Interannual and long-term precipitation variability along the subtropical mountains and adjacent Chaco (22–29° S) in Argentina

Recent studies documenting climate variability in South America have provided valuable information for understanding current and past dynamics of the climate system. Long meteorological records represent an essential tool to properly characterize climate fluctuations from decadal to multi-decadal scales. Unfortunately, the scarcity of continuous and homogeneous instrumental records is a major constraint to determine long-term variations in South America. Our knowledge of the forcings modulating the hydrological variability in mountains is still limited, despite their importance as freshwater sources for people living in the adjacent piedmonts and lowlands. The objective of this work is to determine the spatial–temporal variability of precipitation in the humid subtropical Andes and the Chaco region in North Western Argentina (NWA). Thirty-four rainfall records covering the common period 1934–1990, partially updated to 2016, were used to extend and identify the dominant patterns of seasonal to annual hydroclimatic variability based on principal components analysis. Intensity and frequency of droughts and pluvials (95th percentiles, respectively) were determined for the dominant patterns of variability. Our results show a positive trend in precipitation since 1970s in all temporal patterns and sub-regions. In addition, precipitation variability (both positive and negative extremes) increases during these last decades. Correlation analysis with sea-surface temperatures and wind anomalies during summer, reveal Amazon moisture sources and large-scale oceanic controls on NWA precipitation. The extended precipitation series shows that the frequency of pluvials has increased since the 1970s interrupted by few extreme droughts. This record can be considered representative of precipitation variations across NWA, including different environments in the Chaco, sub-Andes, and Puna.Fil: Ferrero, Maria Eugenia. 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: Villalba, Ricardo. 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; Argentin

Dis-putas : Discursos, normativas y resistencias. Experiencia en AMMAR Córdoba

Esta tesina intenta dar cuenta de reflexiones y aprendizajes de todo un año de trabajo de las estudiantes de practicas de intervención del 5 año de la carrera de Trabajo Social con AMMAR Córdoba. Desarrolla una aproximación teórica a los debates en torno a las sexualidades las discusiones en torno al género, el papel de los movimientos feministas en instalar la cuestión de las mujeres en el espacio público y las disputas en torno a su regulación del trabajo sexual. Describiendo, además, los actuales debates que atraviesan la realidad del trabajo sexual y las diferentes perspectivas en pugna. Se recupera la historia de organización y lucha del colectivo de mujeres trabajadoras sexuales nucleadas en AMMAR Córdoba, desde una mirada de la participación y empoderamiento ciudadano desarrollamos las particularidades de este colectivo y los desafíos a los que se enfrenta

Plastic adjustments in xylem vessel traits to drought events in three Cedrela species from Peruvian Tropical Andean forests

Cedrela species occur within the Tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) and rainforest in North America (Mexico), Central and South America. We assessed the hypothesis that functional xylem hydraulic architecture might be influenced by specific climatic variations. We investigated the effect of climate on tree-ring width and vessel traits (diameter, vessel density, vulnerability index and hydraulic diameter) of three relict-endemic and threatened Cedrela species (Cedrela fissilis, C. nebulosa and C. angustifolia) inhabiting Peruvian Tropical Andean cloud forests. All Cedrela species showed a significant reduction in radial growth and adjusted vessel trait linked with temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration. Ring-width and vessel traits showed adaptation within Cedrela species, crucial to understanding a rough indication of the plant’s ability to withstand drought-induced embolism or cavitation. Our results provide evidence for hydraulic mechanisms that determine specific wood anatomical functionality to climatic variation and drought responses. Therefore, changing the frequency or intensity of future drought events might exceed the adaptive limits of TMCF tree species, resulting in a substantial reduction of hydraulic functionality in Peruvian Cedrela species.Fil: Rodríguez Ramírez, Ernesto C.. Universidad Continental; PerúFil: Ferrero, Maria Eugenia. 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: Acevedo-Vega, Ingrith. Universidad Continental; PerúFil: Crispin DelaCruz, Doris B.. Universidad Continental; Perú. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Ticse Otarola, Ginette Vilma Alicia. Universidad Continental; Perú. Asociación ANDINUS; PerúFil: Requena Rojas, Edilson Jimmy. Universidad Continental; Per

