Non-passerine birds from Laguna Melincué Ramsar Site, Santa Fe province, Argentina

We present a waterbird inventory of the Laguna Melincué Ramsar Site in southern Santa Fe province, Argentina. We record 109 species from 28 families of non-passerine birds, including the 14 Nearctic species, four southern austral migrant species, three northern austral migrants, 17 partial migrants, and two altitudinal migrants. The eight most abundant species belong to different families and trophic groups. Thirty-six species were observed nesting or rearing chicks. This baseline knowledge of non-passerine birds will be useful to assist future conservation studies in this highly threatened area.Fil: Romano, Marcelo. Centro de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Ambiente ECOSUR; ArgentinaFil: Barberis, Ignacio Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnol.conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Investigaciones En Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Luppi, Marcelo. Provincia de Santa Fe. Comuna de Melincué; ArgentinaFil: Pagano, Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentin

The role of religiousness on substance-use disorder treatment outcomes: a comparison of black and white adolescents

This study compares 41 Black and 124 White adolescents at intake and discharge from a residential treatment program for substance-use disorders. Study data were obtained as part of a larger study (N = 195) that sought to assess the relationship of helping behavior and addiction recovery. This post-hoc analysis aims to identify cultural strengths that may be associated with recovery from substance-use disorders among Black adolescents. Using regression analyses and controlling for the severity of substance use and background variables that distinguish racial groups, religious practices and behaviors at intake were examined. Specifically, Black youth and White youth were compared on treatment outcomes, including alcohol or drug use during treatment, drug craving, 12-Step work, and 12-Step helping. The burden of health and socioeconomic disparities at intake did not disproportionately disfavor Black adolescents. Outcomes related to 12-Step measures were similar between Black and White youth. White adolescents reported higher craving scores at discharge, and Black adolescents were more likely to use drugs during treatment. High levels of religiousness at treatment intake were linked to greater 12-Step work and greater 12-Step helping at discharge. High levels of religiousness at intake were not related to drug use during treatment or to craving scores at discharge. The relationship between intake levels of religiousness and treatment-related outcomes did not differ by race.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3437261/Accepted manuscrip

Roles of glycosylation on the antifungal activity and apoplast accumulation of StAPs (Solanum tuberosum aspartic proteases)

Specific roles of glycosylation appear to be protein-dependent. Plant aspartic proteases (APs) contain two or more consensus N-glycosylation sites; however, the importance of them is not well understood. StAPs (Solanum tuberosum aspartic proteases) are bifunctional proteins with both proteolytic and antimicrobial activities. These proteins are accumulated into the intercellular washing fluid of potato tubers and leaves after wounding or infection. In this paper we investigated the importance of glycosylation on the StAPs apoplast accumulation, biochemical parameters, and fungicidal activity. Assays to evaluate the importance of StAPs glycosylation groups by using glycosylation inhibitors demonstrate that carbohydrate portions are essential to StAPs accumulation into the apoplast of tubers and leaves after wounding or detachment, respectively. Bifunctional activity of StAPs is differentially affected by this post-translational modification. Results obtained show that not significant changes were produced in the physicochemical properties after StAPs deglycosylation (pH and thermal-optimum activity and index of protein surface hydrophobicity). Otherwise, StAPs antifungal activity is affected by deglycosylation. Deglycosylated StAPs (dgStAPs) fungicidal activity is lower than native StAPs at all concentrations and times assayed. In summary, glycosylation has not a significant role on the StAPs conformational structure. However, it is involved in the StAPs subcellular accumulation and antifungal activity suggesting that it could be necessary for StAPs membrane and/or protein interactions and subsequently its biological function(s).Fil: Pagano, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Mendieta, Julieta Renee. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz, Fernando Felipe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Daleo, Gustavo Raul. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Guevara, Maria Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentin

On-sky single-mode fiber coupling measurements at the Large Binocular Telescope

The demonstration of efficient single-mode fiber (SMF) coupling is a key requirement for the development of a compact, ultra-precise radial velocity (RV) spectrograph. iLocater is a next generation instrument for the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) that uses adaptive optics (AO) to inject starlight into a SMF. In preparation for commissioning iLocater, a prototype SMF injection system was installed and tested at the LBT in the Y-band (0.970-1.065 $\mu$m). This system was designed to verify the capability of the LBT AO system as well as characterize on-sky SMF coupling efficiencies. SMF coupling was measured on stars with variable airmasses, apparent magnitudes, and seeing conditions for six half-nights using the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer. We present the overall optical and mechanical performance of the SMF injection system, including details of the installation and alignment procedure. A particular emphasis is placed on analyzing the instrument's performance as a function of telescope elevation to inform the final design of the fiber injection system for iLocater.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure

Selective Interaction of Colistin with Lipid Model Membranes

Although colistin's clinical use is limited due to its nephrotoxicity, colistin is considered to be an antibiotic of last resort because it is used to treat patients infected with multidrug-resistant bacteria. In an effort to provide molecular details about colistin's ability to kill Gram-negative (G(−)) but not Gram-positive (G(+)) bacteria, we investigated the biophysics of the interaction between colistin and lipid mixtures mimicking the cytoplasmic membrane of G(+), G(−) bacteria as well as eukaryotic cells. Two different models of the G(−) outer membrane (OM) were assayed: lipid A with two deoxy-manno-octulosonyl sugar residues, and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide mixed with dilaurylphosphatidylglycerol. We used circular dichroism and x-ray diffuse scattering at low and wide angle in stacked multilayered samples, and neutron reflectivity of single, tethered bilayers mixed with colistin. We found no differences in secondary structure when colistin was bound to G(−) versus G(+) membrane mimics, ruling out a protein conformational change as the cause of this difference. However, bending modulus KC perturbation was quite irregular for the G(−) inner membrane, where colistin produced a softening of the membranes at an intermediate lipid/peptide molar ratio but stiffening at lower and higher peptide concentrations, whereas in G(+) and eukaryotic mimics there was only a slight softening. Acyl chain order in G(−) was perturbed similarly to KC. In G(+), there was only a slight softening and disordering effect, whereas in OM mimics, there was a slight stiffening and ordering of both membranes with increasing colistin. X-ray and neutron reflectivity structural results reveal colistin partitions deepest to reach the hydrocarbon interior in G(−) membranes, but remains in the headgroup region in G(+), OM, and eukaryotic mimics. It is possible that domain formation is responsible for the erratic response of G(−) inner membranes to colistin and for its deeper penetration, which could increase membrane permeability.Fil: Dupuy, Fernando Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados UnidosFil: Pagano, Isabella. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados UnidosFil: Andenoro, Kathryn. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados UnidosFil: Peralta, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados UnidosFil: Elhady, Yasmene. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados UnidosFil: Heinrich, Frank. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados UnidosFil: Tristram-nagle, Stephanie. University of Carnegie Mellon; Estados Unido

Estimación de factores de emisión locales para las actividades de generación de metano en el sector Aguas Residuales Domiciliarias de la provincia de Buenos Aires

