAMS). Its originality is to fully integrate government services and their impact on the economy within an otherwise standard economy-wide dynamic framework. In comparison with existing approaches, MAMS offers three main advantages. First, the representation of the production of government services - such as health or education - takes into account demandas well as supply factors and the efficiency of these services. It also allows for interactions across the goals, and between the goals and economic growth. Second, it shows how scaling up these services has economy-wide impacts that may change resource allocation in the non-government sector and relative prices, including the unit cost of government services. Third, it shows the tradeoffs across time, including the relative costs and benefits, of front-loading expenditures versus back-loading. The present paper describes the basic features of MAMS and provides an illustration of its applicability for Ethiopia.Economic Theory&Research,,Population Policies,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Banks&Banking Reform

Synoptic-scale variability and its relationship with total ozone and Antarctic vortex displacements

The main synoptic-scale circulation anomaly pattern over extratropical South America during the austral spring (September-November) is identified by means of rotated extended empirical orthogonal function techniques, applied to the meridional wind perturbation time series at 300 hPa. The dataset is based on 15 spring seasons (1979-93) of meteorological data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction-Department of Energy Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project version-2 daily averaged reanalyses, given in 17 vertical levels from 1000 to 10 hPa. The total-ozone daily measurements for the same period are from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer instrument (version 7). The principal synoptic-scale anomaly pattern is associated with an anticyclone-cyclone pair evolving eastward along subpolar latitudes (and hence it is termed the subpolar mode), with a typical length scale of 5000 km and a phase velocity of 8 m s-1. The subpolar-mode waves, which display the main characteristics of midlatitude baroclinic waves, typically maximize near or above the tropopause and propagate upward into the lower stratosphere, showing large amplitudes even at 50 hPa and above. Subpolar-mode-related circulation anomalies are found to be responsible for large total-ozone daily fluctuations near southern South America and nearby regions. In the positive phase of the subpolar mode, total-ozone fluctuations, which are negative, adopt a sigmoid structure, with a zonal scale as large as the anticyclone-cyclone pair. Moreover, it is herein shown that the associated anticyclone produces a local ozone-column decrease to the north and east of its center, due to adiabatic uplift of air parcels in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. At the same time, the downstream cyclonic disturbance is responsible for large negative total-ozone anomalies to the west and south of its center. As the cyclone develops in the lower stratosphere, it promotes the northward incursion of the Antarctic vortex up to about 55°S, along with air masses of highly depleted ozone levels.Fil: Vigliarolo, Paula Karina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Vera, Carolina Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmósfera; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, Susana Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentin

Costume Design for Rent

The following thesis documents the costume design process and execution for the production of Rent by Jonathan Larson. Supporting documents included are research, renderings, fabric samples, fitting photographs, and production photos. The Production presented in this paper was produced October 21,2011 at the University of Maryland in the Ina and Jack Kay Theater a six hundred and fifty seat proscenium theatre. Alan Mingo Jr. directed the production, the set was designed by Douglas Clarke, the lighting was designed by Andrew Dorman, the projection design was designed by Jedediah Roe, and the sound was designed by Neil McFadden

Development of innovative materials used in electrochemical devices for the renewable production of hydrogen and electricity

One of the most important challenges for our society is providing powerful devices for renewable energy production. Many technologies based on renewable energy sources have been developed, which represent a clean energy sources that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies. Nowadays, many researches focus their attention on the development of renewable energy from solar, water, organic matter and biomass, which represent abundant and renewable energy sources. This research is mainly focused on the development of promising electrode materials and their potential application on emerging technologies such as artificial photosynthesis and microbial fuel cell (MFC). According to desired proprieties of functional materials, this research was focused on two main materials: (1) TiO2 for the development of electrodes for the water splitting reaction due to its demonstrated application potential as photocatalyst material and (2) carbon-based materials for the development of electrodes for MFC. In the first part of the investigation, different TiO2 nanostructures have been studied including: synthesis, characterization and test of TiO2-based materials with the aim of improving the limiting factors of the photocatalytic reaction: charge recombination and separation/migration processes. The photo-catalytic properties of different TiO2 nanostructures were evaluated including: TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) film, TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) and ZnO@TiO2 core-shell structures. Photo-electrochemical activity measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis showed an improvement in charge collection efficiency of 1D-nanostructures, related to a more efficient electron transport in the materials. The efficient application of both the TiO2 NTs and the ZnO@TiO2 core-shell photoanodes opens important perspectives, not only in the water splitting application field, but also for other photo-catalytic applications (e.g. photovoltaic cells, degradation of organic substances), due to their chemical stability, easiness of preparation and improved transport properties. Additionally, in order to improve the photo-catalytic activity of TiO2 NPs, PANI/TiO2 composite film was synthesized. PANI/TiO2 composite film was successfully applied as anode material for the PEC water splitting reaction showing a significant increase in the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 NPs composite film essentially attributed to the efficient separation of the generated electron and hole pairs. To date, no cost-effective materials system satisfies all of the technical requirements for practical hydrogen production under zero-bias conditions. For this propose, to promote the sustainability of the process, the bias require to conduct PEC water splitting reaction could be powered by MFC systems in which many efforts have been done to improve power and electricity generation as is explained below. In this work, different strategies were also applied in order to improve the performance of anode materials for MFCs. The investigation of commercial carbon-based materials demonstrated that these materials, normally used for other ends are suitable electrodes for MFC and their use could reduce MFC costs and improve the energy sustainability of the process. In addition, to enhance power generation in MFC by using low-cost and commercial carbon-based materials, nitric acid activation (C-HNO3) and PANI deposition (C-PANI) were performed on commercial carbon felt (C-FELT) in order to increase the performance of MFC. Electrochemical determinations performed in batch-mode MFC reveled a strong reduction of the activation losses contribution and an important decrease of the internal resistance of the cell using C-HNO3 and C-PANI of about 2.3 and 4.4 times, respectively, with respect to C-FELT. Additionally, with the aim of solvent different MFC operational problems such as: biofouling, low surface area and large-scale MFC, an innovative three-dimensional material effectively developed and used as anode electrode. The conductive carbon-coated Berl saddles (C-SADDLES) were successfully used as anode electrode in batch-mode MFC. Electrochemical results suggested that C-SADDLES offer a low-cost solution to satisfy either electrical or bioreactor requirements, increasing the reliability of the MFC processes, and seems to be a valid candidate for scaled-up systems and for continuous mode application of MFC technology. In addition, the electrochemical performance and continuous energy production of the most promising materials obtained during this work were evaluated under continuous operation MFC in a long-term evaluation test. Remarkable results were obtained for continuous MFCs systems operated with three different anode materials: C-FELT, C-PANI and C-SADDLES. From polarization curves, the maximum power generation was obtained using C-SADDLES (102 mW•m-2) with respect to C-FELT (93 mW•m-2) and C-PANI (65 mW•m-2) after three months of operation. The highest amount of electrical energy was produced by C-PANI (1803 J) with respect to C-FELT (1664 J) and C-SADDLES (1674 J). However, it is worth to note that PANI activity was reduced during time by the operating conditions inside the anode chamber. In order to demonstrate the wide application potential MFC, this work reports on merging heterogeneous contributions and combining the advantages from three separate fields in a system which enables the ultra-low-power monitoring of a microbial fuel cell voltage status and enables pressure monitoring features of the internal conditions of a cell. The solution is conceived to provide an efficient energy source, harvesting wastewater, integrating energy management and health monitoring capabilities to sensor nodes which are not connected to the energy grid. Finally, this work presented a general concept of the integration of both devices into a hybrid device by interfacing PEC and MFC devices (denoted as PEC-MFC), which is proposed to generate electricity and hydrogen using as external bias the potential produce by microbial fuel cel

Spiroxys contortus (Rudolphi, 1819) and Hedruris orestiae (Moniez, 1889) in Argentine turtles

Knowledge of parasites in turtles is scarce,particularly with regard to freshwater turtles of SouthAmerica. Here, we describe the association of Spiroxyscontortus (Rudolphi, 1819) in Phrynops hilarii (Duméril& Bibron, 1835) and S. contortus and Hedruris orestiae(Moniez, 1889) in Hydromedusa tectifera (Cope, 1870).The presence of S. contortus in P. hilarii represents anew host record and also the southernmost geographicrecord for this species. More interestingly, the presenceof H. orestiae in H. tectifera represents the first record ofthis helminth species from a reptilian host.Fil: Palumbo, Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - la Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitologicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Cs.naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitologicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Capasso, Sofía Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - la Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitologicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Cs.naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitologicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Cassano, María Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Alcalde, Leandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, Julia Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - la Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitologicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Cs.naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitologicos y de Vectores; Argentin

