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En la presente investigación se prepararon sólidos porosos tipo carbón activado (CA) a partir de la activación química del cuesco de palma africana procedente de los cultivos de la región de la Guajira, Colombia, con soluciones de Fe(NO3)3 y Cu(NO3)2 con cambio en la concentración a dos diferentes temperaturas: 973 y 1073 K. Los sólidos adsorbentes preparados se caracterizaron para determinar sus propiedades fisicoquímicas y capacidades de adsorción de CO2. Los CA obtenidos presentan micro-mesoporosidad con áreas superficiales entre 5 y 1300 m2g-1. Los valores con respecto al contenido de carbono fijo se encuentran entre 47,1 y 78,4%; los resultados evidencian que el proceso de activación tiene efectos sobre los parámetros texturales, composición elemental y proximal de los sólidos obtenidos. También se realizó la caracterización morfológica de la superficie de los materiales con SEM evidenciando la formación de mayor rugosidad en las muestras activadas a 1073 K, específicamente, los carbones activados con el nitrato cúprico; además, mediante EDX se cuantificó la presencia de algunos elementos. Los valores obtenidos de la adsorción de CO2 a bajas presiones se encuentran entre 80 y 250 mg·g-1, evidenciándose una mayor afinidad hacia los sólidos adsorbentes (MCu3 y MFe5).

Sugarcane (Saccharum sp.), a world-wide known feedstock for producing sugar, bioethanol, and energy, has an extremely complex genome due to its highly polyploid and aneuploid nature. A double digestion restriction site-associated DNA sequencing protocol (ddRADseq) was tested in four commercial sugarcane hybrids and one high-fibre biotype for the detection and potential application of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genetic breeding. This genotyping approach compared two Illumina sequencing platforms and different filtering schemes, with and without a reference genome. A greater number of reads were obtained with Illumina platform Novaseq6000 than with Nextseq500, being this consistent with a greater number of SNPs determined with high accuracy. Additionally, more SNPs were found using a denovo pipeline compared to de refmap pipeline of the Stacks software. Longer read size, paired-end reads and 4M reads per individual represent the most efficient combination in recovering SNPs. The optimal combination of filter parameters varied depending on the different matrices created based on the different platforms. In both matrices, the highest number of SNPs localized in the longest chromosome 1, whereas the fewest landed in the shortest chromosomes 5 and 8. Multivariate comparisons of the SNPs matrices showed closer relationships among commercial hybrids than with the high-fibre biotype. Functional analysis of the obtained SNPs, performed with the Variant Effect Predictor, demonstrated the appearance of variants throughout the sugarcane genome. The pipeline applied in this study can be exploited to identify useful molecular markers that can be used in sugarcane breeding programs to reduce selection cycles.

The efficient transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars is essential for building bioeconomies. Sugarcane is an important agricultural crop in a number of Latin American countries, including Brazil and Argentina. Herein culms from two different sugarcane (SC384 and SC724) and two energy cane varieties (EC3116 and EC3118) bred in Argentina were evaluated for sustainable production of second-generation biofuels and green chemicals. Changes in the biomass crystallinity, structure, and morphology introduced by pretreatments were investigated using X-ray diffraction (DRX), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Enzymatic hydrolysis yields of untreated and pretreated sugarcane and energy cane culms were determined and correlated with physical analyses and chemical composition characterizations. Overall, after combined acid and alkali pretreatment, enzymatic convertibility was highly efficient for all studied sugarcane and energy cane varieties, reaching over 97% of theoretical conversion yields. High crystallinity indices and crystallite sizes of pretreated culms and SEM results and CLSM were consistent with the removal of lignin, solubilization of hemicellulose, and amorphous parts of lignocellulose imprinted by the pretreatments. High potential of culms from sugarcane and energy cane varieties cultivated in Argentina for sustainable production of renewable lignocellulosic sugars and their transformation into green chemicals and fuels was demonstrated.

The co-production of bio-char and upgraded bio-oil by fast pyrolysis of raw and sulfuric-acid pretreated agro-industrial wastes (corn cob, sugarcane bagasse and sunfower seed hull) was investigated to valorize wastes as sources of value-added products (VAPs) following the circular bio-economy system. To this end, proximate and elemental analyses were performed, and adsorption properties were determined in pyrolysis products. Bio-char and bio-oil yields from raw wastes ranged 28?33% and 30?35%, respectively. For all wastes, acid pretreatment increased the solid fraction and caused a reduction of the liquid one, compared to untreated wastes. Pyrolysis of raw wastes led to the co-production of bio-chars and bio-oils with diferent applications. Bio-chars could be put in for soil amendment, primarily due to high ashes concentration, mesoporosity, andelevated cation exchange capacity; whereas, bio-oils could be upgraded by water addition, leading to a source for carrying out reforming reactions in the context of hydrogen production. Properties of bio-chars from acid washed biomasses enabled them for pollutant remediation, due to their high specifc surface and microporosity features. The corresponding bio-liquid was a stable-to-storage material, being a practical source of furfural. These fndings emphasize that lignocellulosic wastescan be envisaged as starting materials for producing VAPs via pyrolysis. Fil: Casoni, Andrés Iván. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina Fil: Gutierrez, Victoria Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; Argentina Fil: Garcia, Jose Maria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Cabada, Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Delta del Paraná; Argentina Fil: Acevedo, Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Suelos; Argentina Fil: Volpe, María Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina

En este trabajo se presenta el proceso de desarrollo de un material poroso a partir de carbón activado con ácido fosfórico, obtenido del vástago de banano criollo. La capacidad de adsorción es establecida mediante método estático, se evalúan 5 puntos en los cuales el carbón es sometido a diferentes porcentajes de humedad. Se hizo el análisis del área superficial (Sbet) del carbón obtenido y se establece su valor mediante el método B.E.T.El desarrollo de este nanomaterial amplía las posibilidades de investigación en campos como la refrigeración, en la que se usa como fuente de energía la radiación solar y en la electrónica se aprovecha la mayor área superficial de los carbones activados para construir súper condensadores, de manera que se coloca el carbón entre las placas paralelas, lo que hace que estos dispositivos presenten una capacitancia miles de veces mayor que la de los condensadores actuales de alta capacidad

Background Affordable interventions to improve metabolic control of Type 2-Diabetes Mellitus are increasingly necessary. Aim To review systematically the existing literature on the effects of psychological interventions on Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus compensation. Material and Methods We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of psychological interventions implemented for Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus patients. Research included the following electronic databases: PubMed, Bireme, Web of Science, SciELO, Embase, EBSCOhost, SCOPUS, Psychology Database. Results Most studies showed a decrease in the level of glycated hemoglobin after interventions, which applied different initiatives complementary to standard medical treatment. Mainly, these interventions encompassed training for self-monitoring and control of diabetes based on cognitive behavioral psychology, counseling, self-assessment and physical-spiritual work based on transpersonal psychology. Conclusions Psychological tools could be an adjunct to the standard medical treatment for patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus, reducing glycated hemoglobin levels and improving self-regulation, disease awareness and adherence from the self-efficacy perception perspective.

There are numerous strategies to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or to mitigate global climate change. One of them is to promote polices for developing renewable energy sources. There has been a growth in such policies but not enough is known about their effectiveness. We use a revised version of Schaffrin et al.’s (2015) Index of Policy Activity (IPA) 1 to examine the historical development (1998–2015) of federal and state/provincial renewable energy policies across five federal countries in the Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States. Here the focus is on “policy output,” which is defined as a function of policy density and intensity. Policy density is measured by counting the number of policies in each country relating to a particular goal during our time frame, while policy intensity, or the strength the policy has toward meeting specific goals, is measured by summing scores for six indicators: objective, scope, integration, budget, implementation and monitoring. The higher the policy score for a country, the more likely the country will be able to meet its intended goals. Our results show that the U.S. has the densest renewable energy policy output followed by Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and finally Argentina has the least-dense policy output. Overall, Brazil and Canada’s renewable energy policies were the most intense, followed by Argentina’s and the U.S.’s, with Mexico’s policies receiving the lowest intensity scores. These countries differ in how long they have supported renewable energy policies and the levels of government that implement them. These findings show that countries may be spending resources on producing myriad renewable energy policies, but without coordination between different levels of government or a concerted effort to ensure that the policy instruments are effective, those resources may be wasted while GHGs continue to rise. This research contributes to the understanding of how individual federal and state/provincial government make efforts toward implementing or enforcing energy policies to influence long-term policy change.

En este trabajo se encontró un diseño realista de una guía de onda tipo cresta, de nitruro de silicio sobre dióxido de silicio en un substrato de silicio, cuyo propósito es que ésta tenga la capacidad de realizar la traslación espectral de una señal óptica, mediante el proceso óptico no lineal de tercer orden conocido como generación de diferencia de frecuencias (GDF). Este trabajo de tesis es motivado por la importancia que los dispositivos integrados tienen en aplicaciones encaminadas al diseño de compuertas cuánticas, las cuales son fundamentales en el área de la computación cuántica. La generación eficiente del proceso GDF en guías de onda depende en parte del índice de refracción de los materiales y de las dimensiones de la guía. Es por esto que, por un lado, se realizó un análisis estadístico sobre un conjunto de muestras de nitruro de silicio, sintetizado por pulverización catódica de radio frecuencia, con la intención de tener un valor estándar sobre el índice de refracción. Por otro lado, se realizó una simulación del índice de refracción efectivo de la guía de onda por medio de un método numérico de diferencias finitas, para distintas dimensiones de la guía de onda tipo cresta. Se realizó, además, un estudio teórico del proceso de GDF en guías de onda, en el cual se utilizó una analogía con el modelo del divisor de haz cuántico para explicar el proceso no lineal. Por medio de este estudio, se derivó una función que describe las propiedades espectrales del GDF y se determinó una condición que garantiza que esta función sea factorizable, la cual es necesaria para que la interacción no lineal se de a nivel de un solo modo temporal. Finalmente, se obtuvo un diseño experimental realista para una guía de onda de nitruro de silicio, la cual tendrá la capacidad de realizar la traslación espectral de una señal óptica de forma eficiente. De esta guía seleccionada se realizaron simulaciones del espectro y estimaciones de la eficiencia de la traslación. In this work, a realistic design of a ridge-type waveguide, made of silicon nitride on silicon dioxide on a silicon substrate, was found, the purpose of which is that it can carry out the spectral translation of an optical signal through the third-order nonlinear optical process known as frequency difference generation (DFG). This thesis work is motivated by the importance that integrated devices have in designing quantum gates, which are fundamental in quantum computing. The efficient generation of the DFG process in waveguides depends partly on the refractive index of the materials and the dimensions of the waveguide. That is why, on the one hand, statistical work was carried out on a set of silicon nitride samples synthesized by radiofrequency sputtering to have an expected value on the refractive index. On the other hand, a simulation of the effective refractive index of the waveguide was carried out employing a numerical method of finite differences for different dimensions of the ridge-type waveguide. In addition, a theoretical study of the DFG process in waveguides was carried out, in which an analogy with the quantum beam splitter model was used to explain the nonlinear process. In this study, a function was derived describing the spectral properties of DFG, and a condition was determined that guarantees that this function is factorable, which is necessary for the nonlinear interaction to occur at the level of a single temporal mode. Finally, a realistic experimental design was obtained for a silicon nitride waveguide, which will have the ability to carry out the spectral translation of an optical signal efficiently. Simulations of the spectra and translation efficiency were performed for the proposed waveguide.

Solutions to the Schrodinger equation can be used to predict the electronic structure of molecules and materials and therefore infer their complex physical and chemical properties. Variational Quantum Monte Carlo (VMC) is a technique that can be used to solve the weak form of the Schrodinger equation. Applying VMC to systems with N electrons involves evaluating the determinant of an N by N matrix. The evaluation of this determinant scales as O(N3) and is the main computational cost in the VMC process. In this work, we investigate an alternative VMC technique based on the Vandermonde determinant. The Vandermonde determinant is a product of pairwise differences and so evaluating it scales as O(N2). Therefore, this approach reduces the computational cost by a factor of N. The Vandermonde determinant was implemented in PyTorch and the performance was assessed in approximating the ground state energy of various quantum systems against existing techniques. The performance is evaluated in a variety of systems, starting with the one-dimensional particle in a box, and then considering more complicated atomic systems with multiple particles. The Vandermonde determinant was also implemented in PauliNet, a deep-learning architecture for VMC. The new method is shown to be computationally efficient, and results in a speed-up as large as 5X. In these cases, the new ansatz obtains a reasonable approximation for wavefunctions of atomic systems, but does not reach the accuracy of the Hartree-Fock method that relies on the Slater determinant. It is observed that while the use of neural networks in VMC can result in highly accurate solutions, further work is necessary to determine an appropriate balance between computational time and accuracy.

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar una reflexión sobre la relación entre el aprendizaje organizacional y el desempeño organizacional, bajo el enfoque de las capacidades dinámicas de aprendizaje, considerando las diversas tipologías que han sido planteadas por diferentes estudios para clasificar el aprendizaje organizacional que ocurre en las organizaciones, según su alcance colectivo o su nivel individual. Con base en estas tipologías, se consideran los factores que condicionan el desarrollo del aprendizaje con el desempeño empresarial, permitiendo encontrar las razones por las cuales las organizaciones deben asumir el aprendizaje como una plataforma de competitividad y permanencia en el tiempo como medida de mantenibilidad en entornos dinámicos y siempre cambiantes. En términos metodológicos, para relacionar el AO, las capacidades dinámicas de aprendizaje y el desempeño, se realizó una revisión de la literatura de orden descriptiva por periodo de tiempo, usando como referencia conceptos relacionados a la organización que aprende, partiendo desde el tipo de aprendizaje organizacional y el entorno que lo rodea (individual y colectivo); por último, se realizan unas consideraciones del aprendizaje organizacional y el desempeño empresarial que destaca la importancia del AO bajo el enfoque de las capacidades dinámicas y su incidencia en el desempeño, donde se evidencia su importancia en la competitividad empresarial desde sus diferentes niveles y estructuras.

This work aims at presenting a reflection on the relationship between organizational learning and performance adopting the approach of dynamic learning capabilities. It considers different typologies that have been proposed in diverse studies to classify organizational learning by collective scope or individual level. Based on such typologies, the factors that affect the development of organizational learning are selected. This enabled to find the reasons why organizations should view learning as a platform for competitiveness and permanence over time. It is also a measure to ensure maintainability in dynamic and ever-changing environments. Regarding the method, a descriptive literature review of specific time periods was conducted to link OL, dynamic learning capabilities and performance. It used concepts related to the learning organization as a reference. In addition, it was based on the type of organizational learning and the (individual and collective) surrounding environment. Some considerations on organizational learning and business performance highlight the importance of OL for the approach of dynamic learning capabilities and its influence on performance. Finally, the significance of OL in business competitiveness was demonstrated at different levels and structures.

As a result of the strategic and operational management of research in higher education institutions (HEIs), the organizational Technological Innovation Capabilities (TICs) contribute to reaching strategic objectives of transfer of results in research and development (R & D) to society and industry, for this reason, it is necessary to take measurements to identify the index creation and consolidation of organizational capabilities. Despite the importance, theoretically given to the TICs, a great gap is found in the scientific literature regarding the measurements of these capabilities in the higher education sector. In this paper, the results of the implementation of a fuzzy inference diagnostic system for organizational capabilities for innovation in a university institution (UI) in the city of Medellin, Colombia are presented. The system consists of the application of a structured diagnostic instrument - type interviewed-to the management and teaching staff of the institution. The data is adapted to the requirements of a fuzzy inference system, in which previously defined variables are related, their values are standardized and entered in an inference system. The values were implemented and processed in the Fuzzy Logic Toolbox - MATLAB. As inference system output, concrete numerical values, and surfaces of fuzzy inference were obtained to formulate organizational strategies aimed at improving the technological innovation capabilities of the institution.

Background: Pneumonia caused 704,000 deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2015. Zinc is an important micronutrient due to its role in immune function. Since 2004, WHO recommends zinc supplementation for children with diarrhea to shorten the duration and decrease severity. Zinc supplementation for children with pneumonia is controversial.Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted, and 103 children 1 month to 5 years old with pneumonia were included. Zinc or placebo was given during hospitalization. Clinical symptoms were recorded, and a blood draw was obtained to determine serum zinc levels, lymphoproliferation, and cytokines at hospitalization and at discharge of the patient; a nasal wash was obtained to detect viral or bacterial pathogens by multiplex RT-PCR.Results: Zinc supplementation improved in fewer hours the clinical status (76 ± 7 vs. 105 ± 8, p = 0.01), the respiratory rate (37 ± 6 vs. 57 ± 7, p = 0.04), and the oxygen saturation (53 ± 7 vs. 87 ± 9, p = 0.007) compared to the placebo group. An increase in IFNγ and IL-2 after treatment in the zinc group was observed.Conclusions: Zinc supplementation improved some clinical symptoms in children with pneumonia in fewer hours and induced a cellular immune response.Clinical Trial Registration: The trial was retrospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03690583, URL https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03690583?term=zinc+children&cond=Pneumonia&draw=2&rank=1.

El trabajo de investigación propone que se legisle una nueva fórmula: la inserción en el Código de Comercio de una disposición normativa que establezca que todas las controversias derivadas de un contrato de transporte marítimo de mercancías, y porque no otros temas marítimos deban ser resueltos por arbitraje institucional, tal como pasa en el ordenamiento chileno. En este trabajo por temas de alcance de esta investigación, solo nos referiremos al transporte marítimo de mercancías

Sudangrass, Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf, is a vigorous forage crop that has also been used for biogas, paper, and electricity production. Due to the large biomass yields achieved by sudangrass and the large area of potential growth in Argentina seven sudangrass accessions from a collection of S. sudanense were analyzed to evaluate their potential as feedstocks for lignocellulosic bioethanol production, and to assess whether there is an association between the response to biotic and abiotic stresses and the composition of the biomass. The biomass composition was analyzed for major cell wall polymers, monosaccharides, and elemental composition. On average, 68% of stem lignocellulosic biomass was comprised of matrix polysaccharides and crystalline cellulose, representing a potential source of sugars for bioethanol production. Xylose was the predominant matrix polysaccharide monosaccharide comprising, on average, 45% of the total sugars, followed by arabinose, glucose, galactose, galacturonic acid, mannose, glucuronic acid, and fucose. Rhamnose was not detected in any of the biomasses analyzed. Silica was the most abundant element in sudangrass stem, followed by chloride, calcium, phosphorus and sulfur. We performed saccharification analyses after pretreatments. Alkaline pretreatment was more effective than water pretreatment. Sodium hydroxide pretreatment exposed different levels of recalcitrance among sudangrass accessions, whereas the water pretreatment did not. Phenological traits were also evaluated, showing significant variability among accessions. The comparison of major cell wall polymers and monosaccharide composition between tolerant and susceptible accessions to abiotic and biotic stresses suggests an association between the composition of the biomass and the response to stress. Instituto de Suelos Fil: Acevedo, Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos; Argentina Fil: Simister, Rachael. University of York. Department of Biology. Centre for Novel Agricultural Products; Reino Unido Fil: McQueen-Mason, Simon J. University of York. Department of Biology. Centre for Novel Agricultural Products; Reino Unido Fil: Gómez, Leonardo D. University of York. Department of Biology. Centre for Novel Agricultural Products; Reino Unido