A partir de datos propios del Partido de Olavarría se estimaron los factores de emisión EF (emission factor, kg CH4/kg DBO), de corrección de metano MCF (methane correction factor, adimensional) propios del sistema de descarga y de tratamiento de las aguas residuales y la cantidad total de carbono orgánico degradable TOW (total organics in wastewater, kg DBO/año) para el sector Aguas Residuales Domiciliarias en el Partido de Olavarría, realizando proyecciones en la Provincia de Buenos Aires (Argentina), siguiendo la metodología propuesta en 2006 por el Panel Intergubernamental de Cambio Climático (IPCC). Se determinó un valor total de TOW de 1,137,173 kg DBO/año para el Partido de Olavarría, estimando 153.5 millones kg DBO/año para la Provincia frente a los 407.4 millones de kg DBO/año para el total de la República Argentina. El MCF promedio ponderado determinado para Olavarría fue de 0.64, estimando 0.652 para la Provincia frente a 0.645 para la República Argentina. Los EF (kg CH4/kg DBO) para Olavarría fueron 0.48 (descarga a red pública y tratamiento centralizado en planta depuradora; descarga a letrina), 0.3 (pozo ciego con cámara séptica y descarga a letrina) y 0.51 (pozo ciego sin cámara séptica), siendo en promedio 0.547, 0.3 y 0.51, respectivamente, para la Provincia de Buenos Aires.Using collected data from Olavarría city, methane emission factors EF (kg CH4/kg BOD), MCF (methane correction factor, dimensionless) and TOW (total quantity of degradable organics in wastewater, kg DOB/year) were estimated for domestic wastewater sector in Olavarría city and Buenos Aires Province (Argentina). The methodology proposed in 2006 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was applied. The TOW value for Olavarría city was 1,137,173 kg BOD/year, while the estimated Province value was 153.5 million kg BOD/year compared to 407.4 million kg BOD/year for Argentina. The weighted average MCF for Olavarría city was 0.64, for Buenos Aires Province was 0.652 in front of 0.645 estimated for Argentina. The EF (kg BOD CH4/kg) for Olavarría city were 0.48 (discharge systems for public network and centralized treatment plant sludge), 0.3 (discharge latrine/septic tank with septic tank) and 0.51 (discharge latrine/septic tank cesspool without), while on average were 0.547, 0.3 and 0.51, respectively for Buenos Aires Province.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Estimación de factores de emisión locales para las actividades de generación de metano en el sector Aguas Residuales Domiciliarias de la provincia de Buenos Aires

A partir de datos propios del Partido de Olavarría se estimaron los factores de emisión EF (emission factor, kg CH4/kg DBO), de corrección de metano MCF (methane correction factor, adimensional) propios del sistema de descarga y de tratamiento de las aguas residuales y la cantidad total de carbono orgánico degradable TOW (total organics in wastewater, kg DBO/año) para el sector Aguas Residuales Domiciliarias en el Partido de Olavarría, realizando proyecciones en la Provincia de Buenos Aires (Argentina), siguiendo la metodología propuesta en 2006 por el Panel Intergubernamental de Cambio Climático (IPCC). Se determinó un valor total de TOW de 1,137,173 kg DBO/año para el Partido de Olavarría, estimando 153.5 millones kg DBO/año para la Provincia frente a los 407.4 millones de kg DBO/año para el total de la República Argentina. El MCF promedio ponderado determinado para Olavarría fue de 0.64, estimando 0.652 para la Provincia frente a 0.645 para la República Argentina. Los EF (kg CH4/kg DBO) para Olavarría fueron 0.48 (descarga a red pública y tratamiento centralizado en planta depuradora; descarga a letrina), 0.3 (pozo ciego con cámara séptica y descarga a letrina) y 0.51 (pozo ciego sin cámara séptica), siendo en promedio 0.547, 0.3 y 0.51, respectivamente, para la Provincia de Buenos Aires.Using collected data from Olavarría city, methane emission factors EF (kg CH4/kg BOD), MCF (methane correction factor, dimensionless) and TOW (total quantity of degradable organics in wastewater, kg DOB/year) were estimated for domestic wastewater sector in Olavarría city and Buenos Aires Province (Argentina). The methodology proposed in 2006 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was applied. The TOW value for Olavarría city was 1,137,173 kg BOD/year, while the estimated Province value was 153.5 million kg BOD/year compared to 407.4 million kg BOD/year for Argentina. The weighted average MCF for Olavarría city was 0.64, for Buenos Aires Province was 0.652 in front of 0.645 estimated for Argentina. The EF (kg BOD CH4/kg) for Olavarría city were 0.48 (discharge systems for public network and centralized treatment plant sludge), 0.3 (discharge latrine/septic tank with septic tank) and 0.51 (discharge latrine/septic tank cesspool without), while on average were 0.547, 0.3 and 0.51, respectively for Buenos Aires Province.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Unraveling the petrogenesis of the Miocene La Peña alkaline intrusive complex, Mendoza, Argentina: Insights from the study of the disregarded late dykes

