Primeros registros paleontológicos de la localidad de Cerro Pampa (Formación Chiquimil, Mioceno Tardío), Provincia de Catamarca, Argentina

The taphoflora and the mollusk content identified in a lacustrine interval from the El Áspero Member, Chiquimil Formation, at Cerro Pampa (Department of Belén, province of Catamarca, Argentina) is presented herein. In the floral assemblage the Fabaceae is the dominant component, represented by the subfamilies Caesalpinoideae (Chamaecrista flexuosa (L.) Greene, Sena obtusifolia (L.) Irwin y Barneby y Sena bicapsularis (L.) Rouxbourgh), Papilionoideae (Desmodium cf. D. adscendens (Swart) De Candolle y Tipuana tipu (Benth.) Kuntze and Mimosoideae (Mimosa cf. M. flagellaris Bentham y Prosopis sp.). They are accompanied by leaf remains related to Malvaceae (Malvaciphyllum quenquiadensis Anzótegui y Cristalli), Anacardiaceae (Schinopsis lorentzii (Griseb.) Engler, and Cyperaceae (Scirpites sp.1 and others Incertae sedis). The paleofauna is represented by bivalves (Neocorbicula anzoteguiae Morton, Neocorbicula herbsti Morton and Neocorbicula stelzneri (P) Morton) and gastropods (Chilina totoralensis Morton and Biomphalaria sp.). Some paleoenvironmental considerations inferred from the biota of this Mio-Pliocene unit are made. The floristic and faunal fossil assemblage indicates a close relationship between the Chiquimil Formation and the Playa del Zorro Aloformation, exposed at Valle del Cajón, both units being part of the deposits of the Santa María-Hualfín Basin.Key words: Angiosperms, Mollusca, palaeoenvironment, Late Miocene, Catamarca, Argentina.En la localidad de Cerro Pampa (Departamento de Belén) en la provincia de Catamarca, (Argentina) afloran sedimentos de un depósito lacustre correspondientes al Miembro El Áspero, de la Formación Chiquimil. Se presenta parte de la paleoflora hallada compuesta por Fabaceae, Caesalpinoideae (Chamaecrista flexuosa (L.) Greene, Sena obtusifolia (L.) Irwin y Barneby y Sena bicapsularis (L.) Rouxbourgh; Fabaceae, Papilionoideae (Desmodium cf. ascendens (Swart) de Candolle y Tipuana tipu (Benth.) Kuntze; Fabaceae, Mimosoideae (Mimosa cf. flagellaris Bentham y Prosopis sp.; Malvaceae (Malvaciphyllun quenquiadensis Anzótegui y Cristalli; Anacardiaceae (Schinopsis lorentzii (Griseb.) Engler; Cyperaceae (Scirpites sp.1) y otras Cyperaceae Insertae sedis. La paleofauna de moluscos dulceacuícolas (Neocorbicula anzoteguiae Morton, Neocorbicula herbsti Morton y Neocorbicula stelzneri (P) Morton; gastrópodos, (Chilina totoralensis Morton y Biomphalaria sp.) y sus consideraciones paleoambientales inferidas en la localidad, estudiada a partir de los registros paleontológicos y geológicos durante el Mio-Plioceno. Se observa una mayor relación entre la Formación Chiquimil y la Aloformación Playa del Zorro a partir de sus componentes florísticos y faunísticos.Palabras clave: Angiospermas, Mollusca, paleoambiente, Mioceno superior, Catamarca, Argentina

A long-period transiting substellar companion in the super-Jupiters to brown dwarfs mass regime and a prototypical warm-Jupiter detected by TESS

We report on the confirmation and follow-up characterization of two long-period transiting substellar companions on low-eccentricity orbits around TIC 4672985 and TOI-2529, whose transit events were detected by the TESS space mission. Ground-based photometric and spectroscopic follow up from different facilities, confirmed the substellar nature of TIC 4672985 b, a massive gas giant, in the transition between the super-Jupiters and brown-dwarfs mass regime. From the joint analysis we derived the following orbital parameters: P = 69.0480+0.0004−0.0005 d, Mp = 12.74+1.01−1.01 MJ, Rp =1.026+0.065−0.067 RJ and e = 0.018+0.004−0.004 . In addition, the RV time series revealed a significant trend at the ∼ 350 m s−1 yr−1level, which is indicative of the presence of a massive outer companion in the system. TIC 4672985 b is a unique example of a transiting substellar companion with a mass above the deuterium-burning limit, located beyond 0.1 AU and in a nearly circular orbit. These planetary properties are difficult to reproduce from canonical planet formation and evolution models. For TOI-2529 b, we obtained the following orbital parameters: P = 64.5949+0.0003−0.0003 d, Mp =2.340+0.197−0.195 MJ, Rp = 1.030+0.050−0.050 RJ and e = 0.021+0.024−0.015 , making this object a new example of a growing population of transiting warm giant planets