The eastern mountain range of Andes in Colombia is one of the least studied areas for mammals in the country, yet, potentially one of the most diverse. Here we present the first survey of medium and large-sized mammals for Tama National Natural Park (NNP) and La Carpa and La Rochela buffer areas, as basic information for the conservation and management of the NNP, including the potential inclusion of these buffer zones as part of the NNP. We used different complementary survey techniques (i. e., camera-traps, transects and interviews) to assess the diversity of these mammals in a 216 km2 area of the park; our effort included 72 linear transects of 1.8 Km, opportunistic sampling sessions, 16,714 camera trap-days, 39 structured interviews and indirect records and direct observation of animals. We recorded 21 species of mammals classified in 8 orders and 16 families distributed in four conservation categories. Complementary methods significantly improved the results. We found a dominant nocturnal activity pattern for the assemblage and low activity overlapping among most species. This is the first assessment of medium and large-sized mammal’s diversity for Tama NNP and for most North-eastern Andes in the country. Our results highlight the presence of large threatened species such as Tremarctos ornatus, Puma concolor and Mazama rufina. Our results could serve as basis for the conservation planning and management of the protected area and its buffer zones, and the potential expansion of the park.

El desarrollo de este artículo está dirigido a plantear el análisis de criticidad como modelo de jerarquización en subsistemas donde intervienen equipos de patio de subestaciones eléctricas propiedad de Centrales Eléctricas del Norte de Santander SA ESP. Este análisis es replicable a otros subsistemas y está basado en la recopilación de información de un grupo de trabajo específico con amplia experiencia en el mantenimiento de los activos objeto de estudio. Además de este análisis, se propone la implementación de árboles de diagnóstico de fallas para transformadores de potencia como herramienta fundamental en el análisis predictivo de fallas en este tipo de activo, cuya operación es fundamental para ofrecer un servicio continuo y de calidad.Palabras clave: Activos, análisis de criticidad, diagnóstico de fallas, mantenimiento.

Cultivar pedigrees from two sugarcane origins, 9 Argentine (AR) and 7 American (AM) have been reconstructed, and their genetic similarities (based on coefficient of parentage, COP, estimates) show an average of 0.206 ± 0.054. CP clones that enter the pedigrees of AM cultivars are parents or grandparents of AR cultivars, demonstrating that these genotypes have a strong genetic lineage in common. On average, AR pedigrees are smaller and contain less number of founding species than AM pedigrees. However, the lower height of the former is not explained by the different participation of founding species in the pedigrees. The presence of founding species in AR and AM pedigrees increases with the year of cultivar selection, indicating that more founding species entered the pedigree in recently selected cultivars than in older ones. The ancestry of the 16 cultivars trace back to 3 founding species: Saccharum officinarum, S. barberi, and S. spontaneum, with S. officinarum showing the greatest percentage of participation. As S. sinensis participates in 13 pedigrees and S. robustum in 3, the 5 founding species are present in 2 out of 16 pedigrees. Interestingly, the genus Sorghum enters the pedigree of LCP 85-384 pedigree. Industrial parameters assayed indicate that AR and AM cultivars were preferentially selected for their relatively high sucrose content and sugar yield in accordance with two facts: (i) the genetic background and the sucrose genes of sugarcane hybrids provided by the 68% of participation S. officinarum clones, and (ii) no clones of high fiber S. spontaneum have entered the pedigrees in earlier generations.

Presentamos un nuevo reporte de la tortuga escorpión Kinosternon scorpioides scorpioides para el departamento de Norte de Santander, Colombia. Este espécimen fue colectado en el bosque seco tropical del departamento, el cual es uno de los ecosistemas más amenazados y menos protegidos del país; esto agravado por problemas locales de contaminación y de transformación del uso del suelo, motivos por los que la presencia y conservación de K. s. Scorpioides se encuentra en riesgo. We present a new record of the Scorpion Turtle Kinosternon scorpioides scorpioides for the Norte de Santander department, Colombia. This specimen was collected in the tropical dry forest of the department, which is one of the most threatened and least protected ecosystems in the country; this exacerbated by local problems related with pollution and land-use transformation, threatening the presence and conservation of K. s. scorpioides.

Here we present the most recent record of the Tama Small-eared Shrew for Colombia as a contribution to this poor-known species in the country. The record of the Tama Small-eared Shrew is located within the Tama NNP, Herran and Toledo municipalities, Norte de Santander department, Colombia on the border with Venezuela. The park presents an altitudinal range between 350 and 3.450 masl, and covers approximately 48.000 ha mostly composed of large areas of paramo, montane forest and tropical forest., Aquí presentamos el registro más reciente de la musaraña de orejas pequeñas de Tama para Colombia como una contribución a esta especie poco conocida en el país. El registro de la musaraña de orejas pequeñas de Tama se encuentra dentro de los municipios de Tama NNP, Herran y Toledo, departamento de Norte de Santander, Colombia, en la frontera con Venezuela. El parque presenta un rango altitudinal entre 350 y 3.450 msnm, y cubre aproximadamente 48,000 ha, en su mayoría compuestas por grandes áreas de páramo, bosque montano y bosque tropical.