The La Peña Complex (LPC) is a silica-undersaturated alkaline potassic intrusive system, with a subduction-related signature, linked to the early Miocene retroarc magmatism of the Southern Central Andes, in the flat slab segment. The LPC is composed of several intrusions, predominantly plutonic (clinopyroxenite, malignite and syenite), cross cut by a voluminous swarm of radial and annular dikes with mostly volcanic-subvolcanic textures and variable compositions (foid-bearing alkali feldspar trachyte, trachyte, benmoreite, ledmorite, syenite, tephrite, tephriphonolite and alkaline lamprophyre). In the TAS classification these rocks plot in the alkaline series covering a wide spectrum of compositions following two different trends: 1) alkaline (potassic) strongly silica-undersaturated series, from tephrite, phonotephrite to tephra-phonolite, and 2) mid-alkaline, less silica-undersaturated series, ranging from basaltic trachyandesite to trachyandesite (benmoreite), and trachyte. Dikes from the alkaline series show higher K2O/Na2O ratios and Sr, La, Ce, contents compared to those from the mid-alkaline series. Rocks of the alkaline series are richer in K-feldspar, sodalite, leucite (pseudoleucite), biotite, potassic-ferro-pargasite and garnet than the less silica-undersaturated (trachytic) rocks, reflecting a stronger alkaline potassic affinity. A review of geochemical, isotopic and mineralogical data, and a new geochemical modeling performed on the LPC dikes, suggests that both trends represent separated magmatic series that evolved from two different parental magmas lodged ∼30 km deep in the crust. Our results suggest that the compositional variations observed in LPC dikes, cannot be explained by a simple magmatic evolution via fractional crystallization from a unique parental magma, and that an assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC) process is required to explain some compositional differences. Our results suggest an upper crustal contaminant (evolved rocks) with a Grenvillian isotope signature. On the other hand, analyses of feldspar crystals from the tephriphonolitic dikes indicate local mixing effects, between an evolved tephriphonolitic melt and a less evolved and hotter mafic magma. The origin of both parental magmas could be explained by different melting degrees of the same mantle source, a phlogopite-bearing spinel lherzolite metasomatized by subduction derived fluids. We consider as a possible explanation that alkaline and coeval calc-alkaline magmatism in this part of the Andes, is due to local heterogeneities in the mantle source, and different degrees of partial melting Similar isotopic compositions of the LPC dikes, with those from other Miocene magmatic occurrences with arc-signature and similar age (e.g., Paramillos de Uspallata, Las Máquinas basalt, Abanico Fm and Farellones Fm) suggest an analogous mantle source for these rocks, from arc and retroarc in the Pampean flat slab regions. However, our results suggest that the isotopic trend contamination of LCP is different from that of Paramillos de Uspallata and other arc rocks of the Southern Volcanic Zone. The crustal contaminant of LPC possibly has another composition that those of Precordillera and Principal Cordillera Miocene rocks. The age of LPC rocks (∼19 Ma) and their arc-related signature agree with the eastward broadening of the arc magmatism between 17 and 19 Ma in this part of the flat slab. According to our interpretations, the LPC is a singular occurrence of two alkaline magmatic series on destructive plate margins, associated with calc-alkaline magmatism, occurring closely in time and space.Fil: Pagano Género, Diego Sebastián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: Enriquez, Eliel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: Morosini, Augusto Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: Galliski, Miguel Angel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Marquez Zavalia, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Colombo, Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Martina, Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Ibañes, Oscar Damián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz, Brian Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: D'eramo, Fernando Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentin