MALDI-MS argininyl bufadienolide esters fingerprint from parotoid gland secretions of Rhinella arenarum : age, gender and seasonal variation

In many amphibians, the granular glands can be grouped in special regions forming macroglands. This is the case of toads, characterized by the presence of a pair of parotoid macroglands, strategically located to give protection by poison release in case of attacks. The product secreted consists of a wide variety of chemical compounds including proteins, peptides, biogenic amines, toxic steroidal bufadienolides, and various alkaloids, depending on the species. In this work, using Rhinella arenarum, we have performed, for the first time, the matrix assisted-ultraviolet laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry characterization of the components of the secretion used as crude material, just suspended in MeOH (or MeCN). The crude sample as a whole (whole suspension) was spotted on the matrix assisted-ultraviolet laser desorption plate for analysis. Electrospray ionization-Orbitrap was used for cross-checking experiments. The pattern of signals obtained at m/z ranges 600 to 800 and 1200 to 1600 could be assigned as the argininyl bufadienolide esters fingerprint characteristic of female and male. Variation patterns for gender (female, male), age (non-reproductive, reproductive), and season (non-reproductive, reproductive) are described.Fil: Petroselli, Gabriela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono; ArgentinaFil: Raices, Marilina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Jungblut, Lucas David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Pozzi, Andrea Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Erra Balsells, Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentin

Analysis of the behavior of three digital elevation model correction methods on critical natural scenarios

Abstract Study region The methods explored in this study were tested in two study areas: Italy and Cuba. Study focus Virtually all Digital Elevation Models (DEM) contain flat areas or depression pixels that may be artifacts or actual landscape representations. These features must be removed before any further hydrological application can proceed. Diverse algorithms have been developed for the purpose of correcting these aspects, differing in how they handle the nature of the depressions, as well as the adopted mathematical procedures. In the present work, the behavior of a standard ( Fill ) and two advanced ( TOPAZ and PEM4PIT ) DEM correction methods on three critical natural scenarios is analyzed. Extensive flat areas, abrupt slope changes and large depressions − expressed in terms of: (1) geomorphological changes (elevation, affected area and slope); (2) flow velocity; (3) river network and width functions (WF) − are affected. New hydrological insights for the region Results confirm improved performance of the advanced methods over the standard method for each case study in Italy and Cuba. The analyzed parameters also show that correction processes are strongly influenced by the relief, the size of the predominating depressions and the neighbouring depressions. There is no one method among those compared which works optimally for every type of correction, and given that the majority of basins have diverse topographical conditions, a different approach to the corrections process and its computational procedures is likely needed

Qualitative research for valuing library services: a case study

In Italy the evaluation of library services (and especially of library outcomes) is quite a new subject: that's why sharing studies and experiences – the chosen methods, their pros and cons, the results achieved – can help develop a sound and common research model. The case study described in this article was aimed at evaluating the impact of the new public library of Prato on the local community. The research consisted in a number of interviews (carried out with different tools for different kind of interviewees) completed by a set of quantitative data, and highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the new structure, thus demonstrating the importance of qualitative surveys in order to assess the social impact of libraries. The same research model has then been used for the ex-post valuation of a project addressed to university students.Gli esempi di indagini qualitative per la valutazione dei servizi bibliotecari e dei loro outcomes sono ancora pochi in Italia; di conseguenza permane un'incertezza terminologica, conoscitiva e operativa sull'argomento. Per questa ragione la condivisione delle esperienze fatte – dei metodi utilizzati, dei loro vantaggi e svantaggi, dei risultati ottenuti – non può che aiutare lo sviluppo di un modello di ricerca condiviso e collaudato. L'articolo illustra il metodo adottato per la valutazione dell’impatto della nuova sede della Biblioteca comunale di Prato. La ricerca – strutturata in una serie di interviste (diversificate a seconda della tipologia di intervistato) a cui sono stati integrati dati di tipo quantitativo – ha messo in luce i punti di forza e di debolezza della nuova struttura, dimostrando l’importanza di indagini di questo tipo ai fini della valutazione dell’impatto sociale delle biblioteche. La stessa metodologia è stata poi utilizzata per la valutazione ex post di un progetto dedicato all’utenza universitaria

Margaret Mahler y otros, <i>El nacimiento psicológico del infante humano</i> : Marymar, 1977

En este texto M. Mahler y Col. plantean como el nacimiento biológico y psicológico no coinciden en el tiempo siendo el segundo un proceso intrapsiquico lento desarrollo que denominará proceso de separación-individuación y se refiere al establecimiento de un sentimiento de separación respecto de un mundo real y de una relación con el, en particular con las experiencias del propio cuerpo y con el principal representa del mundo tal como el infante lo experimenta, el objeto primario de amor. Este incluye logro por parte del niño de un funcionamiento separado en presencia de la madre, con la disponibilidad emocional de esta, y ocurre en el ámbito de una disposición evolutiva para el funcionamiento independiente y de una complacencia en tal actividad. (Párrafo extraído del texto a modo de resumen)Departamento de Psicologí

Margaret Mahler y otros, <i>El nacimiento psicológico del infante humano</i> : Marymar, 1977

En este texto M. Mahler y Col. plantean como el nacimiento biológico y psicológico no coinciden en el tiempo siendo el segundo un proceso intrapsiquico lento desarrollo que denominará proceso de separación-individuación y se refiere al establecimiento de un sentimiento de separación respecto de un mundo real y de una relación con el, en particular con las experiencias del propio cuerpo y con el principal representa del mundo tal como el infante lo experimenta, el objeto primario de amor. Este incluye logro por parte del niño de un funcionamiento separado en presencia de la madre, con la disponibilidad emocional de esta, y ocurre en el ámbito de una disposición evolutiva para el funcionamiento independiente y de una complacencia en tal actividad. (Párrafo extraído del texto a modo de resumen)Departamento de Psicologí

The influence of the net rainfall mixed Curve Number – Green Ampt procedure in flood hazard mapping: a case study in Central Italy

A net rainfall estimation procedure, referred to as Curve-Number For Green-Ampt (CN4GA), combining the Soil Conservation Service - Curve Number (SCS-CN) method and the Green and Ampt (GA) infiltration equation was recently developed, aiming to distribute at subdaily time resolution the information provided by the SCS-CN method. The initial abstraction and the total volume of rainfall provided by the SCS-CN method are used to identify the ponding time and to quantify the hydraulic conductivity parameter of the GA equation, whereas the GA infiltration model distributes the total volume of the rainfall excess provided by the SCS-CN method. In this study we evaluate the proposed procedure with reference to a real case comparing the flood mapping obtained applying the event-based approach for two different net rainfall scenarios: the proposed CN4GA and the common SCS-CN. Results underline that the net rainfall estimation step can affect the final flood mapping result