New host and distribution records of Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Diesing, 1861) (Nematoda, Onchocercidae)

The nematode Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Diesing, 1861) (Onchocercidae, Dirofilariinae) was found in the leg of a silvery grebe Podiceps occipitalis (Garnot, 1826) (Aves, Podicipediformes) at Puerto Madryn, Argentina. The specimens redescribed in this note are based on 7 females and 3 males. This is the first Argentinean record for this species and the second for South America, and represents the southern-most record of a species from this genus.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Diseño, síntesis y evaluación de actividades <i>in vitro</i> de nuevos compuestos con potenciales aplicaciones biológicas y/o farmacológicas

La sertralina se convirtió en los últimos años en una excelente medicina alternativa para el tratamiento de la depresión que tiene un gran valor comercial. Con el objetivo de producir otras formas activas utilizadas como antidepresivo en los seres humanos, diversos cristales como polimorfos, solvatos, hidratos y fases amorfas se han preparado, caracterizado y patentado. Diferentes metodologías de alto rendimiento se han utilizado con la finalidad de preparar formas cristalinas de sales utilizando la formación de sales con diferentes aniones. Entre ellos se han preparado sales con ácidos como el acético, cítrico, maleico, benzoico, etansulfónico, malónico, entre otros, buscando siempre mejorar la actividad ya demostrada por sertralina y evitar los efectos secundarios.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Diseño, síntesis y evaluación de actividades <i>in vitro</i> de nuevos compuestos con potenciales aplicaciones biológicas y/o farmacológicas

La sertralina se convirtió en los últimos años en una excelente medicina alternativa para el tratamiento de la depresión que tiene un gran valor comercial. Con el objetivo de producir otras formas activas utilizadas como antidepresivo en los seres humanos, diversos cristales como polimorfos, solvatos, hidratos y fases amorfas se han preparado, caracterizado y patentado. Diferentes metodologías de alto rendimiento se han utilizado con la finalidad de preparar formas cristalinas de sales utilizando la formación de sales con diferentes aniones. Entre ellos se han preparado sales con ácidos como el acético, cítrico, maleico, benzoico, etansulfónico, malónico, entre otros, buscando siempre mejorar la actividad ya demostrada por sertralina y evitar los efectos secundarios.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Brooding and development of Anasterias minuta (Asteroidea: Forcipulata) in Patagonia, Argentina

Brooding, embryonic and larval development, and the influence of environmental and biological factors in tidepool habitats were studied in the sea star, Anasterias minuta, at various sites along ~220 km of the Patagonian coast. This species has a benthic, lecithotrophic development that includes eight distinct developmental stages. A larval organ, the connection cord, is developed from a small preoral lobe at early stages of development and becomes larger and thinner at advanced stages. Fecundity and average egg size increased with female body size. The regression of log egg number to log sea-star size and weight at different sites had a slope significantly less than 3. 0, resulting in negative allometry and indicating that brood capacity was limited in large females. Development was generally synchronous among sites, but varied within each brood at advanced stages, with more developed brooded larvae located at the periphery of the brood mass. Brooding was synchronous among various populations at different years and spatial scales, and extended over a period of 8 months. The highest proportion of brooding females occurred during May and June (austral winter). Juveniles were released mainly during September. The likelihood of finding brooding sea stars decreased with increasing sea water temperature, tidal height, and wave exposure, and increased with increasing body size. Both body size of brooding females and brooding rate were higher in the infralittoral fringe than at midlittoral levels. A revision of the current model of brooding behavior and development among forcipulate sea stars is given.Fil: Gil, Damian Gaspar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Instituto de Desarrollo Costero; ArgentinaFil: Escudero, Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Zaixso, Hector Eliseo. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Instituto de Desarrollo Costero; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

New host and geographical records and morphological details for Echinuria skrjabiniensis (Nematoda, Acuariidae) from shorebirds in Argentina

The acuarioid nematode Echinuria skrjabiniensis Efimov in Skryabin, Sobolev et Ivashkin, 1965 was found in Calidris bairdii and C. fuscicollis (Aves, Scolopacidae) examined from several locations from Patagonia, Argentina. These constitute new host records as well as the first record of this parasite species in South America. Using both light and scanning electron microscopies, new morphological details are provided, including the description of the left spicule and the number and the arrangement of male caudal papillae. The taxonomic history of the species is summarized, corroborating its correct spelling and valid name.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of fruit on Sechium edule

Vegetables and fruits contain bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity such as phenols and flavonoids, carotenoids, ascorbate, alimentary fiber, selenium and many substances with antiatherogenics and anticarcinogenics properties. The purpose of this work is to assess some bioactive constituents and the antioxidant activity of the Sechium edule (Jacq) Swartz (Cucurbitaceae) fruit. Total phenol content was higher (p <0,001) in pulp (Sep):124.83mg/100g than seed (Ses): 86.36mg/100g. The antioxidant activity were estimated by: nitric oxide scavenging activity (NO), DPPH radicalscavenging activity (DPPH) and β-carotene bleaching method (β-carotene). The values expressed as percentage (%) corresponds to Ses and Sep respectively: NO 47.51 ± 1.9 and 55.62 ± 1.3; DPPH: 88.87 ± 1.1 and 89.13 ± 1.5 and β-carotene, 63.32 ± 1.5 and 53.15 ± 1.4. The studied samples have important radical scavenging activity and inhibited lipid peroxidation in vitro. We concluded that the present study provides infor- mation that Sechium edule can be a source of natural antioxidants.Fil: Albarracin, Graciela. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Facultad de Quimica, Bioquimica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Lucero, Romina V. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Facultad de Quimica, Bioquimica y Farmacia; Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Marchevsky, Eduardo Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Química de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Escudero, NORA. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Facultad de Quimica, Bioquimica y Farmacia; Argentina; Argentina; Argentin

