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Wildfires can pose a major threat to the secure operation of power networks. Chile, California, and Australia have suffered from recent wildfires that have induced considerable power supply cuts. Further, as power systems move to a significant integration of variable renewable energy sources, successfully managing the impact of wildfires on the power supply can become even more challenging due to the joint uncertainty in wildfire trajectories and the power injections from wind and solar farms. Motivated by this, this paper develops a practical decision-support approach that concatenates a stochastic wildfire simulation method with an attacker-defender model that aims to find a worst-case realization for (i) transmission line and generator contingencies, out of those that can potentially be affected by a given wildfire scenario, and for (ii) wind and solar power trajectories, based on a max-min structure where the inner min problem represents a best adaptive response on generator dispatch actions. Further, this paper proposes an evaluation framework to assess the power supply security of various power system topology configurations, under the assumption of limited transmission switching capabilities, and based on the simulation of several wildfire evolution scenarios. Extensive computational experiments are carried out on two representations of the Chilean power network with up to 278 buses, showing the practical effectiveness of the proposed approach for enhancing wildfire resilience in highly renewable power systems.

Chronic NLRP3 inflammasome activation can promote fibrosis through its production of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. Conversely, recombinant human relaxin (RLX) can inhibit the pro-fibrotic interactions between IL-1β, IL-18 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Here, the broader extent by which RLX targeted the myofibroblast NLRP3 inflammasome to mediate its anti-fibrotic effects was elucidated. Primary human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs), stimulated with TGF-β1 (to promote myofibroblast (HCMF) differentiation), LPS (to prime the NLRP3 inflammasome) and ATP (to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome) (T+L+A) or benzoylbenzoyl-ATP (to activate the ATP receptor; P2X7R) (T+L+Bz), co-expressed relaxin family peptide receptor-1 (RXFP1), the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) and P2X7R, and underwent increased protein expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18. Whilst RLX co-administration to HCMFs significantly prevented the T+L+A- or T+L+Bz-stimulated increase in these end points, the inhibitory effects of RLX were annulled by the pharmacological antagonism of either RXFP1, AT2R, P2X7R, TLR-4, reactive oxygen species (ROS) or caspase-1. The RLX-induced amelioration of left ventricular inflammation, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis in isoproterenol (ISO)-injured mice, was also attenuated by P2X7R antagonism. Thus, the ability of RLX to ameliorate the myofibroblast NLRP3 inflammasome as part of its anti-fibrotic effects, appeared to involve RXFP1, AT2R, P2X7R and the inhibition of TLR-4, ROS and caspase-1.

Some industrial barren areas are extreme habitats created by the deposition of airborne pollutants from non-ferrous smelters. One of such barrens exists in the vicinities of the Cu/Ni smelter, located at the Kola Peninsula, Murmansk region, Russia. This study aimed at evaluating in laboratory conditions the efficiency of various vermiculite-lizardite wastes (industrial wastes of local origin) as soil amendments for plant growth promotion. Peat topsoil (0–20 cm) was collected in the vicinity of the Cu/Ni smelter. Total soil concentrations were 1612, 1481, and 63 mg kg−1 for Ni, Cu, and Co, respectively, and soil pH was 4.3. Soils were amended with lime waste and different types of vermiculite-lizardite wastes (coarse, fine, and thermo-activated at 700 °C), leaving one soil untreated. Weekly wetting-drying cycles, performed during 1 month, allowed amendments to react in the soil. All soils were cultivated with Lolium perenne L. for 21 days under controlled conditions. The plant growth was not influenced by high soil Cu concentration, while Ni and Co caused phytotoxicity. A mix of 10% (w/w) of different vermiculite-lizardite wastes with 10% (w/w) of lime improved the plant growth. Thermo-activated waste showed the best results for promoting plant growth and reducing foliar Ni concentrations from 1022 to 88–117 mg kg−1. However, the plants presented Ni phytotoxicity even in the amended soils and this requires further studies to find a way to reduce it.

Comision Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (CONICYT) Fondecyt 11140012 1161806 PAI79160139

El presente articulo tiene por objeto analizar la facultad presidencial de declarar zonas de escasez ante periodos extraordinarios de sequia. Para ello, se presenta la disposicion caracterizando las atribuciones de los usuarios, de la autoridad y la posibilidad de indemnizaciones a quienes se sientan afectados. Posteriormente, se presentan los criterios de la norma para configurar una epoca extraordinaria de sequia, que obedecen a consideraciones hidrometeorologicas; dejando de lado factores antropicos. Se propone distinguir entre los conceptos de sequia y escasez hidrica, asi como tambien se plantea entender la escasez como un fenomeno cada vez mas frecuente y prolongado. Por ultimo, en base a estas consideraciones, se analizan las propuestas de reforma a la norma en comento.

