Argentina's transport privatization and re-regulation : ups and downs of a daring decade-long experience

When Argentina initiated reform of its transport sector in 1989, it had few models to follow. It was the first Latin American country to privatize its intercity railroad, to explicitly organize intraport competition, and to grant a private concession to operate its subway. It was second (after Japan) to privatize its urban commuter railways and one of the first in the developing world to grant road concessions to private operators. Argentina's experience shows that transport privatization and deregulation provide efficiency gains that can be delivered to users. Despite unexpectedly high residual subsidy requirements, fiscal costs are lower, services have improved, and new investment is taking place. Argentina's decade-long experience shows that the reform process involves learning by doing. Inexperienced new regulators quickly face the challenges in controlling monopoly power and providing long-run incentives for private investment. Designing sustainable reform requires a commitment by government to minimize its role in the sector and to respect its original promises to both users and concessionaires. Argentina has learned the importance of building up the regulatory capacity needed to monitor contracts, especially when initial uncertainty about demand and cost conditions is strong and renegotiation is the probable outcome of daring reform. The government's main challenge in monitoring contracts is to get enough information to reach a balance in its decisions about distributing efficiency gains fairly between consumers and private investors. This is one area in which Argentina may not yet have met the challenge. As the last wave of contract extensions in rail and roads comes to an end, one issues is likely to be the need for better targeting of subsidies for the poor.Public Sector Economics&Finance,Roads&Highways,Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Transport and Trade Logistics,Environmental Economics&Policies,Public Sector Economics&Finance,Airports and Air Services,Roads&Highways,Railways Transport

A PCR-based method for discriminating between high molecular weight glutenin subunits Bx7 and Bx7* in Triticum aestivum L

The correct assignment of high molecular weight glutenin subunit variants is a key task in wheat breeding. However, the traditional analysis by protein electrophoresis is sometimes difficult and not very precise. This work describes a novel DNA marker for the accurate discrimination between the Glu-B1 locus subunits Bx7 and Bx7*. The analysis of one hundred and forty two bread wheat cultivars from different countries has highlighted a great number of misclassifications in the literature that could lead to wrong conclusions in studies of the relationship between glutenin composition and wheat quality

Diversity and Genetic structure of the Spanish collection of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L) landraces

The objectives of this study were to assess diversity and genetic structure of a collection of Spanish durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L) landraces, using SSRs, DArTs and gliadin-markers, and to correlate the distribution of diversity with geographic and climatic features, as well as agro-morphological traits. A high level of diversity was detected in the genotypes analyzed, which were separated into nine populations with a moderate to great genetic divergence among them. The three subspecies taxa, dicoccon, turgidum and durum, present in the collection, largely determined the clustering of the populations. Genotype variation was lower in dicoccon (one major population) and turgidum (two major populations) than in durum (five major populations). Genetic differentiation by the agro-ecological zone of origin was greater in dicoccon and turgidum than in durum. DArT markers revealed two geographic substructures, east-west for dicoccon and northeast-southwest for turgidum. The ssp. durum had a more complex structure, consisting of seven populations with high intra-population variation. DArT markers allowed the detection of subgroups within some populations, with agro-morphological and gliadin differences, and distinct agro-ecological zones of origin. Two different phylogenetic groups were detected; revealing that some durum populations were more related to ssp. turgidum from northern Spain, while others seem to be more related to durum wheats from North Afric

Sulphurous Mineral Waters: New Applications for Health

Sulphurous mineral waters have been traditionally used in medical hydrology as treatment for skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal disorders. However, driven by recent intense research efforts, topical treatments are starting to show benefits for pulmonary hypertension, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, peptic ulcer, and acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The beneficial effects of sulphurous mineral waters, sulphurous mud, or peloids made from sulphurous mineral water have been attributed to the presence of sulphur mainly in the form of hydrogen sulphide. This form is largely available in conditions of low pH when oxygen concentrations are also low. In the organism, small amounts of hydrogen sulphide are produced by some cells where they have numerous biological signalling functions. While high levels of hydrogen sulphide are extremely toxic, enzymes in the body are capable of detoxifying it by oxidation to harmless sulphate. Hence, low levels of hydrogen sulphide may be tolerated indefinitely. In this paper, we review the chemistry and actions of hydrogen sulphide in sulphurous mineral waters and its natural role in body physiology. This is followed by an update of available data on the impacts of exogenous hydrogen sulphide on the skin and internal cells and organs including new therapeutic possibilities of sulphurous mineral waters and their peloids

Sulphurous Mineral Waters: New Applications for Health

Sulphurous mineral waters have been traditionally used in medical hydrology as treatment for skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal disorders. However, driven by recent intense research efforts, topical treatments are starting to show benefits for pulmonary hypertension, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, peptic ulcer, and acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The beneficial effects of sulphurous mineral waters, sulphurous mud, or peloids made from sulphurous mineral water have been attributed to the presence of sulphur mainly in the form of hydrogen sulphide. This form is largely available in conditions of low pH when oxygen concentrations are also low. In the organism, small amounts of hydrogen sulphide are produced by some cells where they have numerous biological signalling functions. While high levels of hydrogen sulphide are extremely toxic, enzymes in the body are capable of detoxifying it by oxidation to harmless sulphate. Hence, low levels of hydrogen sulphide may be tolerated indefinitely. In this paper, we review the chemistry and actions of hydrogen sulphide in sulphurous mineral waters and its natural role in body physiology. This is followed by an update of available data on the impacts of exogenous hydrogen sulphide on the skin and internal cells and organs including new therapeutic possibilities of sulphurous mineral waters and their peloids

Mapeo de QTLs asociados a calidad panadera en trigo blando.

La calidad panadera del trigo blando (Triticum aestivum ssp vulgare L.) es un carácter complejo controlado fundamentalmente por las prolaminas, proteínas del gluten. El principal objetivo de este estudio ha sido realizar un mapeo de QTLs relacionados con pará- metros de calidad para detectar nuevos loci implicados en este carácter. El material de estudio fue una colección de 79 RILs derivadas del cruce entre un trigo “soft” y uno “hard”. Los ensayos de campo se llevaron a cabo durante dos años. Se evaluó la calidad de la masa mediante el test de sedimentación, y parámetros del mixógrafo y del alveografo. Se construyó un mapa basado en SSRs y 7 loci de prolaminas. El análisis por CIM (Composite interval mapping) detectó un total de 20 QTLs distribuido en diez cromosomas y asociados con las variaciones en los parámetros de calidad. Los resultados confirmaron las investigaciones anteriores sobre la relación conocida entre los alelos de proteí- nas de reserva y la calidad de la masa, y se detectaron QTLs nuevos en los cromosomas 2A, 7A y 5B que serán el punto de partida para futuros proyecto

Mapeo de QTLs asociados a calidad panadera en trigo blando.

La calidad panadera del trigo blando (Triticum aestivum ssp vulgare L.) es un carácter complejo controlado fundamentalmente por las prolaminas, proteínas del gluten. El principal objetivo de este estudio ha sido realizar un mapeo de QTLs relacionados con pará- metros de calidad para detectar nuevos loci implicados en este carácter. El material de estudio fue una colección de 79 RILs derivadas del cruce entre un trigo “soft” y uno “hard”. Los ensayos de campo se llevaron a cabo durante dos años. Se evaluó la calidad de la masa mediante el test de sedimentación, y parámetros del mixógrafo y del alveografo. Se construyó un mapa basado en SSRs y 7 loci de prolaminas. El análisis por CIM (Composite interval mapping) detectó un total de 20 QTLs distribuido en diez cromosomas y asociados con las variaciones en los parámetros de calidad. Los resultados confirmaron las investigaciones anteriores sobre la relación conocida entre los alelos de proteí- nas de reserva y la calidad de la masa, y se detectaron QTLs nuevos en los cromosomas 2A, 7A y 5B que serán el punto de partida para futuros proyecto

Allelic variation in HMW glutenin in Spanish wheat landraces and their relationship with bread quality

The allelic variation of high molecular weight glutenins as principal determinants of bread quality has been analyzed in 165 Spanish wheat ( Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare L.) landraces provided by the Plant Genetic Resources Centre. The identification by standard electrophoresis techniques has been supported by a new PCR screening method, allowing the identification of the 2•• glutenin subunit from the Glu-A1 locus in some landraces. The relation of high molecular weight glutenins and bread quality has been evaluated by SDS-sedimentation tests and mixographs. A positive influence on quality has been found for the 2•• glutenin subunit from the Glu-A1 locus, pairs 7 + 8 and 13 + 16 from the Glu-B1 locus, and pair 5 + 10 from the Glu-D1 locus. The presence of a wide range of values for quality traits in landraces with the same high molecular weight glutenin composition points to the possible influence of other prolamins such as the low molecular weight glutenins. Their influence on bread quality will be assessed in future studies. A complete description of the high molecular weight glutenin composition and quality values of all the landraces analyzed in this study is provided for use in wheat breeding program

Genetic redundancy among durum wheat accessions as assessed with SSRs and endosperm proteins

Reducing duplication in ex-situ collections is complicated and requires good quality genetic markers. This study was conducted to assess the value of endosperm proteins and SSRs for validation of potential duplicates and monitoring intra-accession variability. Fifty durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) accessions grouped in 23 potential duplicates, and previously characterised for 30 agro-morphological traits, were analysed for gliadin and high molecular weight glutenin (HMWG) subunit alleles, total protein, and 24 SSRs, covering a wide genome area. Similarity and dissimilarity matrices were generated based on protein and SSRs alleles. For heterogeneous accessions at gliadins the percent pattern homology (PH) between gliadin patterns and the Nei’s coefficient of genetic identity (I) were computed. Eighteen duplicates identical for proteins showed none or less than 3 unshared SSRs alleles. For heterogeneous accessions PH and I values lower than 80 identified clearly off-types with more than 3 SSRs unshared. Only those biotypes differing in no more than one protein-coding locus were confirmed with SSRs. A good concordance among proteins, morphological traits, and SSR were detected. However, the discrepancy in similarity detected in some cases showed that it is advisable to evaluate redundancy through distinct approaches. The analysis in proteins together with SSRs data are very useful to identify duplicates, biotypes, close related genotypes, and contamination

Molecular characterization of Glu-B3 locus in wheat cultivars and segregating populations

Bread wheat quality constitutes a key trait for the demands of the baking industry as well as the broad consumer preferences. The role of the low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) with regard to bread quality is so far not well understood owing to their genetic complexity and to the use of different nomenclatures and standards for the LMW-GS assignment by different research groups, which has made difficult the undertaking of association studies between genotypes and bread quality. The development of molecular markers to carry out genetic characterization and allele determination is demanding. Nowadays, the most promising LMW gene marker system is based on PCR and high resolution capillary electrophoresis for the simultaneous analysis of the complete multigene family. The molecular analysis of the bread wheat Glu-B3 locus in F2 and F4:6 populations expressed the expected one-locus Mendelian segregation pattern, thus validating the suitability of this marker system for the characterization of LMW-GS genes in segregating populations, allowing for the successful undertaking of studies related to bread-making quality. Moreover, the Glu-B3 allele characterization of standard cultivars with the molecular marker system has revealed its potential as a complementary tool for the allelic determination of this complex multigene family