Remnant cholesterol levels are associated with severity and death in COVID-19 patients

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients with severe complications present comorbidities like cardiovascular-disease, hypertension and type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM), sharing metabolic alterations like insulin resistance (IR) and dyslipidemia. Our objective was to evaluate the association among different components of the lipid-lipoprotein profile, such as remnant lipoprotein (RLP)-cholesterol, in patients with COVID-19, and to analyze their associations with the severity of the disease and death. We studied 193 patients (68 (29–96) years; 49.7% male) hospitalized for COVID-19 and 200 controls (46 (18–79) years; 52.5% male). Lipoprotein profile, glucose and procalcitonin were assessed. Patients presented higher glucose, TG, TG/HDL-cholesterol and RLP-cholesterol levels, but lower total, LDL, HDL and no-HDL-cholesterol levels (p < 0.001). When a binary logistic regression was performed, age, non-HDL-cholesterol, and RLP-cholesterol were associated with death (p = 0.005). As the COVID-19 condition worsened, according to procalcitonin tertiles, a decrease in all the cholesterol fractions (p < 0.03) was observed with no differences in TG, while levels of RLP-cholesterol and TG/HDL-cholesterol increased (p < 0.001). Lower levels of all the cholesterol fractions were related with the presence and severity of COVID-19, except for RLP-cholesterol levels and TG/HDL-cholesterol index. These alterations indicate a lipid metabolic disorder, characteristic of IR states in COVID-19 patients. RLP-cholesterol levels predicted severity and death in these patients.Fil: Fabre, Bibiana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez Machulsky, Nahuel Hernan. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Olano, Carolina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Jacobsen, Darío. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Maria Eugenia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Perazzi, Beatriz Elizabeth. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Zago, Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Zopatti, Damián. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Ferrero, Andrés. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Schreier, Laura Ester. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Berg, Gabriela Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; Argentin

Blood neutrophils from children with COVID-19 exhibit both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers

Background: Perhaps reflecting that children with COVID-19 rarely exhibit severe respiratory symptoms and often remain asymptomatic, little attention has been paid to explore the immune response in pediatric COVID-19. Here, we analyzed the phenotype and function of circulating neutrophils from children with COVID-19. Methods: An observational study including 182 children with COVID-19, 21 children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), and 40 healthy children was performed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Neutrophil phenotype was analyzed by flow cytometry in blood samples. Cytokine production, plasma levels of IgG antibodies directed to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and citrullinated histone H3 were measured by ELISA. Cell-free DNA was quantified by fluorometry. Findings: Compared with healthy controls, neutrophils from children with COVID-19 showed a lower expression of CD11b, CD66b, and L-selectin but a higher expression of the activation markers HLA-DR, CD64 and PECAM-1 and the inhibitory receptors LAIR-1 and PD-L1. No differences in the production of cytokines and NETs were observed. Interestingly, the expression of CD64 in neutrophils and the serum concentration of IgG antibodies directed to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 distinguished asymptomatic from mild and moderate COVID-19. Interpretation: Acute lung injury is a prominent feature of severe COVID-19 in adults. A low expression of adhesion molecules together with a high expression of inhibitory receptors in neutrophils from children with COVID-19 might prevent tissue infiltration by neutrophils preserving lung function.Fil: Seery, Vanesa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Raiden, Silvina Claudia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Algieri, Silvia C.. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Grisolía, Nicolás A.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Filippo, Daniela. Hospital Municipal Diego Thompson; ArgentinaFil: De Carli, Norberto. Clinica del Niño de Quilmes; ArgentinaFil: Di Lalla, Sandra. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Cairoli, Héctor. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Chiolo, María J.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Meregalli, Claudia N.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Gimenez, Lorena I.. Hospital Municipal Diego Thompson; ArgentinaFil: Gregorio, Gabriela. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Sarli, Mariam. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Alcalde, Ana L.. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Davenport, Carolina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Bruera, María J.. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Simaz, Nancy. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Pérez, Mariela F.. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Nivela, Valeria. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Bayle, Carola. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas.; ArgentinaFil: Tuccillo, Patricia. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Hospital Naval Buenos Aires Cirujano Mayor Dr. Pedro Mallo; ArgentinaFil: Agosta, María T.. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Hospital Naval Buenos Aires Cirujano Mayor Dr. Pedro Mallo; ArgentinaFil: Pérez, Hernán. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Hospital Naval Buenos Aires Cirujano Mayor Dr. Pedro Mallo; ArgentinaFil: Villa Nova, Susana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Suárez, Patricia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Takata, Eugenia M.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: García, Mariela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Lattner, Jorge. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Rolón, María J.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Coll, Patricia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Juan A. Fernández"; ArgentinaFil: Sananez, Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Holgado, María Pía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Ferrero, Fernando. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); ArgentinaFil: Geffner, Jorge Raúl. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Arruvito, Maria Lourdes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; Argentin