Due to mobile and IoT devices’ ubiquity and their ever-growing processing potential, Dew computing environments have been emerging topics for researchers. These environments allow resource-constrained devices to contribute computing power to others in a local network. One major challenge in these environments is task scheduling: that is, how to distribute jobs across devices available in the network. In this paper, we propose to distribute jobs in Dew environments using artificial intelligence (AI). Specifically, we show that an AI agent, known as Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO), can learn to distribute jobs in a simulated Dew environment better than existing methods—even when tested over job sequences that are five times longer than the sequences used during the training. We found that using our technique, we can gain up to 77% in performance compared with using human-designed heuristics.

Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus is a promising vector for vaccination against various challenging pathogens or the treatment of some types of cancers. Because this vector is unable to replicate in human recipients, a high amount of virions per dose is required for vaccination and gene therapy. Upstream process intensification combining perfusion technologies, the avian suspension cell line AGE1.CR.pIX and the virus strain MVA‐CR19 is an option to obtain very high MVA yields. Here we compared different options for cell retention in perfusion mode using conventional stirred‐tank bioreactors including an alternating tangential flow filtration system, an acoustic settler and an inclined settler. The last two options allowed continuous MVA virus harvesting. Furthermore, we studied hollow‐fiber based bioreactors and an orbital‐shaken bioreactor in perfusion mode, both available for single‐use. Productivity for the virus strain MVA‐CR19 was compared to results from batch and continuous production reported in literature. Our results demonstrate that MVA virus is highly stable at 37°C in cell culture so that cell retention devices are only required to maximize cell concentration but not for continuous harvesting. Using a stirred‐tank bioreactor, a perfusion strategy during the whole run with working volume expansion after virus infection resulted in the highest yields. Overall, infectious MVA virus titers of 2.1–16.5 × 109 virions/mL were achieved in these intensified processes. Taken together, the study shows a novel perspective on high‐yield MVA virus production in conventional bioreactor systems linked to various cell retention devices and addresses options for process intensification including fully single‐use perfusion platforms. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Mobile grid computing has been a popular topic for researchers due to mobile and IoT devices’ ubiquity and their evergrowing processing potential. While many scheduling algorithms for harnessing these resources exist in the literature for standard grid computing scenarios, surprisingly, there is little insight into this matter in the context of hybrid-powered computing resources, typically found in Dew and Edge computing environments. This paper proposes new algorithms aware of devices’ power source for scheduling tasks in hybrid environments, i.e., where the battery- and non-battery-powered devices cooperate. We simulated hybrid Dew/Edge environments by extending DewSim, a simulator that models battery-driven devices’ battery behavior using battery traces profiled from real mobile devices. We compared the throughput and job completion achieved by algorithms proposed in this paper using as a baseline a previously developed algorithm that considers computing resources but only from battery-dependent devices called Enhanced Simple Energy-Aware Schedule (E-SEAS). The obtained results in the simulation reveal that our proposed algorithms can obtain up to a 90% increment in overall throughput and around 95% of completed jobs in hybrid environments compared to E-SEAS. Finally, we show that incorporating these characteristics gives more awareness of the type of resources present and can enable the algorithms to manage resources more efficiently in more hybrid environments than other algorithms found in the literature.

Agua del Cajon Block is located towards the north-east flank of the Huincul High deformation belt. The Cuyo Group, one of the main hydrocarbon targets of the block, was analyzed under the sequential-stratigraphic seismic methodology, for the purpose of establishing a genetic depositional framework that guides the development of new prospective models in the area. Ages and paleoenvironmental indicators calibration were obtained from biostratigraphic sampling. In Agua del Cajon Block, the Cuyo Group was interpreted as a second-order mesosequence, composed of eight third-order seismic sequences. Seismic-stratigraphy was integrated with the structural framework of the block, allowing an interpretation of the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the analyzed interval. It is concluded that the development of the Cuyo Group manifests eustatic control at a second-order mesosequence scale, while at the third-order scale the sequence arrangement was modified by local tectonics.

Subsurface characterization of the structure and sedimentary sequences in the Agua del Cajon area was performed to understand the Lower Jurassic deformation across the eastern Huincul High. Integration of seismic, well data, and fossil fauna allowed establishing the Late Triassic rifting and Jurassic compressional evolution underwent for this area. Four Late Triassic - Early Jurassic extensional depocenters were recognized, being the most significant the Agua del Cajon and El Salitral depocenters. In general, all of them present an E-W to WNW-ESE orientation and are flanked by NNE to NE-trend transfer zones. The contractional structural style of the Agua del Cajon area consists of south-vergence reverse faults and folds with two primary trends: (i) E-W to WNW-ESE and (ii) NE-SW to NNE-SSW. According to the slip and uplift amount, the first-order structural feature in the study area corresponds to the S-verging, E-W Huincul fault. Geometries and patterns in the seismic reflectors evidence two compressional episodes from late early Toarcian to Callovian time. The first one is associated with the inversion of the previous master normal fault of the El Salitral and Agua del Cajon depocenters during the late early Toarcian. The inversion of the NE-SW synthetic normal fault associated with the El Salitral depocenter also occurred during the first deformation pulses favored by its perpendicular orientation to NW-SE Jurassic σ1. NE-SW fault associated with the Agua del Cajon inversion shows no evidence of inversion-related deformation mechanisms. Instead, the formation of this structure is related to the previous NE-SW transfer zone. After a tectonic quiescence period in late Toarcian – late Aalenian, the compressional activity continued during the late Aalenian and Bajocian evidenced by progressive unconformities into Jurassic sequences. This activity would have continued until Callovian times. These results are in agreement with previously reported evolution in the eastern-central Huincul High region. However, they indicate that the contractional intraplate deformation in the southern Neuquen basin would have begun during the late early Toarcian; this is older than previously proposed.

The recombinant form of the peptide hormone relaxin, serelaxin (RLX), mediates its anti-fibrotic actions by impeding the profibrotic activity of cytokines including TGF-β1 and IL-1β. As IL-1β can be produced by the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, this study determined whether RLX targeted the inflammasome to inhibit the profibrotic TGF-β1/IL-1β axis in primary human cardiac myofibroblasts (HCMFs) in vitro and in mice with isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiomyopathy in vivo. HCMFs stimulated with TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml), LPS (100 ng/ml), and ATP (5 mM) (T+L+A) for 8 h, to induce the NLRP3 inflammasome, demonstrated significantly increased protein expression of markers of NLRP3 priming (NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a C-terminal caspase-recruitment domain, procaspase-1) and activity (IL-1β, IL-18). After 72 h, there was significantly increased neuronal NOS (nNOS), TLR-4, procaspase-1, myofibroblast differentiation, and collagen-I deposition. These measures, along with interstitial TGF-β1 expression and collagen deposition, were also increased in the left ventricle (LV) of ISO-injured mice 14 d postinjury. RLX [16.8 nM (100 ng/ml) in vitro; 0.5 mg/kg per day in vivo] inhibited T+L+A- and ISO-induced TLR-4 expression, NLRP3 priming, IL-1β, IL-18, myofibroblast differentiation, and interstitial collagen deposition at the time points studied, via the promotion of nNOS; with the NLRP3- and IL-1β-inhibitory effects of RLX in HCMFs being abrogated by pharmacological blockade of nNOS or TLR-4. Comparatively, the small molecule NLRP3 inhibitor, N-{[(1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-s-indacen-4-yl)amino]carbonyl}-4-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-2-furansulfonamide (1 μM in vitro, 10 mg/kg/d in vivo), inhibited components of the NLRP3 inflammasome in vitro and in vivo and ISO-induced interstitial LV fibrosis in vivo but did not affect nNOS, TLR-4, myofibroblast differentiation, or myofibroblast-induced collagen deposition. Hence, RLX can inhibit the TGF-β1/IL-1β axis via a nNOS-TLR-4-NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent mechanism on cardiac myofibroblasts.-Caceres, F. T., Gaspari, T. A., Samuel, C. S., Pinar, A. A. Serelaxin inhibits the profibrotic TGF-β1/IL-1β axis by targeting TLR-4 and the NLRP3 inflammasome in cardiac myofibroblasts.

Hardware improvements of mobile devices have allowed them to be considered as first-class resources at the edge, which has led to the need to propose new techniques and scheduling heuristics to make efficient usage of these devices. Current scheduling heuristics available in the literature do not take into account mobile grid nodes that do not rely on batteries to work, a factor that is of great importance in the advent of mobile-edge computing. In this paper we propose a simple algorithm that incorporates a more advanced awareness of a mobile device's power supply and we show that incorporating this characteristic can enable these heuristics to manage edge resources in a more efficient way.

Spiders are a large group of arthropods and nearly omnipresent in warm and temperate climates. They rely on tactile and visual information to hunt and breed, but compared with their mechanical senses, little is known about their visual systems. In this study, we analyzed the visual spectral sensitivity of the Chilean recluse spider

Spiders are a large group of arthropods and nearly omnipresent in warm and temperate climates. They rely on tactile and visual information to hunt and breed, but compared to their mechanical senses, little is known about their visual systems. In this study we analyzed the visual spectral sensitivity of the Chilean recluse spider Loxosceles laeta, a synanthropic species posing a significant threat to humans, using electroretinogram recordings of its three eye types and open field tests with localized chromatic illumination for behavioral analysis. The electroretinogram displayed two sensitivity peaks in the ultraviolet and green ranges, but no differences were observed between the three eye types and between male and female specimens. Selective chromatic adaptation reduced overall light sensitivity, but did not support the expression of more than one type of rhodopsin in photoreceptors. The open field tests revealed a preference for corners over side areas, and an increased exploration of open field areas illuminated by shorter wavelength (violet to green) light compared to non-illuminated areas, while no behavioral responses to red and near-infrared light were observed. These data suggest that L. laeta has monochromatic vision without spectral specializations in its three secondary eye pairs.

