Sustainability Indicators and Guidelines for the Territorial Ordering of Mar del Plata Peri-urban

Las ciudades latinoamericanas están sujetas a procesos de crecimiento sin planificación que se traducen en conflictos sociales y territoriales, especialmente manifiestos en las áreas periurbanas. Este hecho se verifica en la ciudad de Mar del Plata, cuyo crecimiento “espontáneo" demanda estrategias para el ordenamiento territorial. En este marco, el presente trabajo propone: analizar los procesos de expansión, consolidación y densificación entre los noventa y la actualidad en cinco sectores que configuran el periurbano de Mar del Plata; definir indicadores que permitan interpretar dichos procesos en términos de sustentabilidad urbana; y aportar lineamientos para el ordenamiento territorial del periurbano. Para ello, se recurrió a informaciones y estudios antecedentes, trabajo de campo y se construyó una base georreferenciada. Los resultados obtenidos indican que la expansión urbana no fue acompañada por la consolidación y que la densificación en los últimos diez años se asocia fundamentalmente con el crecimiento de asentamientos de carácter precario. Los indicadores utilizados revelan que los procesos de crecimiento alejan al periurbano de las condiciones de sustentabilidad esperadas. En consecuencia, se formularon lineamientos para avanzar con propuestas de ordenamiento territorial que contemplen la heterogeneidad implícita en el periurbano, respondiendo a las demandas específicas de cada uno de los sectores.Latin-American cities are subject to unplanned growth processes that translate into social and territorial conflicts, and especially manifest themselves in peri-urban areas. This fact is verified in Mar del Plata city, whose “spontaneous" growth demands strategies for the territorial ordering. In this context, this paper aims to: analyze expansion, consolidation and densification processes between the 1990s and the present in five areas that form Mar del Plata peri- urban; define indicators that enable an interpretation of those processes in terms of urban sustainability; and provide guidelines for the territorial ordering of the peri-urban. To this aim, prior information and studies, as well as field work were resorted to and a geo- referenced database was created. The results obtained indicate that urban expansion was not accompanied by consolidations and that densification in the past ten years is associated mainly to the growth of precarious settlements. The indicators used reveal that growth processes separate the peri-urban from the sustainability conditions expected. In consequence, guidelines were formulated in order to progress with territorial ordering proposals that consider the implied heterogeneity in the peri-urban and thus meet the specific demands of each area.Fil: Zulaica, Laura . Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: Ferraro, Rosana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica

Railway freight transport and logistics: Methods for relief, algorithms for verification and proposals for the adjustment of tunnel inner surfaces

In Europe, the attention to efficiency and safety of international railway freight transport has grown in recent years and this has drawn attention to the importance of verifying the clearance between vehicle and lining, mostly when different and variable rolling stock types are expected. This work consists of defining an innovative methodology, with the objective of surveying the tunnel structures, verifying the clearance conditions, and designing a retrofitting work if necessary. The method provides for the use of laser scanner, thermocameras, and ground penetrating radar to survey the geometrical and structural conditions of the tunnel; an algorithm written by the authors permits to verify the clearances. Two different types of works are possible if the inner tunnel surfaces interfere with the profile of the rolling stock passing through: modification of the railroad track or modification of the tunnel intrados by mean milling of its lining. The presented case study demonstrates that the proposed methodology is useful for verifying compatibility between the design vehicle gauge and the existing tunnel intrados, and to investigate the chance to admit rolling stocks from different states. Consequently, the results give the railway management body a chance to perform appropriate measurements in those cases where the minimum clearance requirements are not achieved

Linhas para o ordenamento do periurbano da cidade de Mar del Plata (Argentina), a partir da definição de sistemas territoriais

El modelo tradicional de oposición campo-ciudad no alcanza para explicar los procesos que se dan en las áreas periurbanas caracterizadas por presentar alto dinamismo, gran complejidad y problemas socio-ambientales relevantes. Dichas áreas pueden estudiarse desde el enfoque teóricometodológico de los sistemas complejos. En este sentido, el concepto de territorio ofrece una perspectiva interesante para el estudio empírico del periurbano desde el abordaje de los sistemas complejos. El crecimiento de la ciudad de Mar del Plata (partido de General Pueyrredon, Argentina), se ha dado de manera desordenada originando un territorio periurbano fragmentado, en el que es posible identificar sectores con características diferenciales que pueden interpretarse como sistemas territoriales. En esta línea, el presente trabajo propone realizar un diagnóstico integrado del periurbano marplatense a partir de la definición de sistemas territoriales y generar lineamientos para su ordenamiento. Se identificaron dieciséis sistemas territoriales de los cuales cinco se clasificaron como de interés ecológico, cuatro de interés productivo y los siete restantes de interés urbano-turístico. Posteriormente, se establecieron ocho principales líneas de intervención tendientes al ordenamiento del periurbano. Se espera que los resultados obtenidos permitan generar estrategias para dar respuesta a los problemas periurbanos, considerando la heterogeneidad socio-ambiental implícita en los sistemas identificadosO tradicional modelo de oposição campo-cidade não basta para explicar os processos das áreas periurbanas caraterizadas por alto dinamismo, grande complexidade e problemas socioambientais relevantes. É possível estudar essas áreas a partir do enfoque teórico-metodológico dos sistemas complexos. Nesse sentido, o conceito de território oferece uma perspectiva interessante para o estudo empírico do periurbano desde a abordagem dos sistemas complexos. O crescimento da cidade de Mar del Plata (Partido de General Pueyrredon, Argentina) tem acontecido de forma desordenada, originando assim um território periurbano fragmentado, no qual são identificados setores com caraterísticas diferenciais que podem ser interpretados como sistemas territoriais. Nessa direção, nosso trabalho propõe realizar um diagnóstico integrado do periurbano de Mar del Plata a partir da definição de sistemas territoriais, e gerar, a sua vez, linhas para seu ordenamento. Foram identificados dezesseis sistemas territoriais; cinco deles classificados como de interesse ecológico, quatro de interesse produtivo e os outros sete de interesse urbano-turístico. Logo, foram estabelecidas oito linhas principais de intervenção que visam ao ordenamento do periurbano. Espera-se que os resultados obtidos permitam gerar estratégias para dar resposta aos problemas periurbanos, considerando a heterogeneidade socioambiental implícita nos sistemas identificadosFil: Zulaica, Maria Laura. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Instituto de Habitat y Medio Ambiente; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ferraro, Rosana Fatima. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Instituto de Habitat y Medio Ambiente; Argentin

El respeto al otro y el derecho a la educación

Este trabajo se enmarca dentro de una capacitación pensada para el Instituto de Formación docente de San Luis titulado “El otro en la enseñanza" (Resolución ME SL Nº 146 SPES 2016). El mismo tiene como objetivo desnaturalizar ciertas prácticas docentes que todavía reproducen modelos de enseñanza asentados en el normalismo y se transforman, de ese modo, en una más de las variables de inclusión excluyente planteada por Pablo Gentili (2011). A través del análisis de discursos narrativos y sociales se pretende increpar el habitus de los educadores (Bourdieu, 1999) con el fin de poner en cuestión prácticas pedagógicas “bancarias" y debatir un nuevo sujeto educativo, rescatando “la dialógica…un quehacer problematizante de los hombres – mundo o de los hombres en sus relaciones con el mundo y con los hombres", en este proceso de humanización que intenta poner en escena “la dualidad que se instala en la interioridad" de todo educador (Freire, 1970). Retomando los postulados de Gentili, se espera reconstruir la relación pedagógica desde el derecho a la educación, entendiendo al conocimiento como el elemento central de acceso a determinados espacios de la sociedad, así como un bien público. Además, se intenta reinscribir la escuela como ámbito público y escenario democrático “poniendo en la mesa" la diversidad social, ideológica, religiosa, entre otras. La mirada “manchada" (Skliar, 2009) sobre el otro inscribe a ese sujeto determinados usos del derecho a la educación que acaban reproduciendo las desigualdades sociales, excluyéndolo incluso de sus derechos ciudadanos.Fil: César, Ana Laura . Universidad Nacional de San Luis.Fil: Ferraro, Paula Daniela . Universidad Nacional de San Luis

