Taxonomy, distribution and population structure of invasive Corbiculidae (Mollusca, Bivalvia) in the Suquía River basin, Córdoba, Argentina

Invasive species are one of the most significant causes of biodiversity loss and changes in ecosystem services, which underlines the importance of their detection and their study. The Asian clams (Corbiculidae) are invasive organisms that accidentally entered the La Plata River, Argentina, presumably in the 1960s. The objectives of the present study were to identify the corbiculid species and to determine their distribution at several locations along the Suquía River basin, an extended area in central Argentina. In addition, population structure was evaluated monthly during one year, at a site in the city of Córdoba that is characterized by high human influence. The presence of Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) and Corbicula largillierti (Philippi, 1844) in the Suquía River basin is reported for the first time. The former species was found only in a lentic environment (San Roque reservoir), while the latter was also found along the tributary rivers and brooks of the basin. Corbicula largillierti showed variations in average density between the different sites and also in biomass and size classes throughout the study period at the site at Córdoba city. The relative composition of the sediments, flow fluctuation and human pollution may be responsible for the observed differences.

Age Structure of Adult Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

In order to detect seasonal trends in the age structure of adult mosquitoes from Buenos Aires province, Argentina, female populations were sampled with CDC traps during 1989-1991 in Punta Lara and La Plata. The mosquitoes were dissected and age-grouped according to ovarian tracheation and ovariolar stages. All Runchomyia paranensis females were parous, suggesting that this species could be autogenous. Aedes albifasciatus showed parous peaks following population peaks, with shorter delays in spring-summmer and longer in fall-winter. Ae. crinifer and Culex dolosus showed wide fluctuations in age structure due to adult emergences during all months. Psorophora ferox showed high population replacement rates. Mansonia indubitans and Ma. titillans have few generations per year during their activity period. This is the first report on age-grading of adults of field mosquito populations from Argentina

Genetic-morphometric variation in Culex quinquefasciatus from Brazil and La Plata, Argentina

Variation among natural populations of Culex (Culex) quinquefasciatus Say is associated with different vectorial capacities. The species Cx. quinquefasciatus is present in the equatorial, tropical and subtropical zones in the Brazilian territory, with intermediate forms between Cx. quinquefasciatus and Culex pipiens occurring in regions of latitudes around 33°-35°S. Herein, we studied geographically distinct populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus by genetic characterization and analysis of intra-specific wing morphometrics. After morphological analysis, molecular characterization of Cx. quinquefasciatus and intermediate forms was performed by polymerase chain reaction of the polymorphic nuclear region of the second intron of the acetylcholinesterase locus. Additionally, the morphology of adult female wings collected from six locations was analyzed. Wing centroid sizes were significantly different between some geographical pairs. Mean values of R2/R2+3 differed significantly after pairwise comparisons. The overall wing shape represented by morphometric characters could be divided into two main groupings. Our data suggest that Brazilian samples are morphologically and genetically distinct from the Argentinean samples and also indicated a morphological distinction between northern and southern populations of Brazilian Cx. quinquefasciatus. We suggest that wing morphology may be used for preliminary assessment of population structure of Cx. quinquefasciatusin Brazil.

Evaluación de la estructura porosa de los materiales MCM-22, MCM-36 e ITQ-2 empleando el test catalitico del n-decano

The void structure of zeolites MCM-22, MCM-36 and ITQ-2 were discussed on the bases of catalytic reaction tests. The hydromerization of n-decane on bifunctional Pt/Zeolite Catalysts have been used as model reactions. Beta and ZSM-5 zeolites were used for comparison. It is concluded that all materials show features of 10MR zeolites and have also pores bigger than 12MR in this order MCM-22

Efecto de la naturaleza del precursor sobre las caracteristicas de las nanoparticulas de SnO2 sintetizadas

Tin oxide (SnO2) is widely used in industry as raw material for electronic devices, plating of different types of materials, for dyes and pigments, for electroplating, heterogeneous catalysis, etc. In this work SnO2 was obtained by a controlled precipitation method with special attention to the effects the tin precursor has on the microstructure of the final product. The most appropriate pH for obtaining SnO2 with the rutile structure as the main phase is 6.25 for SnCl2 and 6.40 for SnSO4. After heat treatment at 600 °C, particles of nanometric order (~10 - 30 nm approx) were obtained. The characterization of the solid phase was made by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (DTA/TG), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Estudio químico y evaluación de la actividad antifouling del octocoral caribeño Eunicea laciniata

The bioassay guided purification of the octocoral Eunicea laciniata organic extract, collected at Santa Marta bay, Colombia, allowed the isolation of the new compound (-)-3β-pregna-5,20-dienyl-β-D-arabinopyranoside (1), along with the known compounds 1(S*),11(R*)-dolabell-3(E),7(E),12(18)-triene (2), 13-keto-1(S),11(R)-dolabell-3(E ),7(E),12(18)-triene (3), cholest- 5,22-dien-3β-ol (4), cholesterol (5), y brassicasterol (6). The structure and absolute configuration of 1 was determined on based spectroscopic analyses (NMR and CD). The extract showed antifouling activity against five strains of marine bacteria associated to heavy fouled surfaces. Also showed activity against the cypris of the cosmopolitan barnacle Balanus amphitrite, and low toxicity in Artemia salina test.

Aumento del contenido de ácidos húmicos en un carbón de bajo rango a través de la oxidación con aire y con peróxido de hidrogeno o ácido nítrico

Low-rank coals are an important source of humic acids, which are important in retention processes of water and nutrients in plants. In this study coal samples of Montelibano, Colombia, were oxidized with air at different temperatures and subsequently with H2O2 and HNO3. The materials were characterized by FTIR, proximate and elemental analysis, and quantification of humic acids. The oxidation process led to an increased content of oxygenated groups and humic acids in the carbonaceous structure. The solid oxidized with air at 200 ºC for 12 h and re-oxidized with HNO3 for 12 h showed the highest percentage of humic acids (85.3%).

Química de productos naturales aplicada a la acuicultura: una revisión interdisciplinar

This review sought to highlight the importance of natural products versus synthetic products, as bioactive molecules, towards the development of better management practices in aquaculture. The nature, structure, activity, and applications of these naturally-occurring high value-added compounds are described, as well as the methodology used for their study. Examples include the well-known rotenone, eugenol, forskolin, isatin, malyngamide, chlorodesmine, pachydictyol, fimbrolide, and other potentially active molecules in aquaculture.

La estructura económica del (sub)desarrollo y el equilibrio general o ¿qué ocurrió con la teoría del desarrollo y con las estructuras económicas?

Formerly the concept of economic development involved transforming the productive structures in order to employ the population in higher productivity activities, so that welfare improved. Development implied that economic systems followed development paths (not always in equilibrium) in order to reach more desirable welfare results: Equilibrium was not the main target. More recently, economic strategies emphasize reaching growth within equilibrium paths, thus, preserving economic structures. The latter vision yields incompatible results with the former. This paper revises some issues concerning structural change versus equilibrium targets as a means to reach development.

"Schlechthin nothwendiges wesen": en marge de la quatrieme antinomie

Le défi des antinomies joue un rôle décisif dans l'élaboration même de la pensée kantienne ; cela devient particulièrement significatif par rapport à l'Être absolument nécessaire, qui devrait dépasser le niveau des phénomènes même lorsque, comme l'on dit dans la thèse de la quatrième antinomie, l'on l'entend comme quelque chose du monde. Dans la structure même des antinomies nous sommes forcés à aller au-delà de l'expérience, à un Être qui dépasse radicalement le monde ; en ce sens, même à l'intérieur de la pensée kantienne, l'analogie classique reste la structure spécifique de la métaphysique, surtout par la possibilité de dire la transcendance sans la réduire jamais au niveau des phénomènes.