Continuous cell culture-based influenza vaccine production could significantly reduce footprint and manufacturing costs compared to current batch processing. However, yields of influenza virus in continuous mode can be affected by oscillations in virus titers caused by periodic accumulation of defective interfering particles. The generation of such particles has also been observed previously in cascades of continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) and is known as the "von Magnus effect". To improve virus yields and to avoid these oscillations, we have developed a novel continuous tubular bioreactor system for influenza A virus production. It was built using a 500 mL CSTR for cell growth linked to a 105 m long tubular plug-flow bioreactor (PFBR). Virus propagation took place only in the PFBR with a nominal residence time of 20 h and a production capacity of 0.2 mL/min. The bioreactor was first tested with suspension MDCK cells at different multiplicities of infection (MOI), and then with suspension avian AGE1.CR.pIX cells at a fixed nominal MOI of 0.02. Maximum hemagglutinin (HA) titers of 2.4 and 1.6 log10(HA units/100 μL) for suspension MDCK cells and AGE1.CR.pIX cells, respectively, were obtained. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that 100% infected cells with batch-like HA titers can be obtained at a MOI of at least 0.1. Stable HA and TCID50 titers over 18 days of production were confirmed using the AGE1.CR.pIX cell line, and PCR analysis demonstrated stable production of full-length genome. The contamination level of segments with deletions (potentially defective interfering particles), already present in the virus seed, was low and did not increase. Control experiments using batch and semi-continuous cultures confirmed these findings. A comparison showed that influenza virus production can be achieved with the tubular bioreactor system in about half the time with a space-time-yield up to two times higher than for typical batch cultures. In summary, a novel continuous tubular bioreactor system for cell culture-based influenza virus production was developed. One main advantage, an essentially single-passage amplification of viruses, should enable efficient production of vaccines as well as vectors for gene and cancer therapy.

El departamento de Cordoba cuenta con zonas rurales que no hacen parte del sistema interconectado nacional. Esto crea un problema para sus habitantes ya que, no pueden conservar alimentos. Sin embargo, la alta disponibilidad de radiacion solar durante todo el ano, ofrece una alterna- tiva para preservar alimentos utilizando equipos de refri- geracion por absorcion solar. El objetivo de este trabajo fue simular y analizar un sistema de refrigeracion por ab- sorcion solar, usando el software ASPEN Hysys. Se obtu- vo un coeficiente de desempeno (COP) maximo de 1,0 a 93°C y 1547 kPa, teniendo en cuenta el efecto de distintas variables

Purpose In the mammalian retina, cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1Rs) are well-positioned to alter inhibitory synaptic function from amacrine cells and, thus, might influence visual signal processing in the inner retina. However, it is not known if CB1R modulates amacrine cells feedback inhibition at retinal bipolar cell (BC) terminals. Methods Using whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings, we examined the pharmacological effect of CB1R activation and inhibition on spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) and glutamate-evoked IPSCs (gIPSCs) from identified OFF BCs in light-adapted rat retinal slices. Results Activation of CB1R with WIN55212-2 selectively increased the frequency of GABAergic, but not glycinergic sIPSC in types 2, 3a, and 3b OFF BCs, and had no effect on inhibitory activity in type 4 OFF BCs. The increase in GABAergic activity was eliminated in axotomized BCs and can be suppressed by blocking CB1R with AM251 or GABAA and GABAρ receptors with SR-95531 and TPMPA, respectively. In all OFF BC types tested, a brief application of glutamate to the outer plexiform layer elicited gIPSCs comprising GABAergic and glycinergic components that were unaffected by CB1R activation. However, blocking CB1R selectively increased GABAergic gIPSCs, supporting a role for endocannabinoid signaling in the regulation of glutamate-evoked GABAergic inhibitory feedback to OFF BCs. Conclusions CB1R activation shape types 2, 3a, and 3b OFF BC responses by selectively regulate GABAergic feedback inhibition at their axon terminals, thus cannabinoid signaling might play an important role in the fine-tuning of visual signal processing in the mammalian inner retina.