Antilisterial peptides from Spanish dry-cured hams: Purification and identification

The typical Spanish dry-cured ham has a particular sensory quality that makes it a distinctive food, highly appreciated for consumers worldwide. Its particular physicochemical properties, such as high salt content and reduced water activity contribute to their shelf-stability. However, post-processing actions carried out for the commercialization of these products such as slicing may increase the risk of development of pathogenic microorganisms as Listeria monocytogenes. During ripening, muscle proteins are hydrolyzed by muscle peptidases releasing peptides and free amino acids. Some of these peptides have been described to exert biological activities such as antioxidant and ACE-inhibition. In this study, a peptidomic strategy using mass spectrometry techniques has been used to identify and sequence those naturally generated peptides showing antilisterial activity. One hundred and five peptides have been identified in active fractions and some synthesized and their MIC calculated. Ten peptides were able to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes, being the pentapeptide RHGYM the most effective showing a MIC value of 6.25 mM. This study proves for the first time the potential antimicrobial action against L. monocytogenes of certain naturally generated peptides obtained from Spanish dry-cured ham.The postdoctoral fellowship from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina of P.C. is acknowledged. Grant AGL2013-47169-R from MINECO and FEDER funds as well as HIGHVALFOOD project grant no 614281 from EU-FP7 Marie Curie CIG scheme are fully acknowledged. L.M. is grateful to the JAEDOC-CSIC postdoctoral contract cofunded by European Social Fund.Peer reviewe

New host and distribution records of Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Diesing, 1861) (Nematoda, Onchocercidae)

The nematode Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Diesing, 1861) (Onchocercidae, Dirofilariinae) was found in the leg of a silvery grebe Podiceps occipitalis (Garnot, 1826) (Aves, Podicipediformes) at Puerto Madryn, Argentina. The specimens redescribed in this note are based on 7 females and 3 males. This is the first Argentinean record for this species and the second for South America, and represents the southern-most record of a species from this genus.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

El uso de la plataforma Moodle en Historia del Pensamiento Jurídico y Político : Una experiencia en la carrera de Abogacía de la Universidad Nacional de San Luis

El presente trabajo se enmarca en el proyecto de investigación denominado “Las Nuevas Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación en Educación Superior” de la Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Económico-Sociales de la Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Se analiza la implementación de la Plataforma Educativa Moodle en la asignatura Historia del Pensamiento Jurídico y Político, que se dicta en el primer año de las Carreras de Ciencias Jurídicas en esta facultad. Para ello, se detallan las herramientas usadas, las actividades que se desarrollaron en la plataforma y los resultados de esta innovación. También se presentan las opiniones de alumnos y docentes de dicha asignatura en cuanto al uso de dicha plataforma y planes de mejoras para futuros dictados. El objetivo de esta presentación es investigar si la utilización de la plataforma educativa en esa asignatura facilitó el trabajo docente y de los alumnos, es decir, el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje y si se optimizó el uso del Sistema de Gestión de Cursos Moodle.Eje: Innovación y desarrollos tecnológicos en educación a distanciaDirección de Educación a Distancia, Innovación en el aula y TI

Study and determination of As, Cr and Pb in amaranth seeds

The concentration of As, Cr and Pb toxic elements was determined in three species of amaranth seeds: A. hypochondriacus, A. cruentus and A. dubius. The determinations were carried out by inductively coupled plasma optic atomic spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The result shows that Cr and As were found in minor concentrations than allowed by the World Health Organization (WHO; 120 and 4 mg kg-1 respectively); As (mg kg-1): A. dubius (0.76) A. cruentus (<0.50) and A. hypochondriacus (< 0.50); Cr (mg kg-1): A. dubius (9.79) A. cruentus (1.55) and A. hypochondriacus (1.52). However, the concentration of Pb was high (A. dubius (19.04) A. cruentus (30.20) and A. hypochondriacus (35.56) more than the maximum of WHO (10 mg kg-1). To avoid systematic error, recovery and validation studies were performed: recovery test: 102.3%; validation (by standard addition): 96.0 ? 103.1%. Due to the fact that amaranth had been proposed as new food due to its nutraceutical properties, the high concentration of Pb found in this study indicates that Pb should be evaluated in these amaranth species to avoid the intake of toxic element by human beings.Fil: Aguilar, Elba Graciela. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Cantarelli, Miguel Angel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cienti­ficas y Tecnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de la Pampa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Marchevsky, Eduardo Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Química de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Escudero, Nora L.. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Camiña, José Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cienti­ficas y Tecnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de la Pampa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin