Aplicación de un modelo de red neuronal para la clasificación de sistemas lacunares pampeanos

The pampean shallow lakes present different distributions in their trophic chains, the latter being cause and consequence of the state of the lacunar systems. In order to determine how each of the measured variables —climatic, edaphic, morphometric, physicochemical and biological— in contributes to the general state of the lake, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model is built. The ANN is capable of processing a large number of variables and returning a classification that will allow determining it’s the trophic state. The information from satellite images is one of the input variables. Hence, on a first stage, the construction of a ANN model is intended to obtain a weight for each one of the visible specter bands and near infrared bands from LANDSAT and to pick the most representative value that the image returns. This value will be used as input to the ANN that will be then trained to return a classification of the shallow lakes according to the three observed patterns in the relation between phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish and their link with to nutrient abundance and watershed management.Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) - Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raul A. Ringuelet" (ILPLA

Insecticidal Activity of Four Essential Oils Extracted from Chilean Patagonian Plants as Potential Organic Pesticide

Patagonia is a geographical area characterized by a wide plant biodiversity. Several native plant species are traditionally used in medicine by the local population and demonstrated to be sources of biologically active compounds. Due to the massive need for green and sustainable pesticides, this study was conducted to evaluate the insecticidal activity of essential oils (EOs) from understudied plants growing in this propitious area. Ciprés (Pilgerodendron uviferum), tepa (Laureliopsis philippiana), canelo (Drimys winteri), and paramela (Adesmia boronioides) EOs were extracted through steam distillation, and their compositions were analyzed through GC–MS analysis. EO contact toxicity against Musca domestica L., Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.), and Culex quinquefasciatus Say was then evaluated. As a general trend, EOs performed better on housefly males over females. Ciprés EO showed the highest insecticidal efficacy. The LD50(90) values were 68.6 (183.7) and 11.3 (75.1) µg adult−1 on housefly females and males, respectively. All EOs were effective against S. littoralis larvae; LD50 values were 33.2–66.7 µg larva−1, and tepa EO was the most effective in terms of LD90 (i.e., <100 µg larva−1). Canelo, tepa, and paramela EOs were highly effective on C. quinquefasciatus larvae, with LC50 values < 100 µL L−1. Again, tepa EO achieved LD90 < 100 µL L−1. This EO was characterized by safrole (43.1%), linalool (27.9%), and methyl eugenol (6.9%) as major constituents. Overall, Patagonian native plant EOs can represent a valid resource for local stakeholders, to develop effective insecticides for pest and vector management, pending a proper focus on their formulation and nontarget effects

Plant-Derived Epi-Nutraceuticals as Potential Broad-Spectrum Anti-Viral Agents

Although the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be diminishing, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants represents a threat to humans due to their inherent transmissibility, immunological evasion, virulence, and invulnerability to existing therapies. The COVID-19 pandemic affected more than 500 million people and caused over 6 million deaths. Vaccines are essential, but in circumstances in which vaccination is not accessible or in individuals with compromised immune systems, drugs can provide additional protection. Targeting host signaling pathways is recommended due to their genomic stability and resistance barriers. Moreover, targeting host factors allows us to develop compounds that are effective against different viral variants as well as against newly emerging virus strains. In recent years, the globe has experienced climate change, which may contribute to the emergence and spread of infectious diseases through a variety of factors. Warmer temperatures and changing precipitation patterns can increase the geographic range of disease-carrying vectors, increasing the risk of diseases spreading to new areas. Climate change may also affect vector behavior, leading to a longer breeding season and more breeding sites for disease vectors. Climate change may also disrupt ecosystems, bringing humans closer to wildlife that transmits zoonotic diseases. All the above factors may accelerate the emergence of new viral epidemics. Plant-derived products, which have been used in traditional medicine for treating pathological conditions, offer structurally novel therapeutic compounds, including those with anti-viral activity. In addition, plant-derived bioactive substances might serve as the ideal basis for developing sustainable/efficient/cost-effective anti-viral alternatives. Interest in herbal antiviral products has increased. More than 50% of approved drugs originate from herbal sources. Plant-derived compounds offer diverse structures and bioactive molecules that are candidates for new drug development. Combining these therapies with conventional drugs could improve patient outcomes. Epigenetics modifications in the genome can affect gene expression without altering DNA sequences. Host cells can use epigenetic gene regulation as a mechanism to silence incoming viral DNA molecules, while viruses recruit cellular epitranscriptomic (covalent modifications of RNAs) modifiers to increase the translational efficiency and transcript stability of viral transcripts to enhance viral gene expression and replication. Moreover, viruses manipulate host cells' epigenetic machinery to ensure productive viral infections. Environmental factors, such as natural products, may influence epigenetic modifications. In this review, we explore the potential of plant-derived substances as epigenetic modifiers for broad-spectrum anti-viral activity, reviewing their modulation processes and anti-viral effects on DNA and RNA viruses, as well as addressing future research objectives in this rapidly emerging field