Contributions to the Calculation of the Carbon Footprint in the Great Urban Settlements in Argentina

El cambio climático y su efecto más inmediato, el calentamiento global, plantean desafíos para la gestión ambiental de las ciudades. Uno de ellos es estimar su huella de carbono con la finalidad de morigerar los potenciales impactos. El presente trabajo propone calcular las emisiones de CO2 producidas por las actividades antrópicas de los 15 asentamientos urbanos de Argentina de más de 300.000 habitantes. Para ello se analizaron por localidad los consumos de energía eléctrica y se calcularon las emisiones de CO2 por sector de demanda eléctrica. Los resultados muestran que Argentina, en general, y los grandes asentamientos, en particular, tienen una baja contribución de emisiones de CO2, que se asocian en orden decreciente con la actividad industrial, residencial y comercial.Climate change and its most immediate effect, global warming, pose challenges for urban environmental management, such as the calculation of the carbon footprint in order to moderate potential impacts. The objective of this project was to calculate CO2 emissions produced by anthropic activities in 15 urban settlements with over 300,000 inhabitants in Argentina. For this purpose, electricity consumption was analyzed in each city and CO2 emissions were calculated by area according to the demand for electricity. The results reveal that Argentina, in general, and the great urban settlements, in particular, have low CO2 emissions associated, in decreasing order, with industrial, residential, and commercial activities.A mudança climática e seu efeito mais imediato, o aquecimento global, apresentam desafios para a gestão ambiental das cidades. Um deles é estimar sua pegada de carbono com a finalidade de diminuir os potencias impactos. O presente trabalho propõe calcular as emissões de CO2 produzidas pelas atividades humanas dos 15 assentamentos urbanos da Argentina de mais de 300.000 habitantes. Para isso analisaram-se por localidade os consumos de energia elétrica e calcularam-se as emissões de CO2 por setor de demanda elétrica. Os resultados mostram que a Argentina, em geral, e os grandes assentamentos, em particular, têm uma baixa contribuição de emissões de CO2, que se associam em ordem decrescente com atividade industrial, residencial e comercial.Fil: Ferraro, Rosana Fatima. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gareis, María Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Zulaica, Maria Laura. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Stellar photometry with Multi Conjugate Adaptive Optics

We overview the current status of photometric analyses of images collected with Multi Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) at 8-10m class telescopes that operated, or are operating, on sky. Particular attention will be payed to resolved stellar population studies. Stars in crowded stellar systems, such as globular clusters or in nearby galaxies, are ideal test particles to test AO performance. We will focus the discussion on photometric precision and accuracy reached nowadays. We briefly describe our project on stellar photometry and astrometry of Galactic globular clusters using images taken with GeMS at the Gemini South telescope. We also present the photometry performed with DAOPHOT suite of programs into the crowded regions of these globulars reaching very faint limiting magnitudes Ks ~21.5 mag on moderately large fields of view (~1.5 arcmin squared). We highlight the need for new algorithms to improve the modeling of the complex variation of the Point Spread Function across the field of view. Finally, we outline the role that large samples of stellar standards plays in providing a detailed description of the MCAO performance and in precise and accurate colour{magnitude diagrams.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures, SPIE 201

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Burnout Prevalence and Profile in the Sicilian Population of Ambulance Driver-Rescuers