The study of Late Cretaceous-earliest Paleogene series in the Chilean Andes at ~35°S provides new constraints on the coeval evolution of the area and the Southern Central Andes. These correspond to the continental series of BRCU and the overlying Plan de los Yeuques Formation (PYF). Zircon age determinations reveal that these represent an almost continuous record of deposition, respectively from the Cenomanian-early Campanian to the Campanian-Danian. According to paleogeographic reconstructions, the BRCU series corresponds to the coeval foreland basin deposits, in a near arc position, which was westerly bounded by the earliest Late Cretaceous orogen. Detrital zircon age spectra for this reveal only a Cretaceous component, thus indicating a depocenter disconnected to that represented by coeval synorogenic deposits in Argentina. The volcanic rocks of the PYF record an eastern migration of the magmatic loci into the area at least since ~80 Ma. Its outcrops display a series of syn-sedimentary normal faults indicating extensional conditions throughout its deposition. Its volcanic rocks conform an apparent bimodal suite characterized by arc-like affinities, low pressure conditions for the corresponding magmas, and juvenile isotopic signatures for all the compositional spectra. Comparison and modeling of such compositional characteristics indicate a derivation from parental magmas similar to those currently sourcing the southern segment of the Andean Southern Volcanic Zone (~37–42°S). Altogether these characteristics suggest an extensional intra-arc basin setting for the deposition of this unit probably framed by a normal to thin crust of ~30–35 km. The extensional conditions observed for this unit are also recorded in numerous Late Cretaceous arc deposits along the Andean margin, thus indicating that this corresponds to a regional scale feature. This evidence records a change from Late Cretaceous from compressional to extensional conditions in the arc area which agrees well with major plate tectonic configuration proposed for this time span in the Andean margin. Fil: Muñoz, Marcia. Universidad Andrés Bello; Chile. Universidad de Chile; Chile Fil: Tapia, Felipe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentina Fil: Persico, Mario. Universidad de Chile; Chile Fil: Benoit, Mathieu. Laboratoire Domaines Océaniques Géosciences Marines Géomorphologie Du Littoral; Francia Fil: Charrier, Reynaldo. Universidad Andrés Bello; Chile. Universidad de Chile; Chile Fil: Farías, Marcelo. Universidad de Chile; Chile Fil: Rojas, Andrés. Universidad de Chile; Chile

The infill of the Neuquén Basin recorded the Meso-Cenozoic geological and tectonic evolution of the southern Central Andes being an excellent site to investigate how the pattern of detrital zircon ages varies trough time. In this work we analyze the U–Pb (LA–MC–ICP–MS) zircon ages from sedimentary and volcanic rocks related to synrift and retroarc stages of the northern part of the Neuquén Basin. These data define the crystallization age of the synrift volcanism at 223 ± 2 Ma (Cerro Negro Andesite) and the maximum depositional age of the original synrift sediments at ca. 204 Ma (El Freno Formation). Two different pulses of rifting could be recognized according to the absolute ages, the oldest developed during the Norian and the younger during the Rhaetian–Sinemurian. The source regions of the El Freno Formation show that the Choiyoi magmatic province was the main source rock of sediment supply. An important amount of detrital zircons with Triassic ages was identified and interpreted as a source area related to the synrift magmatism. The maximum depositional age calculated for the Tordillo Formation in the Atuel-La Valenciana depocenter is at ca. 149 Ma; as well as in other places of the Neuquén Basin, the U–Pb ages calculated in the Late Jurassic Tordillo Formation do not agree with the absolute age of the Kimmeridgian–Tithonian boundary (ca. 152 Ma). The main source region of sediment in the Tordillo Formation was the Andean magmatic arc. Basement regions were also present with age peaks at the Carboniferous, Neoproterozoic, and Mesoproterozoic; these regions were probably located to the east in the San Rafael Block. The pattern of zircon ages summarized for the Late Jurassic Tordillo and Lagunillas formations were interpreted as a record of the magmatic activity during the Triassic and Jurassic in the southern Central Andes. A waning of the magmatism is inferred to have happened during the Triassic. The evident lack of ages observed around ca. 200 Ma suggests cessation of the synrift magmatism. The later increase in magmatic activity during the Early Jurassic is attributed to the onset of Andean subduction, with maximum peaks at ca. 191 and 179 Ma. The trough at ca. 165 Ma and the later increase in the Late Jurassic could be explained by changes in the relative convergence rate in the Andean subduction regime, or by the shift to a more mafic composition of the magmatism with minor zircon fertility. Fil: Naipauer, Maximiliano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos; Argentina Fil: Tapia, Felipe. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas. Departamento de Geología; Chile. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Mescua, Jose Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina Fil: Farías, Marcelo. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas. Departamento de Geología; Chile Fil: Pimentel, Marcio. Universidade Do Brasilia; Brasil Fil: Ramos, Victor Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos; Argentina

Indexación: Scopus; Scielo. El objetivo de este estudio fue valuar la utilidad del uso de la tinción de Tricrómico de Masson (TM) en la cuantificación de la densidad media vascular (DMV) en Mucosa Oral Normal (MON), Displasia Epitelial Oral (DEO) y Carcinoma Oral de Células Escamosas (COCE). Estudio descriptivo de serie de casos. Se analizaron 17 muestras de MON, 15 muestras de DEO y 16 de COCE, teñidas con TM. Para determinar su utilidad, se compararon con las mismas muestras analizadas con técnica de inmunohistoquímica contra CD31. La cuantificación de la DMV se realizó en las 3 áreas de mayor vascularización de cada muestra. Se determinó la DMV según diagnóstico mediante la tinción TM e inmunohistoquímica contra CD31, y se calculó la correlación entre ambos. La DMV cuantificada con TM y contra CD31 difiere según el diagnóstico, observándose un aumento de la DMV al malignizarse el diagnóstico. No se encontraron diferencias al comparar la DMV cuantificada con TM y contra CD31. La correlación de la DMV analizado por TM y contra CD31 es significativa y moderada. La cuantificación de vasos sanguíneos es posible mediante la tinción de TM en muestras de MON, DEO y COCE, con una correlación moderada con la inmunohistoquímica contra CD31. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of Masson's Trichrome (TM) staining in the quantification of the mean vascular density (DMV) in samples of normal oral mucosa (MON), oral epithelial dysplasia (ODE) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (COCE). The design - a descriptive study of case series. We analyzed 17 samples of MON, 15 samples of DEO and 16 samples of COCE, stained with TM. To determine usefulness, we compared and analyzed the same samples, either stained with TM or with immunohistochemical technique against CD31. Quantification of the DMV was performed in the 3 areas of greatest vascularization in each sample. DMV was determined according to diagnosis by TM staining and immunohistochemistry against CD31, and the correlation between the two was then calculated. DMV quantified with TM and against CD31 differs according to the diagnosis, with an increase in DMV upon malignant diagnosis. No differences were found when comparing DMV quantified with TM and against CD31. The correlation of the DMV analyzed by TM and against CD31 is significant and moderate. Quantification of blood vessels is possible by TM staining in samples of MON, DEO and COCE. TM staining is moderately correlated with immunohistochemistry against CD31. https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0717-95022017000401576&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en