NGTS-28Ab:a short period transiting brown dwarf

We report the discovery of a brown dwarf orbiting a M1 host star. We first identified the brown dwarf within the Next Generation Transit Survey data, with supporting observations found in TESS sectors 11 and 38. We confirmed the discovery with follow-up photometry from the South African Astronomical Observatory, SPECULOOS-S, and TRAPPIST-S, and radial velocity measurements from HARPS, which allowed us to characterize the system. We find an orbital period of ∼1.25 d, a mass of 69.0+5.3-4.8 MJ, close to the hydrogen burning limit, and a radius of 0.95 ± 0.05 RJ. We determine the age to be &gt;0.5 Gyr, using model isochrones, which is found to be in agreement with spectral energy distribution fitting within errors. NGTS-28Ab is one of the shortest period systems found within the brown dwarf desert, as well as one of the highest mass brown dwarfs that transits an M dwarf. This makes NGTS-28Ab another important discovery within this scarcely populated region.</div

Características clínicas y evolución de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico en Argentina: datos del registro nacional SAR-COVID

Introducción: el lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) es una enfermedad sistémica que se ha asociado a mayor severidad con la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Particularmente la alta actividad de la enfermedad y algunos inmunosupresores se han vinculado a peores desenlaces. Objetivos: describir las características por SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes con LES en Argentina del registro SAR-COVID y establecer los factores asociados a peor desenlace de la misma. Materiales y métodos: estudio observacional. Se incluyeron pacientes con diagnóstico de LES con infección confirmada por SARS-CoV-2 (RT-PCR y/o serología positiva) del registro SAR-COVID. Los datos se recolectaron desde agosto de 2020 hasta marzo de 2022. El desenlace de la infección se midió mediante la escala ordinal de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (EO-OMS). Se definió COVID-19 severo con un valor EO-OMS ≥5. Análisis descriptivo, test T de Student, U de Mann Whitney U, ANOVA, chi2 y Fisher. Regresión logística múltiple. Resultados: se incluyeron 399 pacientes, el 93% de sexo femenino, con una edad media de 40,9 años (DE 12,2). El 39,6% tenía al menos una comorbilidad. Al momento de la infección, el 54,9% recibía glucocorticoides, el 30,8% inmunosupresores y el 3,3% agentes biológicos. La infección por SARS-CoV-2 fue leve en la mayoría de los casos, mientras que un 4,6% tuvo curso severo y/o falleció. Estos últimos presentaban comorbilidades, usaban glucocorticoides y tenían síndrome antifosfolípido (SAF) con mayor frecuencia y mayor actividad de la enfermedad al momento de la infección. En el análisis multivariado, la hipertensión arterial, el diagnóstico de SAF y el uso de glucocorticoides se asociaron a hospitalización severa y/o muerte por COVID-19 (EO-OMS ≥5). Conclusiones: en esta cohorte de pacientes con LES con infección por SARS-CoV-2 confirmada, la mayoría cursó de manera sintomática, un 22,1% fue hospitalizado y un 5% requirió ventilación mecánica. La mortalidad fue cercana al 3%. El diagnóstico de SAF, tener hipertensión arterial y el uso de glucocorticoides se asociaron significativamente con COVID-19 severo

Development of visual attention control in early childhood:Associations with temperament and home environment

Endogenous visual attention orienting is early available from infancy. It shows a steady development during the preschool period towards monitoring and managing executive attention to optimize the interplay between environmental contingencies and internal goals. The current study aims at understanding this transition from basic forms of endogenous control of visual orienting towards the engagement of executive attention, as well as their association with individual differences in temperament and home environment. A total of 150 children between 2 and 4 years of age were evaluated in a Visual Sequence Learning task, measuring visual anticipations in easy (context-free) and complex (context-dependent) stimuli transitions. Results showed age to be a predictor of a reduction in exogenous attention, as well as increased abilities to attempt to anticipate and to correctly anticipate in complex transitions. Home chaos predicted more complex correct anticipations, suggesting that the exposure to more unpredictable environments could benefit learning in context-dependent settings. Finally, temperamental surgency was found to be positively related to sustained attention in the task. Results are informative of age differences in visual attention control during toddlerhood and early childhood, and their association with temperament and home environment.</p

Development of visual attention control in early childhood: Associations with temperament and home environment.