Evaluation of Physicochemical and Microbial Properties of Extracts from Wine Lees Waste of Matelica’s Verdicchio and Their Applications in Novel Cosmetic Products

Wine lees are sediments deposited on the walls and bottom of barrels resulting from wine fermentation and mainly consist of yeasts. Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts, rich in beneficial components for the skin, have already been used in cosmesis, while wine lees have not been well exploited by the cosmetics industry yet. The aim of this work was the full characterization of the wine lees from Verdicchio's wine, with the aim to exploit it as a beneficial ingredient in new cosmetic products. After mapping the microbial composition of the sample waste, the parameters for the sonication extraction process were optimized and the physicochemical properties of the extract were analyzed. The efficiency of the aqueous extraction-and in particular the yeast cell lysis necessary for the release of proteins from the cell-was assessed by evaluating cell shape and size, and protein release, under scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Bradford's protein assays. Thus, the total phenol content and antioxidant capacity of the supernatant recovered from native and sonicated lees were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu's and spectrophotometric assays, respectively. To quantify the heavy metals and highlight the presence of microelements beneficial for the skin, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied. In vitro metabolic activity and cytotoxicity were tested on both HaCat keratinocytes and human gingival fibroblasts, showing that wine lees are safe for skin's cells. The results show that sonicated lees appear to be more interesting than native ones as a consequence of the release of the active ingredients from the cells. Due to the high antioxidant capacity, content of beneficial elements for skin and an appropriate microbiologic profile, wine lees were included in five new solid cosmetic products and tested for challenge test, compatibility with human skin, sensory analysis, trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) and sebometry

Clasificación de lagos someros pampeanos mediante imágenes Landsat<SUP>TM</SUP>

Under normal hydro-meteorological conditions, lagoons cover up to 2,000,000 of the pampas territory, distributed in more than 2,000 permanent lacunar bodies. They contribute significantly to the life quality of their inhabitants and they constitute a potential source of environmental, economic and recreational resources. Several studies in different lagoons in different temporal periods have been developed in the province of Buenos Aires. They responded in an optimum way to the original goals, but they are barely valid when looking for dynamic spatial and temporal patterns in the lagoons, involving the use of the support basin. The use of remote sensors has proved effective in collecting the information needed to evaluate the quality of water bodies, to allow the search of temporal and spatial patterns, and to link lagoon water quality data with the characteristics of land use. We propose a proce dure for previously normalized satelital image analysis that will allow a classification of the lagoons based on their optical properties, conditioned by the contents of suspended inorganic solid matter and algal biomass. The results will be compared to samples in the field and spatially extrapolated. They will be used to propose alternative management methods jointly with some local decision makers.Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) - Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raul A. Ringuelet" (ILPLA

Clasificación de lagos someros pampeanos mediante imágenes Landsat<SUP>TM</SUP>

Under normal hydro-meteorological conditions, lagoons cover up to 2,000,000 of the pampas territory, distributed in more than 2,000 permanent lacunar bodies. They contribute significantly to the life quality of their inhabitants and they constitute a potential source of environmental, economic and recreational resources. Several studies in different lagoons in different temporal periods have been developed in the province of Buenos Aires. They responded in an optimum way to the original goals, but they are barely valid when looking for dynamic spatial and temporal patterns in the lagoons, involving the use of the support basin. The use of remote sensors has proved effective in collecting the information needed to evaluate the quality of water bodies, to allow the search of temporal and spatial patterns, and to link lagoon water quality data with the characteristics of land use. We propose a proce dure for previously normalized satelital image analysis that will allow a classification of the lagoons based on their optical properties, conditioned by the contents of suspended inorganic solid matter and algal biomass. The results will be compared to samples in the field and spatially extrapolated. They will be used to propose alternative management methods jointly with some local decision makers.Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) - Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raul A. Ringuelet" (ILPLA

Nuclear accumulation of c-myc mRNA in phytohaemagglutinin-activated T lymphocytes treated with anti-HLA class I monoclonal antibody

Anti-HLA class I monoclonal antibody 01.65 inhibits the proliferative response of PHA-activated human T lymphocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The recruitment rate in the cell cycle is slack and the G1 and S phases are prolonged. Among the early events after PHA activation, only the calcium-dependent PKC activity appears to be modified: particulate PKC is completely depleted while cytosolic residual PKC is reduced by 80% after MAb 01.65 treatment. We have carried out in greater detail the study of c-myc gene regulation by MAb 01.65 and the results are as follows: (i) c-myc RNA transcription is normally initiated and finished, suggesting a post-transcriptional regulation of c-myc gene expression; (ii) no alteration in c-myc mRNA stability has been documented; (iii) steady-state levels of c-myc mRNA expression by Northern blot analysis and PCR amplification are decreased in the cytoplasmic compartment, while in the nuclear compartment they appear to be increased. Nuclear accumulation of mature mRNA after MAb 01.65 and PKC inhibitor (H7 and StSp) treatment appears to be the most probable mechanism involved. The possible implications of this are discussed

Human-threatened ecosystem: new signs of groundwater connection between Yacyreta reservoir and Ibera wetland (South America)

Ibera wetland is one of the most pristine and singular ecosystems of South America. Satellite-derived thermal analysis of its lacustrine system supported the existence of a groundwater connection with the Yacyreta reservoir through basaltic fractures located along the ancient river bed of the Parana. The groundwater outflow would be located on the geological discontinuity of the eastern border of Ibera wetland, concretely around Laguna Ibera´ and Laguna Luna–Disparo. This new sign of connection comes on top of the hydrological signs which already exist. A call to prudence recommends not extending the recently projected increase of the water level of Yacyreta reservoir. Deeper hydrogeological studies should analyze the hypothesis emerged from this study before modifying the water level of Yacyreta

Lethal and sublethal effects of carlina oxide on the aphid Metopolophium dirhodum, and its non-target impact on two biological control agents

This study was designed to investigate the acute toxicity (mortality) and sublethal effects (fertility and potential natality) of carlina oxide, the main constituent of Carlina acaulis essential oil (EO), against adults of Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Moreover, its toxicity was evaluated against two aphid natural enemies, i.e., Aphidoletes aphidimyza Rondani (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). The highest tested concentration (3.0 mL L−1) resulted in 96.7% mortality of adults of the target pest, highlighting that this concentration of carlina oxide had a similar effectiveness as the positive control we used. Furthermore, probit analysis allowed the estimation of a LC50 of 1.06 mL L−1 and a LC90 of 2.58 mL L−1 for the target pest, which resulted in a much higher mortality rate than that found on natural enemies, i.e., A. aphidimyza (6.7 ± 4.7% ± SD when exposed to the aphid LC90) and C. carnea (7.0 ± 5.5% ± SD when exposed to the aphid LC90), showing the limited non-target impact of carlina oxide. The use of LC30 and LC50 of this compound allowed the fertility inhibition of the target pest by 35.68 ± 6.21% and 23.66 ± 10.58%, respectively, and potential natality inhibition of the target pest by 52.78 ± 4.48% and 59.69 ± 5.60%, respectively. Of note, carlina oxide showed excellent insecticidal activity against M. dirhodum, comparable to the commercial insecticide considered. Overall, the low toxicity of carlina oxide toward A. aphidimyza and C. carnea makes it a safe compound for non-target organisms as well as suitable for developing a green insecticide for the management of M. dirhodum and perhaps other insects of agricultural or medical and veterinary interest