In this classic segment, many tectonic processes, like flat-subduction, terrane accretion and steepening of the subduction, among others, provide a robust framework for their understanding. Five orogenic cycles, with variations in location and type of magmatism, tectonic regimes and development of different accretionary prisms, show a complex evolution. Accretion of a continental terrane in the Pampean cycle exhumed lower to middle crust in Early Cambrian. The Ordovician magmatic arc, associated metamorphism and foreland basin formation characterized the Famatinian cycle. In Late Devonian, the collision of Chilenia and associated highpressure/low-temperature metamorphism contrasts with the late Palaeozoic accretionary prisms. Contractional deformation in Early to Middle Permian was followed by extension and rhyolitic (Choiyoi) magmatism. Triassic to earliest Jurassic rifting was followed by subduction and extension, dominated by Pacific marine ingressions, during Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. The Late Cretaceous was characterized by uplift and exhumation of the Andean Cordillera. An Atlantic ingression occurred in latest Cretaceous. Cenozoic contraction and uplift pulses alternate with Oligocene extension. Late Cenozoic subduction was characterized by the Pampean flat-subduction, the clockwise block tectonic rotations in the normal subduction segments and the magmatism in Payenia. These processes provide evidence that the Andean tectonic model is far from a straightforward geological evolution. Fil: Charrier, Reynaldo. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas. Departamento de Geología; Chile. Universidad Andres Bello; Chile Fil: Ramos, Victor Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos ; Argentina Fil: Tapia, Felipe. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas. Departamento de Geología; Chile. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Sagripanti, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos ; Argentina

With improvement of orthopaedic technologies for bone replacement and regeneration, there is an increasing need for materials with superior properties. Mg-containing silicate ceramics and glass-ceramics have been shown to be bioactive and exhibit various advantages for biomedical applications. This review paper is intended to summarize and discuss the most relevant studies carried out in the field of Mg-containing bioactive silicate ceramics and glass-ceramics.

Hollow fiber bioreactors (HFBRs) have been widely described as capable of supporting the production of highly concentrated monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins. Only recently HFBRs have been proposed as new single-use platforms for production of high-titer influenza A virus. These bioreactors contain multiple hollow fiber capillary tubes that separate the bioreactor in an intra- and an extra-capillary space. Cells are usually cultured in the extra-capillary space and can grow to a very high cell concentration. This work describes the evaluation of the single-use hollow fiber bioreactor PRIMER HF (Biovest International Inc., USA) for production of influenza A virus. The process was setup, characterized and optimized by running a total of 15 cultivations. The HFBRs were seeded with either adherent or suspension MDCK cells, and infected with influenza virus A/PR/8/34 (H1N1), and the pandemic strain A/Mexico/4108/2009 (H1N1). High HA titers and TCID₅₀ of up to 3.87 log₁₀(HA units/100 μL) and 1.8 × 10(10)virions/mL, respectively, were obtained for A/PR/8/34 influenza strain. Influenza virus was collected by performing multiple harvests of the extra-capillary space during a virus production time of up to 12 days. Cell-specific virus yields between 2,000 and 8,000 virions/cell were estimated for adherent MDCK cells, and between 11,000 and 19,000 virions/cell for suspension MDCK.SUS2 cells. These results do not only coincide with the cell-specific virus yields obtained with cultivations in stirred tank bioreactors and other high cell density systems, but also demonstrate that HFBRs are promising and competitive single-use platforms that can be considered for commercial production of influenza virus.

Taking into consideration two characteristics, which can be found in informal models: the standpoint theory and the community participation, this research suggests a theoretical reflection on how urban design strategies can be re-thought within natural disaster contexts. The following approach understands reconstruction as a socio-spatial process. This means that rebuilding cannot be focus exclusively on physical rehabilitation. Actually, the action of rebuilding should promote permanent links and bonds between community and the inhabited place. This particular reading is based on the capacity of the urban design process to open up an affective field. Acting within emergency contexts implies then, to widen the traditional project programme. According to this, architectural or urban project will be defined as a relational system, organized by the requirements found on the ground itself. The dual reality emergency-opportunity –which can be associated both to natural disaster scenarios and informality– enables a field where this conceptual approach to urban design based on social demands can be practiced.