Endogenous visual attention orienting is early available from infancy. It shows a steady development during the preschool period towards monitoring and managing executive attention to optimize the interplay between environmental contingencies and internal goals. The current study aims at understanding this transition from basic forms of endogenous control of visual orienting towards the engagement of executive attention, as well as their association with individual differences in temperament and home environment. A total of 150 children between 2 and 4 years of age were evaluated in a Visual Sequence Learning task, measuring visual anticipations in easy (context-free) and complex (context-dependent) stimuli transitions. Results showed age to be a predictor of a reduction in exogenous attention, as well as increased abilities to attempt to anticipate and to correctly anticipate in complex transitions. Household disorganization predicted more complex correct anticipations, suggesting that the exposure to more unpredictable environments could benefit learning in context-dependent settings. Finally, temperamental surgency was found to be positively related to sustained attention in the task. Results are informative of age differences in visual attention control during toddlerhood and early childhood, and their association with temperament and home environment

Development of visual attention control in early childhood:Associations with temperament and home environment

Endogenous visual attention orienting is early available from infancy. It shows a steady development during the preschool period towards monitoring and managing executive attention to optimize the interplay between environmental contingencies and internal goals. The current study aims at understanding this transition from basic forms of endogenous control of visual orienting towards the engagement of executive attention, as well as their association with individual differences in temperament and home environment. A total of 150 children between 2 and 4 years of age were evaluated in a Visual Sequence Learning task, measuring visual anticipations in easy (context-free) and complex (context-dependent) stimuli transitions. Results showed age to be a predictor of a reduction in exogenous attention, as well as increased abilities to attempt to anticipate and to correctly anticipate in complex transitions. Home chaos predicted more complex correct anticipations, suggesting that the exposure to more unpredictable environments could benefit learning in context-dependent settings. Finally, temperamental surgency was found to be positively related to sustained attention in the task. Results are informative of age differences in visual attention control during toddlerhood and early childhood, and their association with temperament and home environment.</p

Predicting behavioral and brain markers of inhibitory control at preschool age from early measures of executive attention

Background: Inhibitory control (IC) is the ability to prevent prepotent responses when inappropriate. Longitudinal research on IC development has mainly focused on early childhood and adolescence, while research on IC development in the first years of life is still scarce. To address this gap in the literature, we explored the association between executive attention (EA) and elementary forms of IC in infancy and toddlerhood, with individual differences in IC later at 5 years of age. Method: We conducted a five-wave longitudinal study in which children’s EA and IC (n = 96) were tested at the age of 9 and 16 months and 2, 3, and 5 years. Children performed various age-appropriate EA and IC tasks in each wave, measuring inhibition of attention, endogenous control of attention, inhibition of the response, and conflict inhibition. At 5 years of age, IC was measured with a Go/No-go task while recording event-related potentials. After correlation analyses, structural equation model analyses were performed to predict IC at 5 years of age from EA and early IC measures. Results: The results revealed that EA at 9 months predicted IC measures at 2 years of age. Likewise, measures of IC at 2 years predicted performance on the Go/No-go task at behavioral and neural levels. No direct association was found between EA at 9 months and IC at 5 years of age. We further observed that some EA and IC measures were not associated across time. Conclusion: As we expected, EA skills in infancy and toddlerhood were related to better performance of children on IC tasks, toghether with a more mature inhibition-related brain functioning. Altogether, the results indicate that IC in early childhood could be predicted from EA and IC at 9 months and 2 years of age and suggest that the early emergence of IC relies on the development of particular EA and basic IC skills. However, some discontinuities in the longitudinal development of IC are observed in the first 5 years of life. These findings provide further support for the hierarchical model of IC development.</p

Predicting behavioral and brain markers of inhibitory control at preschool age from early measures of executive attention

Background: Inhibitory control (IC) is the ability to prevent prepotent responses when inappropriate. Longitudinal research on IC development has mainly focused on early childhood and adolescence, while research on IC development in the first years of life is still scarce. To address this gap in the literature, we explored the association between executive attention (EA) and elementary forms of IC in infancy and toddlerhood, with individual differences in IC later at 5 years of age. Method: We conducted a five-wave longitudinal study in which children’s EA and IC (n = 96) were tested at the age of 9 and 16 months and 2, 3, and 5 years. Children performed various age-appropriate EA and IC tasks in each wave, measuring inhibition of attention, endogenous control of attention, inhibition of the response, and conflict inhibition. At 5 years of age, IC was measured with a Go/No-go task while recording event-related potentials. After correlation analyses, structural equation model analyses were performed to predict IC at 5 years of age from EA and early IC measures. Results: The results revealed that EA at 9 months predicted IC measures at 2 years of age. Likewise, measures of IC at 2 years predicted performance on the Go/No-go task at behavioral and neural levels. No direct association was found between EA at 9 months and IC at 5 years of age. We further observed that some EA and IC measures were not associated across time. Conclusion: As we expected, EA skills in infancy and toddlerhood were related to better performance of children on IC tasks, toghether with a more mature inhibition-related brain functioning. Altogether, the results indicate that IC in early childhood could be predicted from EA and IC at 9 months and 2 years of age and suggest that the early emergence of IC relies on the development of particular EA and basic IC skills. However, some discontinuities in the longitudinal development of IC are observed in the first 5 years of life. These findings provide further support for the hierarchical model of IC development.</p