¡La UNA es una universidad que enseña y que también aprende!

Ante la situación planteada por la crisis sanitaria COVID-19, cada unidad académica analizó, estudió y dispuso, establecer un periodo de transición para adoptar la modalidad virtual de los contenidos académicos que logre dar continuidad a las clases en algunos casos y, en otros dar inicio al año lectivo, estableciendo clases virtuales a todas las carreras. Algunas de gran exigencia práctica decidieron retomar cuando se den las condiciones sanitarias. En este contexto, temporalmente las facultades empezaron a migrar su contenido presencial o transición semipresencial a distancia, totalmente al modelo virtual. Para lograr viable y operativo este objetivo, se inició un programa especial de capacitación de todos los docentes mediante un curso virtual obligatorio, de manera de lograr el proceso de adiestramiento de las plataformas de enseñanzas, su uso y dinámica tecnológica. Actualmente, cincuenta por ciento de las facultades reiniciaron desde mayo sus actividades con un modelo de educación a distancia, otras unidades académicas iniciarán a partir del mes julio. Cada facultad, según las características de sus carreras y perfiles de egreso, determinaron el plazo, proceso y la plataforma a usar.publishedVersionFil: Vera de Molinas, Zully C. Universidad Nacional de Asunción; Paraguay

SISTEMI DI ACCUMULO DI IDROGENO AD IDRURI DI MAGNESIO: VERIFICA SPERIMENTALE DEGLI EFFETTI DI SCALA

CESI RICERCA ha in corso un programma di ricerca per valutare le potenzialità di sistemi di accumulo di idrogenobasati su idruri di magnesio in applicazioni stazionarie. L’attività è effettuata con la collaborazione del GruppoIdrogeno dell’Università di Padova e con Venezia Tecnologie. A partire da materiali sviluppati da UNIPD e VETEC,CESI RICERCA ha progettato, realizzato e sperimentato serbatoi di accumulo di capacità diversa al fine di valutare leprestazioni del sistema in termini di capacità totale di accumulo, cinetica di absorbimento e desorbimento di idrogenoed analizzare l’eventuale degrado a valle di cicli di carica e scarica di idrogeno. In particolare, per valutare gli effettidi scala (scale-up), che sono della massima importanza in applicazioni industriali, CESI RICERCA ha progettatoe sperimentato in differenti condizioni operative un sistema di accumulo contenente 0.5 kg di idruro di magnesio.La sperimentazione sull’accumulatore ha riguardato l’attivazione delle polveri e l’esecuzione di una serie di ciclidi absorbimento e desorbimento di idrogeno; i dati sperimentali sono stati confrontati con risultati di laboratorio.L’accumulatore ha presentato una capacità massima di accumulo di idrogeno in peso del 5.35%; gli effetti di scalasono stati evidenziati da una cinetica più lenta, da sensibili effetti termici locali e da un degrado delle prestazionidopo alcuni cicli di carica e scarica di idrogeno. Al fine di identificare le cause del degrado delle prestazioni, sono stateeffettuate ulteriori attività sperimentali su accumulatori di taglia ridotta (circa 30 grammi di polvere) sviluppandoe testando nuove configurazioni degli accumulatori tali da minimizzare gli effetti negativi legati allo scale-up delsistema

WARM UP LUBE SYSTEM (WULS) RELATION BETWEEN A NEW APPROACH TO LUBRICATION DURING START-UP PHASES AND THE THERMAL SHOCK ON THE DIE SURFACE AND SCRAP REDUCTION

The continuous research for efficiency, associated with higher and higher quality standards in the different industrial production processes, has led, in the last few years, to further and more exhaustive analysis of the various machine cycle phases in the light alloy diecasting sector. The result of these studies was the development of new interdisciplinary technologies, which have firstly highlighted, and then solved “chronic” inefficiencies during the start-up phases. Today, the WULS system is able to optimize the Warm Up phase, being based on the die surface temperature value (thanks to the C.T.C. - acquisition module) and retroacting on the lubrication equipment. In this paper the authors present the WULS technology and highlight the existing relation between the Warm Up phase and the thermal shock generated on the die surface, emphasizing its high level of influence. It has been well shown by means of several tests in an Italian foundry that WULS technology, together with a specific warm-up phase lubricant, ensure: - decreasing thermal shock (approx. 66% of reduction in temperature drop) - reduction of scrap pieces during production starting (approx. - 50%)

Longitudinal changes in acylated versus unacylated ghrelin levels may be involved in the underlying mechanisms of the switch in nutritional phases in Prader-Willi syndrome

Introduction: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is characterized by a switch from failure to thrive to excessive weight gain and hyperphagia in early childhood. An elevated, more unfavorable ratio between acylated and unacylated ghrelin (AG/UAG ratio) might play a role in the underlying mechanisms of this switch. We aimed to assess the evolution of the appetite-regulating hormones acylated ghrelin (AG) and unacylated ghrelin (UAG) and the AG/UAG ratio and their association with the change in eating behavior in children with PWS, compared to healthy age-matched controls. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted in 134 children with PWS and 157 healthy controls, from the Netherlands, France, and Belgium. Levels of AG and UAG and the AG/UAG ratio were measured and nutritional phases as reported for PWS were scored. Results: The AG/UAG ratio was lower in the first years of life in PWS than in controls and started to increase from the age of 3 years, resulting in a high-normal AG/UAG ratio compared to controls. The AG levels remained stable during the different nutritional phases (p = 0.114), while the UAG levels decreased from 290 pg/mL in phase 1a to 137 pg/mL in phase 2b (p < 0.001). The AG/UAG ratio increased significantly from 0.81 in phase 2a to 1.24 in phase 2b (p = 0.012). Conclusions: The change from failure to thrive to excessive weight gain and hyperphagia in infants and children with PWS coincides with an increase in AG/UAG ratio. The increase in AG/UAG ratio occurred during phase 2a, thus before the onset of hyperphagia

Dynamics of unvisited sites in presence of mutually repulsive random walkers

We have considered the persistence of unvisited sites of a lattice, i.e., the probability $S(t)$ that a site remains unvisited till time $t$ in presence of mutually repulsive random walkers. The dynamics of this system has direct correspondence to that of the domain walls in a certain system of Ising spins where the number of domain walls become fixed following a zero termperature quench. Here we get the result that $S(t) \propto \exp(-\alpha t^{\beta})$ where $\beta$ is close to 0.5 and $\alpha$ a function of the density of the walkers $\rho$. The number of persistent sites in presence of independent walkers of density $\rho^\prime$ is known to be $S^\prime (t) = \exp(-2 \sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi}} \rho^\prime t^{1/2})$. We show that a mapping of the interacting walkers' problem to the independent walkers' problem is possible with $\rho^\prime = \rho/(1-\rho)$ provided $\rho^\prime, \rho$ are small. We also discuss some other intricate results obtained in the interacting walkers' case.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Association Analysis of Ten Candidate Genes in a Large Multinational Cohort of Small for Gestational Age Children and Children with Idiopathic Short Stature (NESTEGG study)

Background: Fetal growth failure has been associated with an increased risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes in adulthood. Exploring the mechanisms underlying this association should improve our understanding of these common adult diseases. Patients and Methods: We investigated 225 SNPs in 10 genes involved in growth and glucose metabolism (GH1, GHR, IGF1, IGF1R, STAT5A, STAT5B, MAPK1, MAPK3, PPARγ and INS) in 1,437 children from the multinational NESTEGG consortium: 345 patients born small for gestational age who remained short (SGA-S), 288 who showed catch-up growth (SGA-Cu), 410 idiopathic short stature (ISS) and 394 controls. We related genotype to pre- and/or postnatal growth parameters, response to growth hormone (if applicable) and blood pressure. Results: We found several clinical associations for GH1, GHR, IGF1, IGF1R, PPARγ and MAPK1. One SNP remained significant after Bonferroni's correction: IGF1R SNP rs4966035's minor allele A was significantly more prevalent among SGA and associated with smaller birth length (p = 0.000378) and birth weight (weaker association), independent of gestational age. Conclusion:IGF1R SNP rs4966035 is significantly associated with birth length, independent of gestational age. This and other associations suggest that polymorphisms in these genes might partly explain the phenotype of short children born SGA and children with ISS

Single-cell delineation of lineage and genetic identity in the mouse brain

During neurogenesis, mitotic progenitor cells lining the ventricles ofthe embryonic mouse brain undergo their final rounds of cell division, giving rise to a wide spectrum of postmitotic neurons and glia(1,2). The link between developmental lineage and cell-type diversity remains an open question. Here we used massively parallel tagging of progenitors to track clonal relationships and transcriptomic signatures during mouse forebrain development. We quantified clonal divergence and convergence across all major cell classes postnatally, and found diverse types of GABAergic neuron that share a common lineage. Divergence of GABAergic clones occurred during embryogenesis upon cell-cycle exit, suggesting that differentiation into subtypes is initiated as a lineage-dependent process at the progenitor cell level

Monitoring and evaluation design of Malawi's Right Foods at the Right Time nutrition program

Abstract Child stunting is a public health problem in Malawi. In 2014, the Government of Malawi launched the Right Foods at the Right Time (RFRT) program in Ntchisi district delivering nutrition social and behavior change communication, a small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement to children 6–23 months, and nutrition sensitive activities. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems are key aspects of successful program implementation. We describe these and the methodology for an impact evaluation that was conducted for this program. Two monitoring systems using traditional and electronic platforms were established to register and track program delivery and processes including number of eligible beneficiaries, worker performance, program participation, and to monitor input, output, and outcome indicators. The impact evaluation used comparative cross-sectional and longitudinal designs to assess impact on anthropometric and infant and young child feeding outcomes. Three cross-sectional surveys (base-, mid-, and end-line) and two longitudinal cohorts of children followed in 6-month intervals from 6 to 24 months of age, were conducted in sampled households in the program and a neighboring comparison district. Additional M&E included qualitative studies, a process evaluation, and a cost-effectiveness study. The current paper describes lessons from this program's M&E, and demonstrates how multiple implementation research activities can inform course-correction and program scale-up

International collaboration as a tool for diagnosis of patients with inherited thrombocytopenia in the setting of a developing country

Inherited thrombocytopenias (ITs) are heterogeneous genetic disorders that frequently represent a diagnostic challenge. The requirement of highly specialized tests for diagnosis represents a particular problem in resourcelimited settings. To overcome this difficulty, we applied a diagnostic algorithm and developed a collaboration program with a specialized international center in order to increase the diagnostic yield in a cohort of patients in Argentina. Methods: Based on the algorithm, initial evaluation included collection of clinical data, platelet size, blood smear examination and platelet aggregation tests. Confirmatory tests were performed according to diagnostic suspicion, which included platelet glycoprotein expression, immunofluorescence for myosin- 9 in granulocytes and platelet thrombospondin-1 and molecular screening of candidate genes. Results: Thirty-one patients from 14 pedigrees were included; their median age was 32 (4?72) years and platelet count 72 (4?147) · 109 L)1. Autosomal dominant inheritance was found in nine (64%) pedigrees; 10 (71%) had large platelets and nine (29%) patients presented with syndromic forms. A definitive diagnosis was made in 10 of 14 pedigrees and comprised MYH9-related disease in four, while classic and monoallelic Bernard?Soulier syndrome, gray platelet syndrome, X-linked thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenia 2 (ANKRD26 mutation) and familial platelet disorder with predisposition to acute myelogenous leukemia were diagnosed in one pedigree each. Conclusions: Adoption of an established diagnostic algorithm and collaboration with an expert referral center proved useful for diagnosis of IT patients in the setting of a developing country. This initiative may serve as a model to develop international networks with the goal of improving diagnosis and care of patients with these rare diseases.Fil: Glembotsky, Ana Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Marta, Rosana Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Pecci, Alessandro. Universita Degli Studi Di Pavia; ItaliaFil: de Rocco, Daniela. Institute for Maternal and Child Health – IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo"; ItaliaFil: Gnan, Chiara. Institute for Maternal and Child Health – IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo"; ItaliaFil: Espasandin, Yesica Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Goette, Nora Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Negro, F.. Instituto Médico Sagrado Corazón; ArgentinaFil: Noris, Patrizia. Universita Degli Studi Di Pavia; ItaliaFil: Savoia, Anna. Institute for Maternal and Child Health – IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo"; Italia. Università degli Studi di Trieste; ItaliaFil: Balduini, C. L.. Universita Degli Studi Di Pavia; ItaliaFil: Molinas, Felisa Concepción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Heller, Paula Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentin

LEPRA LEPROMATOSA PENEAL EN PACIENTE CON ENFERMEDAD DE CHAGAS. REPORTE DE UN CASO

Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 52 años con fimosis secundaria a una masa pseudotumoral prepucial. El paciente presentaba una historia de enfermedad de Hansen con afectación de piel, laringe y bronquios. Previa a la circuncisión, el examen físico revelaba, además de las alteraciones lepromatosas, un mega esófago secundario a estenosis en la porción distal. El análisis laboratorial mediante la técnica de ELISA dio positivo para Trypanosoma cruzi, patógeno responsable de la enfermedad de Chagas. Sólo pudimos encontrar un caso previo reportado de lepra lepromatosa con afectación prepucial. La coexistencia de lepra y miocardiopatía chagásica es inusual pero bien conocida por casos reportados en Brasil e India. Sin embargo, de acuerdo a nuestros conocimientos, éste es el primer caso reportado de una sociación entre lepra lepromatosa y mega esófago chagásico en un paciente con fimosis