Salicornia bigelovii is an oilseed halophyte species that can be grown using saltwater in saline and coastal areas where conventional crops cannot be grown. Due to its high oil content, comparable with commercial crops, is a promising feedstock for biodiesel production. To determine the agroclimatic zoning of S. bigelovii in Argentina, thermal and rainfall indexes from its center of origin were taken into account and plotted for the period 1981-2010. The overlapping of the temperature and rainfall maps defined the agroclimatic zoning which determined optimal, very suitable, suitable, marginal and non-suitable areas for cultivation of S. bigelovii in Argentina. Subsequently, the Dryland Salinity classification of FAO was used to identify putative sites of implantation of S. bigelovii in moderately and strongly saline phases where soil electrical conductivity ranges from 12.4 to 22.1 mmhos/cm. Finally, the overlapping of both the agroclimatic suitability and Dryland Salinity maps afforded the agro-ecological suitability map, which showed the same five fitness classes defined in the agroclimatic zoning. © 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Fil: Falasca, Silvia Liliana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Clima y Agua; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Ulberich, Ana Cristina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Acevedo, Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Suelos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Objetivo: La Técnica de Rives-Stoppa para las eventraciones de la línea media instala una malla retro rectal fijada en sus bordes con puntos percutáneos. Se han propuesto otras formas de fijación y en este estudio prescindimos de ella. Material y Método: El presente estudio observacional, descriptivo, prospectivo, se realizó en pacientes intervenidos consecutivamente entre los años 1995 y 2002. Se usó anestesia epidural con sedación profunda. Se usó la técnica estándar de Rives-Stoppa prescindiendo de la fijación perimetral. Los pacientes deambularon y se dieron de alta precozmente. Resultados: Se da cuenta de la evolución postoperatoria de 64 pacientes, 48 mujeres y 16 varones con una edad promedio de 58,9 (26-85) años. El 25% era hipertenso, el 9,3% diabético y el 80,2% obeso con un IMC > 30. La hospitalización promedio fue de 3,9 (2-16) días. Hubo 4 infecciones superficiales, un trombo embolismo pulmonar, un íleo abdominal prolongado y dos infecciones pulmonares. El seguimiento a largo plazo pudo realizarse en 48 pacientes (75%) comprobándose 5 recidivas (10,4%), ubicadas en el borde dista o proximal de la reparación herniaria, y 13,2% de dolor crónico moderado. A pesar de la recurrencia, el 97% de los pacientes se manifestó satisfecho o muy satisfecho con el tratamiento. Discusión: Los resultados son comparables con los dados a conocer con fijación de la malla. La modificación técnica propuesta disminuye el tiempo quirúrgico y el riego de infección y de neuralgia post operatoria. Para una ulterior disminución de las recidivas debe aumentarse el solapamiento cefálico y caudal de la malla.

The potato species exhibit gametophytic self-incompatibility system controlled by a single S-locus with multiple S-haplotypes. Each S-haplotype carries two genetically linked genes, S-RNase and SLF, controlling the female and male specificities, respectively. In the style, the S-RNase gene codes for an allele-specific ribonuclease that is involved in the rejection of pollen that carries the same S-haplotype. This gene has five conserved regions (C1–C5) and two hypervariable domains located between C2 and C3 that play a role in S-RNase allele specificity. Presently, eight nucleotide sequences of S-RNase alleles from Solanum tuberosum and S. chacoense have been reported in potato species. In an effort to discriminate these S-RNase alleles and eventually detect new allelic variants, these sequences were analyzed by in silico PCR, using primers designed on the basis of four conserved regions, and were further examined by restriction enzyme patterns. The development of the in silico approach led to the creation of a novel dichotomous key which was able to unequivocally identify the eight potato S-RNase alleles already known and eventually detect putative alleles when the size and/or the restriction pattern of the amplicons were different from those predicted. Experimental data validates the utility and efficiency of the dichotomous key.

ResumenIntroducciónLa técnica de Rives-Stoppa fija una malla a la cara posterior de los músculos rectos abdominales con puntos transfixiantes transcutáneos perimetrales. El presente estudio pretende demostrar que podemos obtener resultados similares al no utilizar los puntos perimetrales, permitiendo que la malla sea fijada solo por aposición.Pacientes y métodosEl estudio observacional, descriptivo, prospectivo, fue realizado entre los años 1995 y 2002 en eventraciones de la línea media con un diámetro del anillo entre 4 y 15cm. La técnica de Rives-Stoppa se siguió estrictamente con la excepción de que usamos una malla de Prolene®, y prescindimos de los puntos perimetrales. Los pacientes deambularon precozmente y fueron dados de alta una vez retirados los drenajes. El control posoperatorio se efectuó en el 7.° y en el 30.° día; el seguimiento a largo plazo, a los 10.8 años (8-13).ResultadosEl estudio se realizó en 48 mujeres y 16 varones, con una edad de 58.8 ± 13.6 años. El 80.2% de los pacientes eran obesos. La hospitalización promedio fue de 2.8 días (1-13). Hubo 6 infecciones superficiales y diversas afecciones sistémicas, sin mortalidad. El seguimiento a largo plazo se efectuó en el 75% de la serie, y se comprobaron 5 recidivas (9.6%) y 6 casos de dolor abdominal crónico leve (12.5%). El 97% de los pacientes estuvo satisfecho con el tratamiento.ConclusiónNuestros resultados son similares a los de las series que utilizan puntos transfixiantes de fijación perimetral.AbstractIntroductionThe Rives-Stoppa technique for midline incisional hernias places a piece of mesh in the retro-rectal or in the preperitoneal space kept in place with transparietal transcutaneous perimetral sutures. In our study we want to show that allowing the fixation to take place by the so called «apposition sutures»’, the outcomes are similar to those obtained by suture fixation.Patients and methodsThe present observational, descriptive and prospective study was performed between 1995 and 2002 in midline incisional hernias with a defect width between 4 and 15cm. The Rives-Stoppa technique was realized following the technique recommended by the authors with the exception that Prolene® mesh was used and that no suture fixation was done. Ambulation was started the first postoperative day and patients were discharged after removal of the drains. Patients were controlled the 7th and 30th day after surgery. The longterm follow-up took place 10.8 (8–13) years after the intervention.ResultsThe present study was performed in 48 women and 16 men with a middle age of 58.8 ± 13.6. Obesity was present in 80.2%. The time of hospitalization averaged 2.8 (1–13) days. Six patients developed a superficial infection. The longterm follow-up showed 5 recurrences (9.6%) and 6 cases of light chronic abdominal pain. In spite of this, 97% of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the treatment.ConclusionOur results are similar with other studies with different mesh fixation techniques.

El municipio de Turbo (Antioquia, Colombia) cuenta con una gran riqueza ecosistémica, y asociado a esto y a las políticas y normativas nacionales, las autoridades ambientales han construido diferentes instrumentos de ordenamiento ambiental, formulados con distintos marcos de política de ordenamiento con disímiles metodologías (escalas cartográficas, normatividad y enfoques metodológicos), lo que ha causado incertidumbre sobre la articulación, complementariedad, armonización e integralidad de los instrumentos, en los ámbitos territorial, de la protección de los ecosistemas y de la promoción del desarrollo sostenible. Este artículo hace parte de uno de los resultados de investigación de un trabajo de grado de Maestría, cuyo objetivo fue analizar cómo los instrumentos de ordenamiento ambiental en el contexto territorial (físico-espacial), se cruzan y se afectan positiva o negativamente a partir de las políticas y normativas de ordenamiento ambiental y cómo dichas políticas inciden sobre el ordenamiento de los ecosistemas del municipio de Turbo. Metodológicamente el proyecto se desarrolla bajo un enfoque mixto, abordando ocho instrumentos de ordenamiento ambiental, utilizando técnicas como fichas resumen, reuniones con expertos utilizando la técnica de Delphi y la escala de Likert para la aplicación de la encuesta, igualmente se utilizaron los sistemas de información geográfica con el fin de realizar los análisis espaciales, y se elaboró un instrumento comparativo que permitiera generar el análisis. El resultado principal que se muestra en este artículo es un análisis del papel que han jugado las autoridades ambientales nacionales y regionales en la articulación de los instrumentos de ordenamiento ambiental municipal; y como principal conclusión se obtuvo que las principales falencias de los instrumentos de ordenamiento ambiental del municipio de Turbo, tienen su génesis en la forma de abordaje de la planificación y formulación de política pública ambiental desde las autoridades ambientales, así como de dictar regulaciones, donde a nivel del SINA no existe unidad conceptual, de escala ni de enfoque en el diseño y orientación de la política pública ambiental en su relación con el territorio, lo que evidencia grietas conceptuales y formas diversas desarticuladas de planificación del desarrollo y del quehacer de lo ambiental. The municipality of Turbo (Antioquia, Colombia) has a great ecosystemic richnessand associated with this, and the national policies and regulations, environmentalauthorities have built various instruments for environmental management,formulated with different policy framework systems with dissimilar methodologies(map scales, normative and methodological approaches), which has causeduncertainty about the articulation, complementarity, harmonization andcomprehensiveness of the instruments in the territorial, protection of ecosystemsand sustainable development promotion fields.This article is part of one of the results of a Master's degree requirement researchproject aimed at analyzing how the environmental management instruments in theterritorial context (physical-spatial) intersect and affect each other positively ornegatively from the environmental management policies and regulations and howthese policies have an impact on the ecosystems in the Municipality of Turbo,Antioquia. Methodologically the project was developed under a mixed approach,addressing eight instruments for environmental management and using techniquessuch as summary cards, meetings with experts using the Delphi technique andLikert’s scale for the application of the survey. Also the geographic informationsystems were used to perform spatial analysis and a comparative instrument togenerate the analysis was developed. The main result shown in this article is ananalysis of the role played by national and regional environmental authorities inarticulating municipal environmental management instruments. The mainconclusion obtained was that the focal shortcomings of the instruments ofenvironmental management in the municipality of Turbo, have their origin in theway planning and formulation of environmental public policy is approached fromenvironmental authorities, as well as in issuing regulations since at SINA levelthere is no conceptual unity of the scale or approach on the design and orientationof public environmental policy in relation to the territory, which shows conceptualcracks and various disjointed forms for development planning and of theenvironmental scope.

Somatic embryogenesis in scutella of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a well documented phenomenon and it has been shown through transcriptome analysis that genes involved in antioxidant responses, particularly in glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis, participate in the process. Thus, we investigated the influence of post-transcriptional silencing (PTGS) of the glutathione biosynthesis genes GSH1 and GSH2 on somatic embryogenesis in wheat. We found that PTGS of either of the target genes drastically inhibits callus regeneration and overall efficiency of transformation, in a similar manner as the GSH biosynthetic inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine. Supplementing the medium with glutathione did not overcome the observed low efficiency of wheat transformation. Furthermore, of the small number of obtained transformants, none exhibited altered GSH1 and GSH2 levels of transcription. Thus, it is concluded that GSH is essential for somatic embryogenesis and, as a consequence, it is difficult to regenerate wheat plants with silenced GSH1 and GSH2 genes. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Fil: Bossio, Adrian Ezequiel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Genética; Argentina Fil: Díaz Paleo, Antonio Horacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Genética; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; Argentina Fil: del Vas, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina Fil: Baroli, Irene Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Genética; Argentina Fil: Acevedo, Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina Fil: Rios, Raul Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Genética; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; Argentina

this article examines the current state of the Colombian National Innovation System (SNCTI) from its general conceptualization, definition of actors, structure, dynamics, and performance indicators. Also includes a description of the changes that have been the same since the law 29 of 1990 which created the National System of Science and Technology (SNCYT) to the law 1286 of 2009, which gives the new framework in which the SNCTI and SNCYT merge, the above plus a description of progress, weaknesses and suggestions for improvements to the system-SNCTI. In this sense, the first part of the article is dedicated to providing a conceptual framework based on the historical development of science-policy relations and its conceptualization in the eighties of the twentieth century, from a Latin American perspective, while the second part of article describes the system, structure, actors, relationships, and its development in the country, revealing their strengths, weaknesses and progress.

The Russian wheat aphid (RWA) is one of the most aggressive pests of barley and wheat. The outbreak of RWA occurred in Argentina in 2008 caused serious damage to barley cultivars. The most effective and sustainable method of RWA control is to identify new resistance genes. The purpose of the current research was to map RWA resistance genes in a set of double haploid (DH) lines of the Oregon-Wolfe Barley (OWB) mapping population derived from the cross between OWBDOM and OWBREC. The DH and both parental lines were screened for antixenosis, tolerance and antibiosis to RWA. There was significant variation among the DH lines in most of the traits studied. However, only tolerance resulted in significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the molecular markers. Two main QTLs were identified. These explained 90 and 79 % of the variability of foliar area and chlorophyll content, respectively, of infested and control plants. The initial and final foliar area and the variation in foliar area were associated with the same molecular markers on chromosome 2H (BmAc0125, Vrs1, BmAc0144f and BmAg0113e). The positive alleles were provided by OWBDOM. The content of chlorophyll was associated with the marker loci WMC1E8, MWG912, ABC261, MWG2028 and Blp on chromosome 1H, with the positive alleles provided by OWBREC. Both parents contributed to different tolerance traits, with foliar area and chlorophyll content remaining as the plant traits most affected by aphid feeding. The QTLs found in this population are new RWA resistance loci. A sequence homology search was performed to derive the putative function of the genes linked to the QTLs.

Sexual self-incompatibility in wild diploid potato species is controlled by a single multiallelic S-locus encoding a polymorphic stylar ribonuclease (S-RNase) that is responsible for the female function in pollen–pistil recognition. In this study, an approach using PCR-based markers were originally developed to amplify the S-RNase alleles in Solanum chacoense. Subsequently, to investigate their general applicability in Solanum, this molecular approach was successfully tested on S. spegazzinii and S. kurtzianum. Application of PCR-SSCP approach revealed potentially new S-RNase alleles in the three species, demonstrating for the first time the existence of S-RNase genetic variability within and between populations of wild diploid potato species. Species-specific SSCP markers that may be successfully used in gene flow studies was also detected in this investigation.

Introducción: El uso de la profilaxis antibiótica en la cirugía hemiaria con malla es controversial. El propósito del presente estudio es establecer la efectividad de la profilaxis antibiótica (PA) en la prevención de la infección del sitio operatorio (ISO) en la herniorrafía con malla efectuada en forma ambulatoria con anestesia local. Material y Método: El estudio observacional analítico se realizó dentro del Programa de Cirugía Ambulatoria del CRS Cordillera, en dos grupos consecutivos de pacientes, el primero que se sometió a PA mediante lgr de Cefazolina® intravenosa, inmediatamente antes del procedimiento quirúrgico, y el segundo en el que se prescindió de ella. Los controles postoperatorios se efectuaron al 7º y 30° día por un cirujano del grupo. Se diagnosticó ISO con la presencia de exudado purulento, con cultivo bacteriano positivo. Resultados: El estudio se efectuó en 955 pacientes operados entre 1998 y 2008. En el primer grupo, constituido por 245 pacientes se usó PA, en el segundo grupo de 710 pacientes se prescindió de ella. Las variables demográficas, antecedentes mórbidos y la duración del acto quirúrgico fueron comparables en ambos grupos. Se registraron 2 casos de infección en el primer grupo (1,05%) y dos en el segundo (0,35). Esta diferencia no fue significativa. El germen aislado fue en todos los casos el estafilococo dorado. Conclusiones: La tasa ISO en la hemiorrafia inguinal electiva ambulatoria con malla es baja y no se modificó con el uso de PA. Su empleo indiscriminado no aparece justificado en estos pacientes. The use of antibiotic prophylaxis has been questioned in the inguinal herniorrhaphy with mesh. The aim of this paper is to give account of the efficiency of antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) in the prevention of wound infection in the elective inguinal herniorrhaphy with mesh under local anaesthesia in an ambulatory basis. In the present observacional analytic study, 955 patients were operated upon with a mesh technique during a 10 year period, .in the CRS Hernia Centre in Santiago. In the first group of 250 patients, lgr Cefazolin® was administered iv one hour before the operation, in the second group of 710 patients no antibiotics were used. Demographic variables, associated diseases, the length of surgery were comparable in both groups. The same team of surgeons work in both groups. Wound infection was defined as the presence of pus in the surgical wound associated with a positive bacterial culture. The rate of wound infections was 1.05% of the first and 0.35% of the second group. This difference was no significant (p < 0.08). The isolated germ was a Staphylo-coccus aureus in all cases. The treatment was ambulatory in all cases. The rate of haematoma and funiculo-testicular fluxion were low. We conclude that the rate of wound infection in mesh herniorrhaphies is low and that the antibiotic prophylaxis does not improve these results. Its routine use in these patients is not justified.

Colombia is the country with the highest bird diversity in the world. Despite active research in ornithology, compelling morphological information of most bird species is still sparse. However, morphological information is the baseline to understand how species respond to environmental variation and how ecosystems respond to species loss. As part of a national initiative, the Instituto Alexander von Humboldt in collaboration with 12 Colombian institutions and seven biological collections, measured up to 15 morphological traits of 9,892 individuals corresponding to 606 species: 3,492 from individuals captured in field and 6,400 from museum specimens. Species measured are mainly distributed in high Andean forest, páramo, and wetland ecosystems. Seven ornithological collections in Colombia and 18 páramo complexes throughout Colombia were visited from 2013 to 2015. The morphological traits involved measurements from bill (total and exposed culmen, bill width and depth), wing (length, area, wingspan, and the distance between longest primary and longest secondary), tail (length and shape), tarsus (length), hallux (length and claw hallux), and mass. The number of measured specimens per species was variable, ranging from 1 to 321 individuals with a median of four individuals per species. Overall, this database gathered morphological information for30% of Colombian bird diversity. No copyright, proprietary, or cost restrictions apply; the data should be cited appropriately when used.

In several plant species, lesionmimic mutants simulate the diseaseresistance response in the absence of pathogens. Interestingly, some of these mutants confer broadspectrum resistance to diverse pathogens. We previously demonstrated that the HLP (hypersensitivelike phenotype) mutant of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) exhibited spontaneous hypersensitive response (HR) in the absence of any pathogen input. However, when HLP plants showing HR phenotype were challenged with leafrust (Puccinia triticina) they were more resistant than plants of the motherline of comparable developmental stage that did not show spontaneous HR, suggesting that the HLP mutation may confer enhanced resistance to the fungus. In this paper we validate the aforementioned finding in several wheat genetic backgrounds. Two way crosses were performed among the HLP mutant and eight wheat commercial stocks, and third backcross progenies with and without spontaneous HR were challenged with leafrust to investigate the response to the fungus. Backcrosses to cv. Sinvalocho M.A., the mother line, and cv. Purplestraw, highly susceptible to leafrust attack, were used as controls. Third backcross progenies of cvs. Sinvalocho M.A., Purplestraw, Buck Guarani and Pro INTA Imperial bearing spontaneous HR phenotype were more resistant to the fungal pathogen than third backcross progenies that did not carry the HLP mutation. Other four wheat stocks were as healthy as the HLP mutant. As expected, backcross to the motherline demonstrated that the HLP mutation conferred an additional resistance to the already healthy performance displayed by the motherline at adult plant stage. The introgression of the HLP mutation conferred heigh tened leafrust resistance and caused no kernel weight reduction on the backcrossed progenies. Taken together, these data validate the direct use of this type of mutations in diseaseresis tance breeding.

