The key points for communication by material means during the Late Holocene in central-west Santa Cruz (Southern Patagonia, Argentina)

Se estudian puntos claves en el espacio para la comunicación por medios materiales durante los últimos 2500 años en Patagonia meridional. Se caracterizan los sitios con mayor cantidad de motivos rupestres en la meseta del Strobel (Argentina) considerando cuatro ejes: emplazamientos seleccionados, intensidad de producción rupestre, variedad de información comunicada y lapsos temporales representados. Se busca comprender los criterios de selección de estos espacios y de las estrategias de circulación de información en este período. Se evalúa la importancia de estos sitios en una escala espacial amplia y se resalta su relevancia para comprender los circuitos de comunicación entre poblaciones humanas durante el Holoceno Tardío.Key points in space for communication by material means during the last 2500 years in southern Patagonia are studied. The sites with the greatest number of rock art motifs on the Strobel plateau (Argentina) are characterized in terms of four axes: the selected locations, the intensity of rock art production, the variety of information communicated, and the time periods represented. We seek to understand the criteria for the selection of these spaces and the strategies related to the circulation of information during this period of time. The importance of these sites in a wide spatial scale is evaluated, and their relevance for the understanding of the communication circuits among human populations during the Late Holocene is highlighted.Fil: Re, Anahi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Cultura y Museos. Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Guichon, Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales. Conae Sede Buenos Aires; Argentina. Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Cultura y Museos. Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano; ArgentinaFil: Espinosa, Mariana. Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Cultura y Museos. Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Lara. Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Cultura y Museos. Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano; Argentin

Las mesetas de San Adolfo y Cardiel Chico: estrategias de movilidad y tácticas de caza de guanacos en el SO de Santa Cruz

Fil: Belardi, Juan Bautista. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral (UNPA). Río Gallegos. Santa Cruz; ArgentinaFil: Espinosa, Silvana. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral (UNPA). Río Gallegos. Santa Cruz; ArgentinaFil: Barrientos, Gustavo. División Antropología. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Carballo Marina, Flavia. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral (UNPA). Río Gallegos. Santa Cruz; ArgentinaFil: Re, Anahí. Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano (INAPL). Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Campan, Patricia. Museo Regional Provincial Padre M. J. Molina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral (UNPA). Río Gallegos. Santa Cruz; ArgentinaFil: Súnico, Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano (INAPL). Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Guichon, Francisco. Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano (INAPL). Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Espacio 3.0: una red social y colaborativa en la Universidad de Murcia

[SPA] Los entornos virtuales de aprendizaje se están convirtiendo en uno de los principales escenarios de aprendizaje de los alumnos en el contexto de la enseñanza superior. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo implementar y evaluar una plataforma institucional exclusiva para alumnos con el fin de facilitar la gestión documental y fomentar el aprendizaje colaborativo, promoviendo con ello la consolidación de una comunidad de aprendizaje: el proyecto Espacio 3.0. Perseguimos que de algún modo se vincule la estructura organizativa formal de la titulación a los aspectos no formales del aprendizaje, todo ello a través de una herramienta institucional que contribuya a consolidar una estructura de red social y la gestión del conocimiento del alumno desde la perspectiva de su entorno personal de aprendizaje. Así, se pretende analizar la experiencia de innovación a través de la investigación evaluativa por medio del estudio de caso y adoptando un papel de investigador actor dentro de un paradigma descriptivo e interpretativo, utilizando una metodología mixta donde se utilizan instrumentos cualitativos y cuantitativos para la recogida de información. La muestra escogida para la experiencia son todos los estudiantes de la Facultad de Matemáticas de la Universidad de Murcia y actualmente nos encontramos actualmente en la etapa de implementación. [ENG] Virtual learning environments are becoming one of the main stages of student learning in the context of higher education. This research aims to implement and evaluate an exclusive institutional platform for students in order to facilitate document management and encourage collaborative learning, thereby promoting the consolidation of a learning community: Space 3.0 project. We pursue that somehow the formal organizational structure of the degree to non- formal aspects of learning is linked, all through an institutional tool that helps to consolidate a social network structure and knowledge management student from the perspective of personal learning environment. It seeks to analyze the experience of innovation through evaluation research through case study and researcher adopting a role player in a descriptive and interpretive paradigm, using a mixed qualitative and quantitative methodology where instruments are used to collect information. The sample chosen for the experience are all students of the Faculty of Mathematics, University of Murcia and we are currently in the implementation stage

Protection of Double-Stranded RNA via Complexation with Double Hydrophilic Block Copolymers: Influence of Neutral Block Length in Biologically Relevant Environments

Interaction between the anionic phosphodiester backbone of DNA/RNA and polycations can be exploited as a means of delivering genetic material for therapeutic and agrochemical applications. In this work, quaternized poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PQDMAEMA-b-PDMAm) double hydrophilic block copolymers (DHBCs) were synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization as nonviral delivery vehicles for double-stranded RNA. The assembly of DHBCs and dsRNA forms distinct polyplexes that were thoroughly characterized to establish a relationship between the length of the uncharged poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA) block and the polyplex size, complexation efficiency, and colloidal stability. Dynamic light scattering reveals the formation of smaller polyplexes with increasing PDMA lengths, while gel electrophoresis confirms that these polyplexes require higher N/P ratio for full complexation. DHBC polyplexes exhibit enhanced stability in low ionic strength environments in comparison to homopolymer-based polyplexes. In vitro enzymatic degradation assays demonstrate that both homopolymer and DHBC polymers efficiently protect dsRNA from degradation by RNase A enzyme

Las cuencas de los lagos Tar y San Martín (Santa Cruz, Argentina) y la dinámica del poblamiento humano del sur de Patagonia: Integración de los primeros resultados

The aim of this paper is to present the first preliminary results of the systematic archaeological research carried out in the Lago Tar and Lago San Martin basins (49° 7' S, 72° 11' O), focusing on the distributional aspects of the record. In order to discuss patterned differences in the space use by prehistoric hunter-gatherers, the information is organized following the main ecologic units (steppe, forest, and the corresponding ecotone). Stable isotope data (δ13C and δ15N) from guanaco (Lama guanicoe) bone samples are also reported as a first step in the understanding of the regional isotopic ecology. On the basis of some differences in the spacial distribution of artifacts it can be proposed that the higher intensity of human use was concentrated on the eastern shore of Lago Tar and around Cerro Cach Aike. Such intensity decreases westward (southern shore of the Lago San Martin). The occupation history of these spaces began around 9700 years BP, following a highly punctuated pattern until historic times. The paper ends with a comparison between the archaeological record of Lago Tar and Lago San Martin basins with other southern Patagonia cordillerean lacustrine basins in order to discuss the prehistoric peopling of the region.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Las cuencas de los lagos Tar y San Martín (Santa Cruz, Argentina) y la dinámica del poblamiento humano del sur de Patagonia: Integración de los primeros resultados

The aim of this paper is to present the first preliminary results of the systematic archaeological research carried out in the Lago Tar and Lago San Martin basins (49° 7' S, 72° 11' O), focusing on the distributional aspects of the record. In order to discuss patterned differences in the space use by prehistoric hunter-gatherers, the information is organized following the main ecologic units (steppe, forest, and the corresponding ecotone). Stable isotope data (δ13C and δ15N) from guanaco (Lama guanicoe) bone samples are also reported as a first step in the understanding of the regional isotopic ecology. On the basis of some differences in the spacial distribution of artifacts it can be proposed that the higher intensity of human use was concentrated on the eastern shore of Lago Tar and around Cerro Cach Aike. Such intensity decreases westward (southern shore of the Lago San Martin). The occupation history of these spaces began around 9700 years BP, following a highly punctuated pattern until historic times. The paper ends with a comparison between the archaeological record of Lago Tar and Lago San Martin basins with other southern Patagonia cordillerean lacustrine basins in order to discuss the prehistoric peopling of the region.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Las cuencas de los lagos Tar y San Martín (Santa Cruz, Argentina) y la dinámica del poblamiento humano del sur de Patagonia: Integración de los primeros resultados