Cardiac inflammation can be produced by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), from parasitic, bacterial or viral origin; or by danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), released from dead cells after cardiac tissue damage, for example by cardiac infarction. Both, PAMPS and DAMPS activate TLR4 on resident immune cells and heart tissue cells, triggering an inflammatory process necessary to begin the wound healing process. Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) are the most abundant cells in the heart and are critical to wound healing, along with cardiac myofibroblasts (CMF), which are differentiated from CF through a TGF-β1-mediated process. While TLR4 and the inflammasome complex are known to play important roles in CF function, the effects of TGF-β1 on TLR4 and inflammasome expression and activity remain unknown. To elucidate this important point, we evaluated the effect of TGF-β1 on TLR4, and the inflammasome protein expression and activity through activation by LPS, mimicking a myocarditis condition by bacterial origin. We found that TGF-β1 increased TLR4 expression in CF and that the process was mediated by the TGFβRI and p38 signaling pathways. In both CF and CMF, LPS triggered ERK1/2, PI3K-Akt, and p65-NF-κB phosphorylation. All of these effects were blocked by TAK-242, a TLR4 signaling pathway inhibitor. LPS increased pro-IL-1β levels, which were dependent on the ERK1/2, PI3K-Akt, and NF-κB signaling pathways, and levels were higher in CF than CMF. NLRP3 and ASC levels were similar in CF and CMF, while pro-caspase-1 levels and caspase-1 activity were higher in CMF. LPS + ATP treatment induced inflammasome complex assembly and activation, triggering the release of IL-1β in both CMF and CF. Finally, the unsecreted pro-IL-1β in the CF was degraded by autophagy. Conclusion TGF-β1 increases TLR4 expression in CF. Despite different pro-IL-1β and caspase-1 activity levels in CF versus CMF, the two cell types secreted similar levels of IL-1β after LPS + ATP treatment. These findings suggest that both cell types are active participants in inflammation.

With an increasing demand for efficacious, safe, and affordable vaccines for human and animal use, process intensification in cell culture-based viral vaccine production demands advanced process strategies to overcome the limitations of conventional batch cultivations. However, the use of fed-batch, perfusion, or continuous modes to drive processes at high cell density (HCD) and overextended operating times has so far been little explored in large-scale viral vaccine manufacturing. Also, possible reductions in cell-specific virus yields for HCD cultivations have been reported frequently. Taking into account that vaccine production is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the pharmaceutical sector with tough margins to meet, it is understandable that process intensification is being considered by both academia and industry as a next step toward more efficient viral vaccine production processes only recently. Compared to conventional batch processes, fed-batch and perfusion strategies could result in ten to a hundred times higher product yields. Both cultivation strategies can be implemented to achieve cell concentrations exceeding 10(7) cells/mL or even 10(8) cells/mL, while keeping low levels of metabolites that potentially inhibit cell growth and virus replication. The trend towards HCD processes is supported by development of GMP-compliant cultivation platforms, i.e., acoustic settlers, hollow fiber bioreactors, and hollow fiber-based perfusion systems including tangential flow filtration (TFF) or alternating tangential flow (ATF) technologies. In this review, these process modes are discussed in detail and compared with conventional batch processes based on productivity indicators such as space-time yield, cell concentration, and product titers. In addition, options for the production of viral vaccines in continuous multi-stage bioreactors such as two- and three-stage systems are addressed. While such systems have shown similar virus titers compared to batch cultivations, keeping high yields for extended production times is still a challenge. Overall, we demonstrate that process intensification of cell culture-based viral vaccine production can be realized by the consequent application of fed-batch, perfusion, and continuous systems with a significant increase in productivity. The potential for even further improvements is high, considering recent developments in establishment of new (designer) cell lines, better characterization of host cell metabolism, advances in media design, and the use of mathematical models as a tool for process optimization and control.

The importance of Mg in the human body, its key role in bone tissue development, in addition to its application to improve and modify physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of bioactive silicate glasses, make Mg a very interesting element as a component of bioactive glasses for medical applications. Although Mg is a typical element in the composition of numerous developed bioactive glasses, the analysis of the literature reveals that further research is required to gain comprehensive understanding about the effects of MgO on bioactive glass structure and properties. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the field of Mg-containing bioactive glasses discussing available compositions and summarizing existing knowledge on effects of MgO on glass properties. The biomedical applications of several developed glasses are discussed highlighting the distinct effects of Mg in relevant areas, such as bioactivity and cell response, and focusing on the most common applications for these glasses, such as bone cements, bioactive coatings, and scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. The effect of Mg on bone development is discussed and avenues for future research in the field are proposed, emphasizing the need to investigate unstudied properties of (already developed) Mg-containing glass compositions, such as angiogenesis-stimulating action and the effect on osteoclast functions, to develop new Mg-containing bioactive glasses as well as to make products of different shape designs such as nanoparticles, fibers, and complex porous structures.

