Centro Científico Tecnológico - Córdoba

Fluorescent nanodots have become increasingly prevalent in a wide variety of applications with special interest in analytical and biomedical fields. The present overview focuses on three main aspects: (i) a systematic description and reasonable classification of the most relevant types of fluorescent nanodots according to their nature, quantum confinement and crystalline structure is provided, starting with a clear distinction between semiconductor and carbon-based dots (graphene quantum dots, carbon quantum dots and carbon nanodots). A new set of abbreviations and definitions for them to avoid contradictions found in literature is also proposed; (ii) a rational classification allows the establishment of clear-cut differences and similarities among them. From a basic point of view, the origins of the photoluminescence of the different nanodots are also established, which is a relevant contribution of this overview. Additionally, the most outstanding similarities and differences in a great variety of criteria (i.e. year of discovery, synthesis, the physico-chemical characteristics like structure, nature, shape, size, quantum confinement, toxicity and solubility, the optical characteristics including the quantum yield and lifetime, limitations, applications as well as the evolution of publications) are thoroughly outlined; and (iii) finally, the promising future of fluorescent nanodots in both analytical and biomedical fields is discussed using selected examples of relevant applications.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of golimumab in methotrexate (MTX)-naive patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: MTX-naive patients with RA (n = 637) were randomized to receive placebo plus MTX (group 1), golimumab 100 mg plus placebo (group 2), golimumab 50 mg plus MTX (group 3), or golimumab 100 mg plus MTX (group 4). Subcutaneous injections of golimumab or placebo were administered every 4 weeks. The dosage of MTX/placebo capsules started at 10 mg/week and escalated to 20 mg/week. The primary end point, the proportion of patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology 50% improvement criteria (achieving an ACR50 response) at week 24, required significant differences between groups 3 and 4 combined (combined group) versus group 1 and significant differences in a pairwise comparison (group 3 or group 4 versus group 1). RESULTS: An intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis of the ACR50 response at week 24 did not show a significant difference between the combined group and group 1 (38.4% and 29.4%, respectively; P=0.053), while a post hoc modified ITT analysis (excluding 3 untreated patients) of the ACR50 response showed statistically significant differences between the combined group and group 1 (38.5% versus 29.4%; P=0.049) and between group 3 (40.5%; P=0.038) but not group 4 (36.5%; P=0.177) and group 1. Group 2 was noninferior to group 1 for the ACR50 response at week 24 (33.1%; 95% confidence interval lower bound -5.2%; predefined delta value for noninferiority -10%). The combination of golimumab plus MTX demonstrated a significantly better response compared with placebo plus MTX in most other efficacy parameters, including response/remission according to the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints. Serious adverse events occurred in 7%, 3%, 6%, and 6% of patients in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the primary end point was not met, the modified ITT analysis of the primary end point and other prespecified efficacy measures demonstrated that the efficacy of golimumab plus MTX is better than, and the efficacy of golimumab alone is similar to, the efficacy of MTX alone in reducing RA signs and symptoms in MTX-naive patients, with no unexpected safety concerns.

There exists a reciprocal relationship between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes, wherein the activation of one affects the function of the other and vice versa. For example, both testosterone and oestrogen modulate the response of the HPA axis, whereas activation of the stress axis, especially activation that is repeating or chronic, has an inhibitory effect upon oestrogen and testosterone secretion. Alterations in maternal care can produce significant effects on both HPG and HPA physiology, as well as behaviour in the offspring at adulthood. For example, changes in reproductive behaviour induced by altered maternal care may alter the expression of sex hormone receptors such as oestrogen receptor (ER)α that govern sexual behaviour, and may be particularly important in determining the sexual strategies utilised by females. Stress in adulthood continues to mediate HPG activity in females through activation of a sympathetic neural pathway originating in the hypothalamus and releasing norepinephrine into the ovary, which produces a noncyclic anovulatory ovary that develops cysts. In the opposite direction, sex differences and sex steroid hormones regulate the HPA axis. For example, although serotonin (5-HT) has a stimulatory effect on the HPA axis in humans and rodents that is mediated by the 5-HT1A receptor, only male rodents respond to 5-HT1A antagonism to show increased corticosterone responses to stress. Furthermore, oestrogen appears to decrease 5-HT1A receptor function at presynaptic sites, yet increases 5-HT1A receptor expression at postsynaptic sites. These mechanisms could explain the heightened stress HPA axis responses in females compared to males. Studies on female rhesus macaques show that chronic stress in socially subordinate female monkeys produces a distinct behavioural phenotype that is largely unaffected by oestrogen, a hyporesponsive HPA axis that is hypersensitive to the modulating effects of oestrogen, and changes in 5-HT1A receptor binding in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of social subordinate female monkeys that are restored or inverted by oestrogen replacement. This review summarises all of these studies, emphasising the profound effect that the interaction of the reproductive and stress axes may have on human reproductive health and emotional wellbeing.

Abstract Objective To assess the risk of serious infections following 22 weeks of infliximab therapy, and to further characterize the safety profile of infliximab in combination with background treatments during 1 year in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with various comorbidities. Methods Patients with active RA despite receiving methotrexate (MTX) were randomly assigned to receive infusions of placebo (group 1, n = 363), 3 mg/kg infliximab (group 2, n = 360), or 10 mg/kg infliximab (group 3, n = 361) at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 14. At week 22, patients in placebo group 1 began receiving 3 mg/kg infliximab, and patients in group 3 continued to receive an infliximab dose of 10 mg/kg. Patients in group 2 who failed to meet predefined response criteria received increasing doses of infliximab in increments of 1.5 mg/kg. Results At week 22, the relative risk of developing serious infections in groups 2 and 3, compared with group 1, was 1.0 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.3–3.1, P = 0.995) and 3.1 (95% CI 1.2–7.9, P = 0.013), respectively. The incidence of serious adverse events was 7.8% in groups 2 and 3 compared with 7.5% in group 1. From week 22 to week 54, 11.8%, 9.9%, and 10.3% of patients in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, reported occurrences of serious adverse events. Through week 54, 1 patient in group 1, 2 patients in group 2, and 4 patients in group 3 developed active tuberculosis. Conclusion The risk of serious infections in patients receiving the approved infliximab dose of 3 mg/kg plus MTX was similar to that in patients receiving MTX alone. Patients receiving the unapproved induction regimen of 10 mg/kg infliximab plus MTX followed by a 10 mg/kg maintenance regimen had an increased risk of serious infections through week 22.

Fundamento: existen escasos cuestionarios

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Capsicum (Solanaceae), native to the tropical and temperate Americas, comprises the well-known sweet and hot chili peppers and several wild species. So far, only partial taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses have been done for the genus. Here, the phylogenetic relationships between nearly all taxa of Capsicum were explored to test the monophyly of the genus and to obtain a better knowledge of species relationships, diversification and expansion. METHODS: Thirty-four of approximately 35 Capsicum species were sampled. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses were performed using two plastid markers (matK and psbA-trnH) and one single-copy nuclear gene (waxy). The evolutionary changes of nine key features were reconstructed following the parsimony ancestral states method. Ancestral areas were reconstructed through a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis. KEY RESULTS: Capsicum forms a monophyletic clade, with Lycianthes as a sister group, following both phylogenetic approaches. Eleven well-supported clades (four of them monotypic) can be recognized within Capsicum, although some interspecific relationships need further analysis. A few features are useful to characterize different clades (e.g. fruit anatomy, chromosome base number), whereas some others are highly homoplastic (e.g. seed colour). The origin of Capsicum is postulated in an area along the Andes of western to north-western South America. The expansion of the genus has followed a clockwise direction around the Amazon basin, towards central and south-eastern Brazil, then back to western South America, and finally northwards to Central America. CONCLUSIONS: New insights are provided regarding interspecific relationships, character evolution, and geographical origin and expansion of Capsicum A clearly distinct early-diverging clade can be distinguished, centred in western-north-western South America. Subsequent rapid speciation has led to the origin of the remaining clades. The diversification of Capsicum has culminated in the origin of the main cultivated species in several regions of South to Central America.

Over the past 15 years, scientists and disaster responders have increasingly used satellite-based Earth observations for global rapid assessment of disaster situations. We review global trends in satellite rapid response and emergency mapping from 2000 to 2014, analyzing more than 1000 incidents in which satellite monitoring was used for assessing major disaster situations. We provide a synthesis of spatial patterns and temporal trends in global satellite emergency mapping efforts and show that satellite-based emergency mapping is most intensively deployed in Asia and Europe and follows well the geographic, physical, and temporal distributions of global natural disasters. We present an outlook on the future use of Earth observation technology for disaster response and mitigation by putting past and current developments into context and perspective.

Se presenta una revisión y se provee un catálogo de la flora medicinal nativa de Argentina basado en el conocimiento empírico de las propiedades terapéuticas de las especies. Se complementa con la composición química y actividad biológica para cada especie cuando la información está disponible. Se reportan 1529 taxones medicinales de plantas vasculares (Pteridófitas: 56; Gimnospermas: 13; Monocotiledóneas: 152; Dicotiledóneas: 1308), incluidas 115 especies endémicas. Además, se realiza un análisis de la distribución de estas especies y se determinan las áreas de endemismos.

We study a minimal cognitive flocking model, which assumes that the moving entities navigate using the available instantaneous visual information exclusively. The model consists of active particles, with no memory, that interact by a short-ranged, position-based, attractive force, which acts inside a vision cone (VC), and lack velocity-velocity alignment. We show that this active system can exhibit-due to the VC that breaks Newton's third law-various complex, large-scale, self-organized patterns. Depending on parameter values, we observe the emergence of aggregates or millinglike patterns, the formation of moving-locally polar-files with particles at the front of these structures acting as effective leaders, and the self-organization of particles into macroscopic nematic structures leading to long-ranged nematic order. Combining simulations and nonlinear field equations, we show that position-based active models, as the one analyzed here, represent a new class of active systems fundamentally different from other active systems, including velocity-alignment-based flocking systems. The reported results are of prime importance in the study, interpretation, and modeling of collective motion patterns in living and nonliving active systems.

Ponds are often identified by their small size and shallow depths, but the lack of a universal evidence-based definition hampers science and weakens legal protection. Here, we compile existing pond definitions, compare ecosystem metrics (e.g., metabolism, nutrient concentrations, and gas fluxes) among ponds, wetlands, and lakes, and propose an evidence-based pond definition. Compiled definitions often mentioned surface area and depth, but were largely qualitative and variable. Government legislation rarely defined ponds, despite commonly using the term. Ponds, as defined in published studies, varied in origin and hydroperiod and were often distinct from lakes and wetlands in water chemistry. We also compared how ecosystem metrics related to three variables often seen in waterbody definitions: waterbody size, maximum depth, and emergent vegetation cover. Most ecosystem metrics (e.g., water chemistry, gas fluxes, and metabolism) exhibited nonlinear relationships with these variables, with average threshold changes at 3.7 ± 1.8 ha (median: 1.5 ha) in surface area, 5.8 ± 2.5 m (median: 5.2 m) in depth, and 13.4 ± 6.3% (median: 8.2%) emergent vegetation cover. We use this evidence and prior definitions to define ponds as waterbodies that are small (< 5 ha), shallow (< 5 m), with < 30% emergent vegetation and we highlight areas for further study near these boundaries. This definition will inform the science, policy, and management of globally abundant and ecologically significant pond ecosystems.