The aim of this paper is to present the first preliminary results of the systematic archaeological research carried out in the Lago Tar and Lago San Martin basins (49° 7' S, 72° 11' O), focusing on the distributional aspects of the record. In order to discuss patterned differences in the space use by prehistoric hunter-gatherers, the information is organized following the main ecologic units (steppe, forest, and the corresponding ecotone). Stable isotope data (δ13C and δ15N) from guanaco (Lama guanicoe) bone samples are also reported as a first step in the understanding of the regional isotopic ecology. On the basis of some differences in the spacial distribution of artifacts it can be proposed that the higher intensity of human use was concentrated on the eastern shore of Lago Tar and around Cerro Cach Aike. Such intensity decreases westward (southern shore of the Lago San Martin). The occupation history of these spaces began around 9700 years BP, following a highly punctuated pattern until historic times. The paper ends with a comparison between the archaeological record of Lago Tar and Lago San Martin basins with other southern Patagonia cordillerean lacustrine basins in order to discuss the prehistoric peopling of the region.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Coordinated optimization of visual cortical maps (II) Numerical studies

It is an attractive hypothesis that the spatial structure of visual cortical architecture can be explained by the coordinated optimization of multiple visual cortical maps representing orientation preference (OP), ocular dominance (OD), spatial frequency, or direction preference. In part (I) of this study we defined a class of analytically tractable coordinated optimization models and solved representative examples in which a spatially complex organization of the orientation preference map is induced by inter-map interactions. We found that attractor solutions near symmetry breaking threshold predict a highly ordered map layout and require a substantial OD bias for OP pinwheel stabilization. Here we examine in numerical simulations whether such models exhibit biologically more realistic spatially irregular solutions at a finite distance from threshold and when transients towards attractor states are considered. We also examine whether model behavior qualitatively changes when the spatial periodicities of the two maps are detuned and when considering more than 2 feature dimensions. Our numerical results support the view that neither minimal energy states nor intermediate transient states of our coordinated optimization models successfully explain the spatially irregular architecture of the visual cortex. We discuss several alternative scenarios and additional factors that may improve the agreement between model solutions and biological observations.Comment: 55 pages, 11 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1102.335

A Multi-cell, Multi-scale Model of Vertebrate Segmentation and Somite Formation

Somitogenesis, the formation of the body's primary segmental structure common to all vertebrate development, requires coordination between biological mechanisms at several scales. Explaining how these mechanisms interact across scales and how events are coordinated in space and time is necessary for a complete understanding of somitogenesis and its evolutionary flexibility. So far, mechanisms of somitogenesis have been studied independently. To test the consistency, integrability and combined explanatory power of current prevailing hypotheses, we built an integrated clock-and-wavefront model including submodels of the intracellular segmentation clock, intercellular segmentation-clock coupling via Delta/Notch signaling, an FGF8 determination front, delayed differentiation, clock-wavefront readout, and differential-cell-cell-adhesion-driven cell sorting. We identify inconsistencies between existing submodels and gaps in the current understanding of somitogenesis mechanisms, and propose novel submodels and extensions of existing submodels where necessary. For reasonable initial conditions, 2D simulations of our model robustly generate spatially and temporally regular somites, realistic dynamic morphologies and spontaneous emergence of anterior-traveling stripes of Lfng. We show that these traveling stripes are pseudo-waves rather than true propagating waves. Our model is flexible enough to generate interspecies-like variation in somite size in response to changes in the PSM growth rate and segmentation-clock period, and in the number and width of Lfng stripes in response to changes in the PSM growth rate, segmentation-clock period and PSM length