A procedure is proposed to determine where and when to increase the capacity of lines and transformers in a power subtransmission network. The expansion plan must minimize cost while supplying the demand for energy over a time horizon, keeping the quality and reliability standards of the network and minimizing the impact over the environment. The procedure is iterative and takes into account AC flows, reliability analysis, different scenarios, demand uncertainty, discrete investment costs, voltage constraints, capacity, and power factor. A significant contribution of this procedure is that, along with the expansion plan, it considers the optimization of the operation, specifically the movement of transformer taps and the location and sizing of reactive banks. This allows significantly reducing or delaying the investment, thus reducing its present value. The approach ensures convergence when computing the power flows and allows making an analysis of the effects of distributed generation and, if necessary, ...

A structural characterization of the hydrothermal–volcanic field associated with the Tinguiririca Volcanic Complex had been performed by combining passive seismic tomography and structural geology. This complex corresponds to a 20 km long succession of N25°E oriented of eruptive centers, currently showing several thermal manifestations distributed throughout the area. The structural behavior of this zone is controlled by the El Fierro–El Diablo fault system, corresponding to a high angle reverse faults of Oligocene–Miocene age. In this area, a temporary seismic network with 16 short-period stations was setup from January to April of 2010, in the context of the MSc thesis of Lira (2010), covering an area of 200 km2 that corresponds with the hydrothermal field of Tinguiririca Volcanic Complex (TVC), Central Chile, Southern Central Andes. Using P- and S- wave arrival times, a 3D seismic velocity tomography was performed. The preliminary locations of 2270 earthquakes have first been determined using an a priori 1D velocity model. Afterwards, a joint inversion of both, the 3D velocity model and final locations have been obtained. High Vp/Vs ratios are interpreted as zones with high hot fluid content and high fracturing. Meanwhile, low Vp/Vs anomalies could represent the magmatic reservoir and the conduit network associated to the fluid mobility. Based on structural information and thermal manifestations, these anomalies have been interpreted. In order to visualize the relation between local geology and the velocity model, the volume associated with the magma reservoir and the fluid circulation network has been delimited using an iso-value contour of Vp/Vs equal to 1.70. The most prominent observed feature in the obtained model is a large “V” shaped low-velocity anomaly extending along the entire study region and having the same vergency and orientation as the existing high-angle inverse faults, which corroborates that El Fierro–El Diablo fault system represents the local control for fluid mobility. This geometry coincides with surface hydrothermal manifestations and with available geochemical information of the area, which allowed us to generate a conceptual model of fluid circulation in the volcanic–hydrothermal system as well as define the location of the magmatic reservoir. Fil: Pavez, C.. Universidad de Chile; Chile Fil: Tapia Silva, Felipe Fernando. Universidad de Chile; Chile. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Comte, D.. Universidad de Chile; Chile Fil: Gutierrez, Francisco. Universidad de Chile; Chile Fil: Lira, E.. Universidad de Chile; Chile Fil: Charrier González, Reynaldo. Universidad de Chile; Chile Fil: Benavente, O.. Universidad de Chile; Chile

After recalling the definition of codes as modules over skew polynomial rings, whose multiplication is defined by using an automorphism and a derivation, and some basic facts about them, in the first part of this paper we study some of their main algebraic and geometric properties. Finally, for module skew codes constructed only with an automorphism, we give some BCH type lower bounds for their minimum distance., 20 pages

The Andean internal zone records deformation, uplift and erosion that serve as proxies of variations on mountain building dynamics. Hence, the study of this region would give keys to understand the factors controlling the orogenic evolution. Structural, stratigraphic and geochronological data in the Andean internal zone at 35°20′S evidence that this region has only underwent contractional deformation since the late Miocene up to present, differing from coeval Pleistocene extensional tectonics affecting the retro-arc. Contractional deformation was characterized by the development of a piggy-back basin in the latest Miocene filled by synorogenic deposits. Afterward, an out-of-sequence thrusting event affected the region since at least the Pliocene until the Present. Shortening in the inner part of the Andean orogen would be favored by both the high orthogonality of the out-sequence structures with respect to the plate convergence vector and by the minor resistance to shortening produced by the southward decrease of the orogen height and by the removal of material via erosion of the uplifted mountain belt. In contrast, oblique structures, as those described farther north, accommodate strike-slip displacement. Likewise, we propose that erosion from the inner orogen favored the prolongation of the out-of-sequence thrusting event until the Present, differing from the situation north of the 34°S where this event ended by the Pliocene. Fil: Tapia, Felipe. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas. Departamento de Geología; Chile. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Farías, Marcelo. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas. Departamento de Geología; Chile Fil: Naipauer, Maximiliano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos; Argentina Fil: Puratich, Jacqueline. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas. Departamento de Geología; Chile