Objetivos: La recidiva continúa siendo la más frecuente complicación tardía de las herniorrafias inguinales primarias; estas tasas son aún mayores cuando se actúa sobre las hernias recidivadas. En el presente estudio prospectivo, observacional, descriptivo, damos cuenta de nuestros resultados en una serie de pacientes intervenidos en forma electiva, en el Centro de Hernias del CRS Cordillera, entre los años 1998 y 2009 por hernias inguinales recidivadas. Material y Métodos: La cirugía se efectuó, con anestesia local asistida, en forma ambulatoria, tras una adecuada selección de los pacientes y firma de un consentimiento informado. Se intervinieron 70 pacientes, 59 varones y 11 mujeres con una edad promedio de 56,2 ± 13,9 años. Se usó profilaxis antibiótica y de la trombosis venosa profunda. Resultados: La duración promedio de la cirugía fue de 54 ± 25,3 min. Se efectuó reparación tisular en 12 y protésica en 48 casos. El conducto deferente se seccionó en forma accidental en un caso. En el postoperatorio hubo un hematoma y 2 infecciones superficiales que se trataron ambulatoriamente. El seguimiento alejado a un promedio de 9 (4-14) años se efectuó en el 79% de la serie, detectándose 2 recidivas (3,5%) y un caso de inguinodinia leve. Las 2 recurrencias se apreciaron en las reparaciones con técnica de Lichtenstein (4,2%). El 92% de los enfermos refirió estar satisfecho o muy satisfecho con el procedimiento. Conclusiones: La reparación ambulatoria con anestesia local, en manos expertas, es una alternativa a ser considerada en el tratamiento de las hernias inguinales recidivadas.

Submitted by Emanuel Varela Cardoso (emanuel.varela@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-08-28T20:15:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DIEGO ALBERTO ACEVEDO BUENO – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEEI) 2015.pdf: 8647076 bytes, checksum: c16b323a227c1c3224d8f023324db513 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-28T20:15:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DIEGO ALBERTO ACEVEDO BUENO – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEEI) 2015.pdf: 8647076 bytes, checksum: c16b323a227c1c3224d8f023324db513 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08 CNPq Esta dissertação examina seis topologias hibridas assimétricas com acoplamento magnético. O termo topologia hibrida assimétrica se refere a qualquer topologia que combine os princípios das topologias clássicas com duas fontes de tensão isoladas ou mais com tensões diferentes. Das topologias propostas, quatro possuem saída única conectada ao ponto intermediário do barramento e as restantes dispõem de saída diferencial usando outro braço de dois níveis. Para simplificar o estudo destas topologias, desenvolveu-se um modelo elétrico e magnético detalhado dos indutores acoplados usando componentes de modo comum e diferencial. Posteriormente, esse modelo foi inserido no modelo do conversor para o desenvolvimento de uma estratégia de controle da corrente de saída e da corrente de modo diferencial garantindo a operação em modo de condução continua com número reduzido de componentes. Os modos de operação e as respectivas estratégias de modulação são apresentados. Além disso, o efeito da diferença das tensões de polo máximas sobre o desempenho dos conversores e na escolha do indutor acoplado foi analisado. Para avaliar o desempenho destas topologias, foram realizadas simulações com os modelos completos das chaves e dos diodos usando o software PSIM fixando a potência de saída para todas as topologias em 1 kVA. Também, alguns resultados experimentais em malha aberta são apresentados para validar os modelos desenvolvidos This paper examines six asymmetric hybrid topologies with magnetic coupling. The term “asymmetric hybrid topology” refers to any topology that combines the principles of classical topologies with two isolated voltage sources or more with different voltages. From these topologies, four have single-ended output connected to the midpoint of dc-link and the remaining has differential output employing another two-level arm. To simplify the analysis, a detailed electric and magnetic model of the coupled inductors was developed appealing to common- and differential-mode components. Subsequently, this model was inserted into the model of the converter for developing a control strategy for the output and the differential mode currents, ensuring the operation in continuous conduction mode with a reduced number of components. The modes of operation and the modulation strategies are presented. In addition, the difference of the maximum pole voltages was analyzed for determining its effect on the converter performance and the coupled inductor selection. To evaluate the performance of these topologies, simulations were performed with the complete models of switches and diodes using the PSIM software by setting the output power at 1 kVA for all topologies. Also, experimental open loop results are presented to validate the developed models.

In response to customer complaints about sewer odor, Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD), California launched a project to investigate the ventilation requirements of existing sewer siphons, to verify adequacy of existing air jumper operation, and determine the need for new air jumpers or additional air jumper capacity. The challenge was assessing sewer siphon air jumper adequacy without clear industry standards or guidance for comparison and to then develop air jumper sizing guidelines and recommendations for retrofit replacement or addition of air jumpers at 17 of the existing 87 OCSD sewer siphon locations. A literature search for sewer siphon air jumper sizing guidance was conducted. For each of the 17 sewer siphons studied: siphon inlet and outlet structures were inspected; sewer flow was measured; headspace air pressure or vacuum was measured; air flow into or out of the upstream and downstream siphon structures was measured; and dissolved and headspace hydrogen sulfide levels were measured. Relationships were theorized and developed between: depth of wastewater flow in the sewers; velocity of wastewater flow; sewer headspace airflow rates; and sewer headspace pressure or vacuum with manhole covers in place. General design guidelines for sewer siphon air jumpers were developed and recommended and these guidelines were applied to the field data for each of the studied 17 siphons. Sewer siphon air jumper retrofit replacement or additions are currently in the final design phase with construction scheduled to start in February 2007.

Anchored inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) were used to identify 21 accessions of Jacaranda mimosifolia, collected mainly in Buenos Aires City, and the others in Mendoza, Salta and Jujuy Province and La Plata City, as part of an ornamental breeding program. DNA was extracted and purified from young leaves and amplified by four anchored primers based on dinucleotide repeats with 5' or 3´extension. A total of 42 polymorphic bands, obtained after electrophoresis in agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide, were used to construct a molecular identification matrix. A mean of 12.75 bands per primer were generated, ranging from 140 to 1,400 bp. The genomic relationship of the genotypes was evaluated using Jaccard coefficient, and the dendrogram was constructed using UPGMA linkage method. All the accessions were differentiated by this technique, which showed a range of Resolving Power from 1.2 to 5.721. The anchored microsatellite analysis was shown to be a promising method to identify selected material in a breeding program of J. mimosifolia and with high potential to be applied to other ornamental crops.