This paper presents simplified closed-form analytical solutions that can be used to interpret and predict ground movements caused by shallow tunneling in soft ground conditions. These solutions offer a more comprehensive framework for understanding the distribution of ground movements than widely used empirical functions. Analytical solutions for the displacement field within the ground mass are obtained for two basic modes of deformation corresponding to uniform convergence and ovalization at the wall of a circular tunnel cavity, based on the assumption of linear, elastic soil behavior. Deformation fields based on the superposition of fundamental, singularity solutions are shown to differ only slightly from analyses that consider the physical dimensions of the tunnel cavity, except in the case of very shallow tunnels. This work demonstrates a simplified method to account for soil plasticity in the analyses and illustrate closed-form solutions for a three-dimensional (3D) tunnel heading. A companion paper describes applications of these analyses to interpret field measurements of ground response to tunneling.

AIMS: To examine Saccharomyces cerevisae strains with previously reported beneficial properties and aflatoxin B₁ binding capacity, for their ability to remove ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEA) and to study the relation between cell wall thickness and detoxificant ability of yeast strains. METHODS AND RESULTS: A mycotoxin binding assay at different toxin concentrations and the effect of gastrointestinal conditions on mycotoxin binding were evaluated. Ultrastructural studies of yeast cells were carried out with transmission electronic microscopy. All tested strains were capable of removing OTA and ZEA. Saccharomyces cerevisiae RC012 and RC016 showed the highest OTA removal percentage, whereas RC009 and RC012 strains showed the highest ZEA removal percentages. The cell diameter/cell wall thickness relation showed a correlation between cell wall amount and mycotoxin removal ability. After exposure to gastrointestinal conditions, a significant increase in mycotoxin binding was observed. CONCLUSIONS: All tested Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were able to remove OTA and ZEA, and physical adsorption would be the main mechanism involved in ochratoxin A and ZEA removal. Gastrointestinal conditions would enhance adsorption and not decrease mycotoxin-adsorbent interactions. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Live strains with mycotoxin binding ability and beneficial properties are potential probiotics that could be included in animal feed. Previous and present results suggest that the RC008 and RC016 strains are very promising candidates for functional feed product development.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the weather in Cordoba City, Argentina, on pain in patients with rheumatic pain; to correlate different climate variables with the patients' impression of weather sensitivity; and to assess correlations between pain and climate conditions on 5 days preceding and following painful episode. METHODS: Self-reported questionnaires to assess the presence and features of spontaneous daily pain during one year (1998) were completed by 151 outpatients with osteoarthritis (OA) (n = 52), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 82), and fibromyalgia (FM) (n = 17) and 32 healthy subjects. Data were correlated with daily temperature, atmospheric pressure, and relative humidity obtained during the same period. Only p values < 0.001 were considered significant. RESULTS: Low temperature, high atmospheric pressure, and high humidity were significantly correlated with pain in RA (r = -0.30, r = 0.34, r = 0.23, respectively; p < 0.001); in OA, pain correlated with low temperature and high humidity (r = -0.23, r = 0.24; p < 0.001); in FM, with low temperature and high atmospheric pressure (r = -0.255, r = 0.22; p < 0.001) and no correlation was found in controls. Patients self-described as being weather sensitive correlated only with high humidity (r = 0.45; p < 0.001). There was no better correlation with climate variables, except for humidity, 5 days before or after the day of the painful episode. CONCLUSION: These results support the belief that weather influences rheumatic pain, albeit in different ways depending on the subjacent pathology and subjective weather sensitivity. This influence may not depend on weather conditions of the previous or following days, indicating that climate would not be a pain predictor and vice versa.

In its natural state, loess can be considered as an unstable soil, which develops large deformations when moistened. In Argentina, loess is used in most Geotechnical constructions, including embankments and liners. The interest of this work to evaluate the potential application of electrical conductivity measurements for monitoring the effects introduced by remolding and compaction in the soil. Samples of loess were compacted at varied densities and mixed with electrolytes of different concentrations. Electrical conductivity was measured with a two electrode cell. The effects introduced on the measured conductivity by frequency, degree of saturation, soil density, temperature, and electrolyte type and concentration are addressed. Additionally, hydraulic permeability tests were performed on compacted specimens of loess and the relationship between electrical and hydraulic conductivity was determined. It is concluded here that the ohmic conductivity of compacted specimens depends mainly on the salt concentration in the pore fluid, and volumetric water content. The effect of compaction density was observed to be less significant. The whole behavior of electric conductivity of loess is well described by the Archie’s law.

Microbiome is the community of microorganism that co-live with a host. The human being is the result of the integration of its genome and the coexistence with millions of microorganisms throughout its evolutionary history. Human-microbiome association can be considered a step of integration in evolution, constituting a superorganism. Many emergent diseases are related to the loss of part of this microbiome and its restoration can be achieved by different strategies. Gut microbiome imbalance is particularly associated with numerous inflammatory, immune and nervous system-related diseases by a communication pathway called microbiome–brain axis. Modulation of microbiome by administering prebiotics, like arabinoxylans, and synbiotics is a plausible treatment for dysbiosis, the regulation of neurotransmitters and alleviation of neurological manifestations.

is a brown powder with a bandgap energy of 1.93 eV as shown with diffuse reflectance measurements. The three powders exhibit a very high stability with no changes at all in the crystal structure after several months of storage at room temperature and ambient humidity.

We report the incorporation of functionalised carbon nanodots within a low molecular weight salt hydrogel enhancing the gelation and fluorescence properties of both the gel and carbon nanomaterial.

The modeling of living systems composed of many interacting entities is treated in this paper with the aim of describing their collective behaviors. The mathematical approach is developed within the general framework of the kinetic theory of active particles. The presentation is in three parts. First, we derive the mathematical tools, subsequently, we show how the method can be applied to a number of case studies related to well defined living systems, and finally, we look ahead to research perspectives.

ABSTRACT Aim To assess the correspondence between current avian distributions in the lowlands of northern South America with respect to the hypothesized importance of sea level rise and other events over the past 15 million years on speciation. Location Tropical lowlands of north‐western South America. Methods To establish which bird taxa may have originated in each area of endemism, I examined the ranges of all bird species occurring in the Pacific and the Caribbean lowlands. To determine land and sea distribution during a sea level rise of 100 m in north‐western South America and eastern Central America, I traced the 100 m contour line from the Geoatlas of Georama and the Global 30‐Arc‐Second Elevation Data (GTOPO30) produced by the US Geological Survey. Results During a sea level rise of ∼100 m, marine incursions would have occurred from the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Several areas of tropical forest and dry/arid vegetation would have been isolated, currently known as the Darién, Chocó, Nechí, Catatumbo, Tumbesian and Guajiran areas of animal and plant endemism. Main conclusions A large part of the high diversity of forest and nonforest birds and other animals and plants in the Pacific rain forest and the Caribbean woodland likely arose as the result of sea level rises, dispersal and other geological and climatic events.

The distribution pattern of C 3 and C 4 grasses was studied in eight sites located between 350 m and 2100 m along an altitudinal gradient in Central Argentina. Of 139 taxa fifty‐nine are C 3 and eighty C 4 . Species of the C 3 tribes (Stipeae, Poeae, Meliceae, Aveneae, Bromeae and Triticeae) and C 3 Paniceae species increase in number at higher elevations; only one C 3 species was found below 650 m. C 4 Aristideae, Pappophoreae, Eragrostideae, Cynodonteae, Andropogoneae and Paniceae increase at lower altitudes. The floristic crossover point is at about 1500 m; the ground cover cross‐over point is at about 1000 m. Analysis of the relationships between % C 4 species along the gradient and nine climatic and environmental variables showed the highest correlation with July mean temperature, but all temperature variables show highly significant correlations with % C 4 . Correlation with annual rainfall is lower but also significant. These results are consistent with previous research showing the relative importance of C 4 grasses as temperature increases. C 3 species make a high contribution to relative grass coverage below the C 3 /C 4 floristic crossover point but are rare below 1000 m.