National University of La Plata

In 1891, the distinction between positive economics and normative one proposed by John Neville Keynes, father of the famous Maynard, emerged. Positive economics means “the description of the functioning of an economic system” “as it is,” and normative economics means “the evaluation of what is desirable, its costs and benefits.”

Starting from the definition and a brief analysis of the process of economic financialization, which began in the seventies in the United States and spread throughout the world with economic globalization, the dominant economic systems are defined. Subsequently, it is analyzed how these systems, driven by individual interests and by a utilitarian reason also resulting from economic positivism, are creating inequalities throughout the world even in rich countries, thus generating a negative impact on human rights. To do this, concepts are introduced such as the demand for people's rights as opposed to that of consumption, the ontological reason of the economy as opposed to the utilitarian reason, the process of economic socialization as opposed to that of financialization. In this scenario, through a historical analysis, the responses that emerge when the financialization process of the economy takes hold, the practices are analyzed and the main categories in response to financial capitalism are highlighted. Subsequently, it is highlighted how this generates a process of economic socialization, as the construction of a core of economic values necessary for universal society to sustain itself in the long term and how this can be universalized when it is based on human rights. Finally, it is proposed how this is generated at three levels—territorial, national, international—and how institutions other than those of the IMF or the World Bank are needed at the international level.

The dominant economic systems are a threat to human rights, they increasingly produce a society of monads, where each individual seeks to maximize his individual interests in a solitary way. But at the same time, they produce a greater fragility of individuals engulfed like a battlefield of wolves, sacrificial lambs, at the mercy of the god money.

This chapter explores the quantity of published sustainability reports according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) methodology in Latin America and its evolution between 2008 and 2017. The type of research is longitudinal and descriptive, since its purpose is to describe the followings variables: published reports and company size during the period 2008–2017. In this work, quantitative methodology is applied, it is supplemented with Pearson's chi-2 tests. The main findings are the following: (a) The larger the size of the company, the greater the chances are that the company publishes sustainability reports and (b) There is a decrease in the level of publication of sustainability reports in accordance with GRI guidelines by companies in Latin America, especially as of 2016. This chapter provides valuable information on the state of corporate sustainability in Latin America, highlighting both the advances and challenges that companies in the region face on their path to sustainability. The findings in this chapter can be used to inform policy, business strategies, and future research in this evolving field.

On May 1, 2023, Noam Chomsky gave a Conference on “Economic Systems and Human Rights, limits and challenges of our time,” organized by the UNESCO Chair of the UNLP. Starting from his very important and brilliant speech, the dialogue which we propose below emerged, we present in order to kick off this book.

Kiwifruit is an edible berry that is gaining relevance in the markets. Its nutritional qualities, that include high content of ascorbic acid (AsA), tocopherols and other antioxidants, make it attractive for consumers. Fruit size is an important issue for consumers and producers, because it defines the fruit price. The aim of this work was to evaluate the postharvest life of two different kiwi fruit sizes, small and large fruits, combined with the treatment of an ethylene signal inhibitor, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), under storage at 3 ºC for up to six months. Large fruits showed an earlier respiration peak (two months) than small fruits. After four months from harvest, the amount of AsA in small fruits was higher than that of large fruits, independently from the 1-MCP treatment. On the other side, the application of 1-MCP delayed the loss of firmness in small and large fruits but did not affect quality parameters such as soluble solids or total titratable acidity. Small kiwifruits showed a greater weight loss while large fruits showed a decrease in the total sugars when they were treated with 1-MCP. Small fruits increased the AsA and malic acid content, presenting nutritional attributes that could improve the consumers’ diet. This report provides evidence that different fruit sizes should be separated at harvest time and sold at different shelf-life stages.

The analysis of the spatial arrangement of colors and roughness/smoothness of figures is relevant due to its wide range of applications. This paper proposes a texture characterization method that extracts data from images using the Hilbert curve. Three information theory quantifiers are then computed: permutation entropy, permutation complexity, and Fisher information measure. The proposal exhibits some important properties: (i) it allows discrimination between figures according to varying degrees of correlations (as measured by the Hurst exponent), (ii) it is invariant to rotation and symmetry transformations, (iii) it is invariant to image scaling, (iv) it can be used for both black and white and color images. Validations have been performed not only using synthetic images but also using the well-known Brodatz image database.

The Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri is the largest living species of penguin, found exclusively in Antarctica, and is unique in breeding during the winter. Consequently, fewer anatomical studies have been conducted on this species over time compared to others. This study aims to provide an updated and comprehensive description of the hindlimb musculature of Aptenodytes forsteri . The muscles of the thigh, shank and foot were compared along postnatal development. The results were compared with the muscles of swimming and diving birds and also with ground‐dwelling taxa. By dissecting seven specimens, the origin and insertion were described in newborns, chicks and juveniles. Of the 37 muscles recognized, 19 correspond to the thigh, 14 to the shank, and four to the foot. Notably, the hindlimb muscles appear relatively developed compared to the overall body size in the newborns, showing considerable development in independent chicks, and reached full growth in the juvenile. The m. flexor hallucis brevis , m. extensor hallucis longus and m. lumbricalis were absent in all specimens, whereas the m. femorotibialis lateralis was found in only one specimen. Additionally, a branch of the m. flexor cruris medialis , originating in the abdominal area and merging with the pelvic portion before insertion, was observed in the newborn chicks. Aptenodytes forsteri showed similarities with Numida meleagris in the insertion of m. iliofibularis , and m. flexor cruris lateralis p. pelvica . These findings, along with other comparative results, constitute the first comprehensive descriptive study of the hindlimb musculature of Aptenodytes forsteri , including different ontogenetic stages.