Efficacy of a new technique - INtubate-RECruit-SURfactant-Extubate - "IN-REC-SUR-E" - in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Although beneficial in clinical practice, the INtubate-SURfactant-Extubate (IN-SUR-E) method is not successful in all preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome, with a reported failure rate ranging from 19 to 69&nbsp;%. One of the possible mechanisms responsible for the unsuccessful IN-SUR-E method, requiring subsequent re-intubation and mechanical ventilation, is the inability of the preterm lung to achieve and maintain an "optimal" functional residual capacity. The importance of lung recruitment before surfactant administration has been demonstrated in animal studies showing that recruitment leads to a more homogeneous surfactant distribution within the lungs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the application of a recruitment maneuver using the high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) modality just before the surfactant administration followed by rapid extubation (INtubate-RECruit-SURfactant-Extubate: IN-REC-SUR-E) with IN-SUR-E alone in spontaneously breathing preterm infants requiring nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) as initial respiratory support and reaching pre-defined CPAP failure criteria. Methods/design: In this study, 206 spontaneously breathing infants born at 24+0-27+6 weeks' gestation and failing nCPAP during the first 24&nbsp;h of life, will be randomized to receive an HFOV recruitment maneuver (IN-REC-SUR-E) or no recruitment maneuver (IN-SUR-E) just prior to surfactant administration followed by prompt extubation. The primary outcome is the need for mechanical ventilation within the first 3&nbsp;days of life. Infants in both groups will be considered to have reached the primary outcome when they are not extubated within 30&nbsp;min after surfactant administration or when they meet the nCPAP failure criteria after extubation. Discussion: From all available data no definitive evidence exists about a positive effect of recruitment before surfactant instillation, but a rationale exists for testing the following hypothesis: a lung recruitment maneuver performed with a step-by-step Continuous Distending Pressure increase during High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (and not with a sustained inflation) could have a positive effects in terms of improved surfactant distribution and consequent its major efficacy in preterm newborns with respiratory distress syndrome. This represents our challenge. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02482766. Registered on 1 June 2015

Bcr/Abl Interferes with the Fanconi Anemia/BRCA Pathway: Implications in the Chromosomal Instability of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant clonal disorder of the hematopoietic system caused by the expression of the BCR/ABL fusion oncogene. Although it is well known that CML cells are genetically unstable, the mechanisms accounting for this genomic instability are still poorly understood. Because the Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway is believed to control several mechanisms of DNA repair, we investigated whether this pathway was disrupted in CML cells. Our data show that CML cells have a defective capacity to generate FANCD2 nuclear foci, either in dividing cells or after DNA damage. Similarly, human cord blood CD34+ cells transduced with BCR/ABL retroviral vectors showed impaired FANCD2 foci formation, whereas FANCD2 monoubiquitination in these cells was unaffected. Soon after the transduction of CD34+ cells with BCR/ABL retroviral vectors a high proportion of cells with supernumerary centrosomes was observed. Similarly, BCR/ABL induced a high proportion of chromosomal abnormalities, while mediated a cell survival advantage after exposure to DNA cross-linking agents. Significantly, both the impaired formation of FANCD2 nuclear foci, and also the predisposition of BCR/ABL cells to develop centrosomal and chromosomal aberrations were reverted by the ectopic expression of BRCA1. Taken together, our data show for the first time a disruption of the FA/BRCA pathway in BCR/ABL cells, suggesting that this defective pathway should play an important role in the genomic instability of CML by the co-occurrence of centrosomal amplification and DNA repair deficiencies