Introduction: Burnout is present at a high rate in emergency medicine. The ambulance driver-rescuers, who furnish first aid to the victims, are the non-medical part of the Italian 118-service staff. There is a lack of research on burnout risk in Italian Emergency Medical Services and, particularly, for this category of workers. The two Italian studies, including a little group of ambulance driver-rescuers, reported inconsistent findings. Hypothesis: This survey investigated for the first time the prevalence and exact profile of burnout in a large sample of Italian driver-rescuers. As a secondary aim, the study described how the items of the Italian version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) cluster in components in this sample. Methods: This cross-sectional census survey was conducted from June 2015 through May 2016 and involved all the driver-rescuers operating in Sicily, the biggest and most southern region of Italy. The subjects received a classification according to different profiles of burnout by using the Italian version of the MBI-HSS (burnout, engagement, disengagement, over-extension, and work-inefficacy). In order to explore the existence of independent factors, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted on the survey to obtain eigenvalues >one for each component in the data. Results: The final sample comprised 2,361 responders (96.6% of the initial sample). Of them, 29.8% were in burnout (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.8% to 31.8%) and 1.7% presented a severe form (95% CI, 1.1% to 2.3%); 30.0% were engaged in their work (95% CI, 21.0% to 34.8%), 24.7% of responders were disengaged (95% CI, 22.9% to 26.5%), 1.2% presented an over-extension profile (95% CI, 0.8% to 1.7%), and 12.6% felt work-inefficacy (95% CI, 11.3% to 14.1%). The factors loaded into a five-factor solution at PCA, explaining 48.1% of the variance and partially replicating the three-factor structure. The Emotional Exhaustion (EE) component was confirmed. New dimensions from Personal Accomplishment (PA) and Depersonalization (DP) sub-scales described empathy and disengagement with patients, respectively, and were responsible for the increased risk of burnout. Conclusions: These results endorse the importance of screening and psychological interventions for this population of emergency workers, where burnout could manifest itself more insidiously. It is also possible to speculate that sub-optimal empathy skills could be related to the disengagement and work-inefficacy feelings registered

The role of metabolic remodeling in macrophage polarization and its effect on skeletal muscle regeneration

Macrophages are crucial for tissue homeostasis. Based on their activation, they might display classical/M1 or alternative/M2 phenotypes. M1 macrophages produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO). M2 macrophages upregulate arginase-1 and reduce NO and ROS levels; they also release anti-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and polyamines, thus promoting angiogenesis and tissue healing. Moreover, M1 and M2 display key metabolic differences; M1 polarization is characterized by an enhancement in glycolysis and in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) along with a decreased oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos), whereas M2 are characterized by an efficient OxPhos and reduced PPP. Recent Advances: The glutamine-related metabolism has been discovered as crucial for M2 polarization. Vice versa, flux discontinuities in the Krebs cycle are considered additional M1 features; they lead to increased levels of immunoresponsive gene 1 and itaconic acid, to isocitrate dehydrogenase 1-downregulation and to succinate, citrate, and isocitrate over-expression

CXCL12 prolongs naive CD4 + T lymphocytes survival via activation of PKA, CREB and Bcl2 and BclXl up-regulation

Naive T lymphocytes recirculate through the body, traveling from secondary lymphoid organs through tissues and via lymphatic vessels and peripheral blood into other secondary lymphoid organs and into the bone marrow. In these tissues, lymphocytes are exposed to the chemokine CXCL12 which is abundantly produced in bone marrow and in lymph nodes by stromal cells. CXCL12 is known to drive lymphocytes chemotaxis and, in cells types such as stem cells, an antiapopototic effect has been described. Methods Here we analyzed the effect of CXCL12 exposure on naïve CD4 + T lymphocytes purified from peripheral blood by immunomagnetic negative isolation and cultured in a nutrient poor medium. We also studied, mainly by western blot analysis, the signaling pathways involved in CXCL12 action on naïve CD4 + T lymphocytes. Results We found that CXCL12-exposed cells survived longer than untreated ones and this prolonged lifespan was specific for resting naïve lymphocytes, while in vitro activated lymphoblasts died rapidly despite CXCL12 treatment. We demonstrated that the increased percentage of living cells observed upon CXCL12 administration was not due to induction of proliferation but to a prosurvival effect of this chemokine. Moreover, our data suggest that this prosurvival effect on naïve CD4 + T lymphocytes might likely be mediated by PKA-dependent CREB activation and consequent increased expression of the antiapoptotic factors Bcl2 and BclXl. Conclusions This newly reported activity of CXCL12 might contribute to the maintenance of the naïve T lymphocytes pool in vivo, which is needed to ensure a proper immune response to new antigens