Surveillance of antimicrobial consumption (AMC) is essential to anticipate and inform policies and public health decisions to prevent and/or contain antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This manuscript shares the experience on AMC data collection in Latin American & Caribbean (LAC). The WHO GLASS-AMC methodology for AMC surveillance was used for data registration during the period 2019–2022. Focal points belonging to each country were contacted and trained for AMC source of information detection, managing registration tools, and data analysis. Thirteen countries were enrolled with significant heterogeneity in the AMC results (range 2.55–36.26 DID-AMC). This experience reflects the heterogeneity of realities in LAC countries; how each one of the nations selected the best sources to collect AMC data, which were the main problems in applying the WHO-AMC collection tool, and the approach that each country gave to the analysis of its data. Finally, some examples are provided on the use of AMC information in making the best decision-making related to AMR control policies at the national level.

Recently, it has been shown that sugar‑conditioned honey bees can be biased towards a nectarless dioecious crop as kiwifruit. The challenges for an efficient pollination service in this crop species are its nectarless flowers and its short blooming period. It is known that combined non-sugar compounds (NSCs) present in the floral products of different plants, such as caffeine and arginine, enhance olfactory memory retention in honey bees. Additionally, these NSCs presented in combination with scented food improve pollination activity in nectar crops. Here, we evaluated the effect of kiwifruit mimic-scented sugar solution (KM) on colonies located in this crop by supplementing them either with these NSCs individually (KM + CAF, KM + ARG), or combined (KM + MIX). Our results show an increase in colonies’ activity after feeding for all treatments. However, the colonies supplemented with the combined mixture (KM + MIX) collected heavier kiwifruit pollen loads and showed an increasing pollen stored area in their hives compared to the KM-treated control colonies. Unexpectedly, the caffeine-treated colonies showed a decrease in the pollen foraging related responses. These results show a combined effect of NSCs that improves honey bee pollen foraging in a nectarless crop, however this activity is impaired when caffeine is used alone for a nectarless crop.

In this chapter, we share a journey through actions, experiences, reflections and theoretical frameworks that, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, have outlined our collective pathways in order to continue decolonizing Natural Sciences, Environmental and Health Education. We present a brief analysis based on two editions of a Continuous Teacher Training course for the primary level, held virtually in 2021 for our entire country (Argentina). In each course, we proposed a critical and comprehensive analysis of regional eco-territorial conflicts and socio-sanitary crises to understand local complex realities, which, in turn, are regarded as part of the planetary crisis. We sought to put into play the socio-cultural diversity of the territories to generate a dialogue of knowledges, ways of feeling and living. In that way, scientific, popular and indigenous knowledge, among others, were invited to be exchanged in a critical intercultural process. Recovering the voices of students, tutors and authors of materials, we inquire about the connections and resignifications of multiple political-pedagogical perspectives of the course, which they recognize in their post-pandemic practices.

To model the structure of neutron stars (NSs) theoretically, it is common to consider layers with different density regimes. Matching the equation of state (EoS) for the crust and core and obtaining a suitable description of these extreme conditions are crucial for understanding the properties of these compact objects. In this work, we construct 10 different NS EoSs incorporating three distinct crust models, which are connected to the core using a thermodynamically and causally consistent formalism. For cold NSs, we propose a linear relationship between pressure and energy density in a narrow region between the crust and core, effectively establishing an interpolation function in the pressure‐baryonic chemical potential plane. We then compare this EoS matching method with the classical approach, which neglects causal and thermodynamic consistency. We solve the Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff equation to obtain the mass‐radius relationship and compare our results with observational constraints on NSs. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of the new matching formalism on non‐radial oscillation frequencies and damping times. Our findings suggest that the method used to glue the crust and core EoS impacts NS observables, such as the radius, oscillation frequencies, and damping times of non‐radial modes, which may be crucial for interpreting future gravitational wave observations from neutron star mergers or isolated pulsars. The effects are particularly noticeable for low‐mass NSs, regardless of the specific EoS model chosen. In particular, we find that the oscillation mode exhibits significant differences in frequencies among alternative matching methods, whereas the fundamental ‐mode remains unaffected by changes in crust models or interpolation schemes.

In this study, we present a synthetic methodology for preparing glycosyl β‐diketones from the corresponding allyl ethers. The process involves three steps: nitrile oxide cycloadditions, reduction of the glycosyl isoxazolines, and oxidation of β‐hydroxyketones. This route is suitable for acid‐ and base‐sensitive protecting groups, and the reactions were conducted with retention of the anomeric configuration. The resulting glycosyl β‐diketones were then utilized in the synthesis of the corresponding pyrazoles.

Quinoa flour due to its nutritional and sensory characteristics could be used as an ingredient to improve the nutritional and technological properties of gluten-free bread. Furthermore, the application of hydrothermal processes such as extrusion can enhance their native properties. Hence, our objective was to evaluate how the incorporation of extruded quinoa flours (EQFs) affects the technological, sensory and nutritional quality of gluten-free bread. EQFs were obtained following two extrusion conditions with different ranges and ramps of temperature: (EQF1: from 77 °C to 139 °C, and EQF2: from 79 °C to 145 °C). Replacements (25, 35 and 45%) of a base premix (rice flour and corn and cassava starches) by EQFs were tested. Breads with EQFs showed a reduction in luminosity and specific volume (SV) with respect to control (bread without quinoa). While increasing levels of EQF1 led to a progressive decrease in SV, it remained constant when increasing levels of EQF2 were used. The crumb texture showed an increase in hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness, and resilience with respect to control, presenting EQF1 at 45% the highest increase in hardness (53%). The same tendency was observed in the crust since crust hardness was higher in formulations with EQF1. Finally, bread containing the EQFs showed higher protein, ash, and total dietary fiber content than the control bread. In conclusion, these results showed that the extrusion procedure impacted the flour aptitude for breadmaking. However, EQFs are suitable for developing bakery goods with improved nutritional properties and acceptable technological and sensory properties.

Actinobacteria have frequently been reported in the Andean Puna, including strains of the genus Micrococcus . These strains demonstrate resistance to high levels of UV radiation, arsenic, and multiple antibiotics, and possess large linear plasmids. A comparative analysis of the sequences and putative functions of these plasmids was conducted. The presence of large regions with high sequence identity (exceeding 30 kb in total) in all three studied Micrococcus megaplasmids indicates a clear evolutionary link among these elements. Genes related to essential plasmid functions were primarily found within these conserved regions, while genes associated with resistance to metals and antibiotics resided in accessory regions. Moreover, the abundance of open reading frames related to transposition and recombination, along with local deviations from the average GC content, provides evidence for the mosaic nature and considerable genetic plasticity of these plasmids. This study presents evidence of a common ancestor for linear plasmids in Micrococcus and suggests that horizontal gene transfer likely occurs frequently within Andean lakes, providing the native microbial community with a beneficial gene pool to withstand extreme conditions. Additionally, the successful transfer of the linear plasmid pLMA1 by a DNase‐insensitive, conjugation‐type mechanism and its potential use as a genetic vector is demonstrated.

The redox imbalance, caused by depletion or generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a key mechanism by which metal complexes exert anticancer effects. Carbidopa has shown the ability to inhibit the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line, a highly aggressive triple‐negative human breast adenocarcinoma, by inducing reductive stress. The metal complex of carbidopa with zinc (ZnCarbi) was designed to modify carbidopa's structure and exhibited increased cytotoxicity against MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Interestingly, ZnCarbi selectively targets certain cancer cells, showing no impact on the viability of normal HEK293 (human embryonic kidney) cells or other cancer cell lines like A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma), LM3 (murine breast adenocarcinoma), or HCT116 (human colon cancer). Treatment with carbidopa and ZnCarbi induces reductive stress, decreases ROS levels, increases the GSH/GSSG ratio, and protects cells from H2O2‐induced death. Both compounds also cause mitochondrial damage, leading to cell death, and exhibit antimetastatic effects by inhibiting cell migration and invasion of MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Interaction studies with bovine serum albumin showed moderate binding through hydrophobic association. Overall, ZnCarbi demonstrates enhanced anticancer properties compared to carbidopa alone, highlighting its potential as an anticancer and antimetastatic compound.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and accumulation of arterial calcifications (AC). Metformin (MET) inhibits this transdifferentiation in vitro. Here, we evaluate the in vivo efficacy of oral MET to reduce AC in a model of MetS. 20 young male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups: one received water, the other water plus 20% fructose to induce MetS. After 14 days, and for another 4 weeks, MET (100 mg/kg/day) was added to half of each group’s drinking source, thus: C (water), F (fructose), M (MET) and FM (fructose+MET). Serum and adipose tissue were collected. Aortas were dissected for histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis; ex vivo calcification studies; and to isolate VSMC to measure their alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), collagen production, extracellular mineralization, gene expression of RUNX2 and RAGE (receptor for AGEs), and elastic fiber production. F group showed parameters compatible with MetS. Aortic tunica media from F showed decreased elastic-to-muscular ratio, increased collagen content and increased levels of the AGEs carboxymethyl-lysine. Aortic arches from F presented a tendency for higher ex vivo calcification. VSMC from F showed increased ALP, collagen secretion, mineralization and expression of RUNX2 and RAGE; and decreased elastic fiber production. All these effects were reverted by MET co-treatment (FM group). In vitro, AGEs-BSA upregulated RAGE expression of control VSMC, and this was prevented by MET in an AMPK-dependent manner. Thus, experimental MetS induces RAGE upregulation and osteogenic transdifferentiation of aortic VSMC, that is curbed by oral treatment with MET.