Migration, transnationalism, illness and healing: toward the consolidation of the self among the Congolese diaspora in Boston and Lynn, MA

This thesis explores the perceptions of illness and healing among the Congolese diaspora in Boston and Lynn, MA, and within the contexts of migration and transnationalism. With this thesis, I argue that the Congolese who participated in this study perceive illness as social suffering, and healing as the consolidation of the self. Participants express their perceptions of illness and healing according to their identities, or the orientations of the self. Perceptions of illness were expressed as illness narratives framed under the theories of structural violence, and from the perspectives of the Congolese as displaced and migrant people. Congolese extend their perceptions of illness also to other non-Congolese communities they have come to belong to through transnational and global social formations. Congolese demonstrate that healing means the consolidation of their self, or identities, as Catholic Congolese in diaspora, advocates for refugees, African-Americans, Blacks, and “the Priest” in Lynn. Congolese emphasize that building and maintaining their newly acquired identities form part of their strategies to establish themselves in the USA, and bring healing to themselves and others. This exploration is limited, and thus, further research is recommended on: 1) other Congolese community groups; 2) the local and global Congolese diasporic activism for conflict resolution directed to the DRC; 3) practical proposals for collaborative research in order to resolve the socio-cultural and economic barriers that Congolese have in clinical settings

Rusty microglia: trainers of innate immunity in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, is marked by progressive cognitive and functional impairment believed to reflect synaptic and neuronal loss. Recent preclinical data suggests that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglia may contribute to the elimination of viable neurons and synapses by promoting a neurotoxic astrocytic phenotype, defined as A1. The innate immune cells, including microglia and astrocytes, can either facilitate or inhibit neuroinflammation in response to peripherally applied inflammatory stimuli, such as LPS. Depending on previous antigen encounters, these cells can assume activated (trained) or silenced (tolerized) phenotypes, augmenting or lowering inflammation. Iron, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and LPS, the cell wall component of gram-negative bacteria, are microglial activators, but only the latter can trigger immune tolerization. In Alzheimer's disease, tolerization may be impaired as elevated LPS levels, reported in this condition, fail to lower neuroinflammation. Iron is closely linked to immunity as it plays a key role in immune cells proliferation and maturation, but it is also indispensable to pathogens andmalignancies which compete for its capture. Danger signals, including LPS, induce intracellular iron sequestration in innate immune cells to withhold it from pathogens. However, excess cytosolic iron increases the risk of inflammasomes' activation, microglial training and neuroinflammation. Moreover, it was suggested that free iron can awaken the dormant central nervous system (CNS) LPS-shedding microbes, engendering prolonged neuroinflammation that may override immune tolerization, triggering autoimmunity. In this review, we focus on iron-related innate immune pathology in Alzheimer's disease and discuss potential immunotherapeutic agents for microglial de-escalation along with possible delivery vehicles for these compounds

Treading Water: Faculty of Color Teaching Multicultural Classes during the Pandemic

There has never been a time like this in recent history. In the last year, educators have been building new paradigms as they teach. In this article, we inquire into our experiences teaching race at a PWI during the historic times of protests against the killings of Black men and women at the hands of the police and others, COVID-19, an election year, natural disasters, and changes in the Supreme Court. This article will reflect on the strategies and pedagogies used to support Faculty of Color teaching multicultural education/diversity classes at PWIs, and how the authors handled cultural taxation caused by the racial incidents that occurred during the pandemics of COVID-19 and anti-Black racism. The authors use duoethnography, a collaborative and reflective research methodology that engages both researchers in a multi-dialogical process to better understand the phenomenon under investigation. This article focuses our reflections on the following questions: How do we create supportive virtual and hybrid classrooms in diversity education classes at a PWI that do not re(center) Whiteness? How does one handle racialized experiences and not be overwhelmed by racial battle fatigue