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Preliminary characterization of microbial communities in High Altitude Wetland of Northwestern Argentina by determining terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms

Laguna de Pozuelos is an extensive wetland in Morthwestern Argentina at 3,600 m above sea level in the Argentinean Andes. The principal lake, placed in the central depression of endorheic basin, is rich in minerals like Cu, As, Fe, etc. It collects water from underground courses and from two main tributaries, namely Santa Catalina River to the north and Cincel River to the south. Following the dry and rainy seasons, the surface of the lake is subject to an annual contraction-expansion cycle, with increasing of salinity during evaporation period. Prokaryotes inhabitants these particular environments have been not described and a few of such places have been surveyed for microbial diversity studies. To systematically explore the underlying communities of Bacteria from the water lake of Laguna de Pozuelos wetland and Cincel River, bacterial 16S rRNA genes (rDNAs) were PCR amplified and analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) analysis. Analysis of the microbial community with T-RFLP identified a minimum of 19 operational taxonomic units (OTU). TRF patterns derived from multiple-enzyme digestion with RsaI, HaeIII and HhaI were analyzed in order to provide a preliminary picture of the relative diversity of this complex microbial community. By the combined use of the three restriction endonucleases bacterial populations of this particular place were identified.Laguna de Pozuelos es un extenso humedal en el noroeste de Argentina a 3.600 m.s.n.m. en los Andes argentinos. La principal laguna, ubicada en una depresión central de una cuenca endorreica, es rica en minerales como Cu, As, Fe, etc. El agua es colectada de cursos subterráneos y de dos principales ríos, llamados Río Santa Catalina al norte y Río Cincel al sur. Siguiendo las estaciones seca y lluviosa, la superficie de la laguna es sujeta a ciclos de expansión-contracción, con incremento de salinidad durante el período de evaporación. Los procariotes que habitan estos particulares ambientes no han sido descritos y pocos lugares como éstos han sido examinados para estudiar su biodiversidad microbiana. Para explorar en forma sistemática las comunidades de Bacteria del agua de la laguna del humedal de Laguna de Pozuelos y del Río Cincel, genes del RNA 16S ribosomal fueron amplificados por PCR y analizados por análisis de polimorfismos de fragmentos de restricción terminales (T-RFLP). El análisis de la comunidad microbiana con T-RFLP identificó un mínimo de 19 unidades taxonómicas operacionales (UTO). Los patrones de fragmentos derivados de la digestión múltiple con RsaI, HaeIII y HhaI fueron analizados para proveer un mapa preliminar de la diversidad relativa de esta compleja comunidad microbiana. El uso combinado de las tres endonucleasas de restricción, permitió que fueran identificadas poblaciones bacterianas de este particular lugar.Fil: Ferrero, Marcela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Farias, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Siñeriz, Faustino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; Argentin

The effect of wood-boring beetles on the radial growth of Prosopis flexuosa DC. in the arid Chaco of Argentina

Traditionally, the effect of wood-boring insects has been related to mechanical damage, which in severe infestations results in breakage of branches and trunks. In contrast, few studies have evaluated the physiological effects of wood-borers on the radial growth of trees. Prosopis flexuosa is the main resource for rural inhabitants in the arid Chaco of Argentina and the cerambycid Torneutes pallidipennis is the principal cause of insect damage in these forests. The presence of annual growth rings in P. flexuosa allowed us to use dendrochronological methods to assess the effect of T. pallidipennis on radial tree growth. P. flexuosa with external infestation symptoms were sampled in Chancaní (Córdoba), central Argentina. Cores from "healthy" and "infested" branches were taken and processed following standard methods in dendrochronology. Generalized Linear Models were applied to compare the growth of healthy and affected tree-ring growth series. Our results showed a growth reduction in branches with cerambycid infestation. These data strongly suggest that the biological cycles of this heartwood-borer affect the growth and normal development of trees, in addition to ?mechanical? effects previously proposed. Insects may produce weakening of the host plants and a pronounced reduction in radial tree growth in the most severe casesFil: Ferrero, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Coirini, Ruben Omar. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, M. P.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentin