Disminución de la disponibilidad de agua potable por expansión de la forestación, en el sector costero oriental de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

El agua es un recurso natural indispensable para la actividad humana. En acuíferos costeros de espesor y extensión limitados, las variaciones en el uso del suelo pueden condicionar la calidad y cantidad de agua disponible para la explotación, ya sea para uso industrial o para abastecimiento de la población. El objetivo de este trabajo es cuantificar la expansión de las áreas forestadas y el efecto de esta expansión sobre la disponibilidad de agua subterránea, en la localidad de Mar de las Pampas, Partido de Villa Gesell, Provincia de Buenos Aires. A partir de imágenes satelitales y fotografías aéreas, mediante el mapeo manual detallado de los tipos de cobertura en la zona de estudio, se realizó un análisis del uso del suelo para los años 1975 y 2014. Se calcularon balances hídricos a partir de datos de precipitación, teniendo en cuenta las propiedades hidrológicas características del terreno, para asignar un valor de recarga a cada tipo de cobertura. Los resultados indican una reducción de la recarga de un 26% durante el período 1975-2014, lo cual deberá tenerse en cuenta para la planificación del uso sustentable del recurso hídrico subterráneo, en una localidad actualmente en crecimiento.Centro de Estudios Integrales de la Dinámica Exógen

Estimation of recharge variation in the coastal aquifer in Mar de las Pampas, Argentina, based on land cover changes

El objetivo de este trabajo es cuantificar la expansión de las áreas forestadas y su efecto sobre la disponibilidad del agua subterránea en la localidad de Mar de las Pampas, Partido de Villa Gesell, Argentina. A partir de imágenes satelitales y fotografías aéreas, mediante el mapeo manual detallado de los tipos de cobertura en la zona de estudio, se realizó un análisis multitemporal del uso del suelo para los años 1975, 1997 y 2014. Se calcularon balances hídricos a partir de datos de precipitación, teniendo en cuenta las propiedades hidrológicas características del terreno, para asignar un valor de recarga a cada tipo de cobertura. Los resultados indican una reducción de la recarga de un 26 % durante el periodo 1975-2014, lo cual deberá tenerse en cuenta para la planificación del uso sustentable del recurso hídrico subterráneo en una localidad actualmente en crecimiento.The aim of this paper is to quantify forested land expansion and its effects on groundwater availability, in Mar de las Pampas town, Villa Gesell District, Argentina. Based on satellite imagery and aerial photographs, through detailed hand-digitizing of land-cover classes in the study area, a multi-temporal analysis of land-cover was made for the years of 1975, 1997 and 2014. Water balances were carried out from precipitation data, considering the distinctive hydrologic properties of the soil, in order to determine recharge values for each land-cover class. The results show a 26% reduction in recharge during the 1975-2014 period; this should be taken into account for planning a sustainable use of groundwater resource, in a locality that is currently under growth.Centro de Estudios Integrales de la Dinámica ExógenaFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Association of skeletal muscle and serum metabolites with maximum power output gains in response to continuous endurance or high-intensity interval training programs: The TIMES study - A randomized controlled trial

Recent studies have begun to identify the molecular determinants of inter-individual variability of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in response to exercise training programs. However, we still have an incomplete picture of the molecular mechanisms underlying trainability in response to exercise training. Objective We investigated baseline serum and skeletal muscle metabolomics profile and its associations with maximal power output (MPO) gains in response to 8-week of continuous endurance training (ET) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs matched for total units of exercise performed (the TIMES study). Methods Eighty healthy sedentary young adult males were randomized to one of three groups and 70 were defined as completers (> 90% of sessions): ET (n = 30), HIIT (n = 30) and control (CO, n = 10). For the CO, participants were asked to not exercise for 8 weeks. Serum and skeletal muscle samples were analyzed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The targeted screens yielded 43 serum and 70 muscle reproducible metabolites (intraclass > 0.75; coefficient of variation < 25%). Associations of baseline metabolites with MPO trainability were explored within each training program via three analytical strategies: (1) correlations with gains in MPO; (2) differences between high and low responders to ET and HIIT; and (3) metabolites contributions to the most significant pathways related to gains in MPO. The significance level was set at P < 0.01 or false discovery rate of 0.1. Results The exercise programs generated similar gains in MPO (ET = 21.4 +/- 8.0%; HIIT = 24.3 +/- 8.5%). MPO associated baseline metabolites supported by all three levels of evidence were: serum glycerol, muscle alanine, proline, threonine, creatinine, AMP and pyruvate for ET, and serum lysine, phenylalanine, creatine, and muscle glycolate for HIIT. The most common pathways suggested by the metabolite profiles were aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Conclusion We suggest that MPO gains in both programs are potentially associated with metabolites indicative of baseline amino acid and translation processes with additional evidence for carbohydrate metabolism in ET142CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP149201/2015-0; 140302/2018-288881.135219/2016-012018/24108-9; 2016/057417Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [2018/24108-9, 2016/057417]; Support Fund for Teaching, Research and Extension (FAEPEX) [2021/16]; National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) [149201/2015-0, 140302/2018-2]; Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (PDSE-CAPES) [88881.135219/2016-01]; COBRE center grant from the U.S.A. National Institutes of HealthUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA [NIH8 1P30GM118430-02]; NIH-funded COBRE grantUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA [NIH 8P30GM118430-01]; National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of HealthUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USANIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) [2 U54 GM104940

Genetic diversity and population structure of Musa accessions in ex situ conservation

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud \ud Banana cultivars are mostly derived from hybridization between wild diploid subspecies of Musa acuminata (A genome) and M. balbisiana (B genome), and they exhibit various levels of ploidy and genomic constitution. The Embrapa ex situ Musa collection contains over 220 accessions, of which only a few have been genetically characterized. Knowledge regarding the genetic relationships and diversity between modern cultivars and wild relatives would assist in conservation and breeding strategies. Our objectives were to determine the genomic constitution based on Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions polymorphism and the ploidy of all accessions by flow cytometry and to investigate the population structure of the collection using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) loci as co-dominant markers based on Structure software, not previously performed in Musa.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud \ud From the 221 accessions analyzed by flow cytometry, the correct ploidy was confirmed or established for 212 (95.9%), whereas digestion of the ITS region confirmed the genomic constitution of 209 (94.6%). Neighbor-joining clustering analysis derived from SSR binary data allowed the detection of two major groups, essentially distinguished by the presence or absence of the B genome, while subgroups were formed according to the genomic composition and commercial classification. The co-dominant nature of SSR was explored to analyze the structure of the population based on a Bayesian approach, detecting 21 subpopulations. Most of the subpopulations were in agreement with the clustering analysis.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud \ud The data generated by flow cytometry, ITS and SSR supported the hypothesis about the occurrence of homeologue recombination between A and B genomes, leading to discrepancies in the number of sets or portions from each parental genome. These phenomenons have been largely disregarded in the evolution of banana, as the “single-step domestication” hypothesis had long predominated. These findings will have an impact in future breeding approaches. Structure analysis enabled the efficient detection of ancestry of recently developed tetraploid hybrids by breeding programs, and for some triploids. However, for the main commercial subgroups, Structure appeared to be less efficient to detect the ancestry in diploid groups, possibly due to sampling restrictions. The possibility of inferring the membership among accessions to correct the effects of genetic structure opens possibilities for its use in marker-assisted selection by association mapping.This work was funded by FAPESP [2008/03470-0] and CNPq. Technical assistance by Luis Eduardo Fonseca was greatly appreciated. The authors (ONJ, SSO, EP, AF) are grateful for the fellowships provided by CNPq and GGS to FAPESP [2010/01398-0]

El cambio climático y las condiciones ambientales en los partidos de La Plata, Berisso y Ensenada, provincia de Buenos Aires: aspectos preliminares

Se presentan las tareas iniciales realizadas en relación al proyecto Efectos del cambio climático en las condiciones ambientales de los Partidos de Berisso, Ensenada y La Plata, que es financiado por la Universidad Nacional de La Plata en el marco del programa de “Proyectos de innovación y transferencia en áreas prioritarias (PIT-AP). Con este proyecto, iniciado en 2011, se propone avanzar en el conocimiento y evaluación de la influencia que generan los cambios climáticos en las condiciones ambientales del borde sur del Río de La Plata. Estos cambios pueden producir importantes efectos en el desarrollo socioeconómico y en los riesgos a que se encuentra sometida esta región. Debido a la escasez de datos básicos y la falta de un conocimiento adecuado de las condiciones ambientales de la región, se están realizando los estudios geológicos, geomorfológicos, hidrológicos, ecológicos y topográficos necesarios para el modelado de posibles escenarios de los cambios climáticos.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

El cambio climático y las condiciones ambientales en los partidos de La Plata, Berisso y Ensenada, provincia de Buenos Aires: aspectos preliminares

Se presentan las tareas iniciales realizadas en relación al proyecto Efectos del cambio climático en las condiciones ambientales de los Partidos de Berisso, Ensenada y La Plata, que es financiado por la Universidad Nacional de La Plata en el marco del programa de “Proyectos de innovación y transferencia en áreas prioritarias (PIT-AP). Con este proyecto, iniciado en 2011, se propone avanzar en el conocimiento y evaluación de la influencia que generan los cambios climáticos en las condiciones ambientales del borde sur del Río de La Plata. Estos cambios pueden producir importantes efectos en el desarrollo socioeconómico y en los riesgos a que se encuentra sometida esta región. Debido a la escasez de datos básicos y la falta de un conocimiento adecuado de las condiciones ambientales de la región, se están realizando los estudios geológicos, geomorfológicos, hidrológicos, ecológicos y topográficos necesarios para el modelado de posibles escenarios de los cambios climáticos.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

El cambio climático y las condiciones ambientales en los partidos de La Plata, Berisso y Ensenada, provincia de Buenos Aires: aspectos preliminares

Se presentan las tareas iniciales realizadas en relación al proyecto Efectos del cambio climático en las condiciones ambientales de los Partidos de Berisso, Ensenada y La Plata, que es financiado por la Universidad Nacional de La Plata en el marco del programa de “Proyectos de innovación y transferencia en áreas prioritarias (PIT-AP). Con este proyecto, iniciado en 2011, se propone avanzar en el conocimiento y evaluación de la influencia que generan los cambios climáticos en las condiciones ambientales del borde sur del Río de La Plata. Estos cambios pueden producir importantes efectos en el desarrollo socioeconómico y en los riesgos a que se encuentra sometida esta región. Debido a la escasez de datos básicos y la falta de un conocimiento adecuado de las condiciones ambientales de la región, se están realizando los estudios geológicos, geomorfológicos, hidrológicos, ecológicos y topográficos necesarios para el modelado de posibles escenarios de los cambios climáticos

Development of a sandwich ELISA to detect circulating, soluble IRAP as a potential disease biomarker

Abstract There is growing interest in the use of the enzyme, insulin regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), as a biomarker for conditions such as cardio-metabolic diseases and ischemic stroke, with upregulation in its tissue expression in these conditions. However, quantification of circulating IRAP has been hampered by difficulties in detecting release of the truncated, soluble form of this enzyme into the blood stream. The current study aimed to develop a sandwich ELISA using novel antibodies directed towards the soluble portion of IRAP (sIRAP), to improve accuracy in detection and quantification of low levels of sIRAP in plasma. A series of novel anti-IRAP antibodies were developed and found to be highly specific for sIRAP in Western blots. A sandwich ELISA was then optimised using two distinct antibody combinations to detect sIRAP in the low nanogram range (16–500 ng/ml) with a sensitivity of 9 ng/ml and intra-assay variability < 10%. Importantly, the clinical validity of the ELISA was verified by the detection of significant increases in the levels of sIRAP throughout gestation in plasma samples from pregnant women. The specific and sensitive sandwich ELISA described in this study has the potential to advance the development of IRAP as a biomarker for certain diseases

Efficacy of Multisensory Technology in Post-Stroke Cognitive Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review

Post-stroke, in addition to sensorimotor signs and symptoms, could lead to cognitive deficits. Theories of embodiment stress the role of sensorimotor system and multisensory integration in sustaining high-order cognitive domains. Despite conventional post-stroke cognitive rehabilitation being effective, innovative technologies could overcome some limitations of standard interventions and exploit bodily information during cognitive rehabilitation. This systematic review aims to investigate whether ‘multisensory technologies’ compared to usual care treatment can be a viable alternative for cognitive rehabilitation. By applying PRISMA guidelines, we extracted data and assessed the bias of 10 studies that met the required criteria. We found that multisensory technologies were at least comparable to standard treatment but particularly effective for attention, spatial cognition, global cognition, and memory. Multisensory technologies consisted principally of virtual reality alone or combined with a motion tracking system. Multisensory technologies without motion tracking were more effective than standard procedures, whereas those with motion tracking showed balanced results for the two treatments. Limitations of the included studies regarded the population (e.g., no study on acute stroke), assessment (e.g., lack of multimodal/multisensory pre-post evaluation), and methodology (e.g., sample size, blinding bias). Recent advancements in technological development and metaverse open new opportunities to design embodied rehabilitative programs