Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires

Tofu whey (TW) is generated as a by-­ product during tofu manufacturing. TW was processed to obtain concentrated tofu whey (CTW). The aim of this study was to explore the preparation of reduced-­ fat dressing-­ like oil-­ in-­ water emulsions with CTW, xanthan and guar gums (5.0 g kg−1) and sunflower oil (250 g kg−1) and evaluate the impact of protein concentration (2.5–10.0 g kg−1) and salt addition (NaCl, 20.0 g kg−1, in the aqueous phase). The emulsifying ability of CTW increased with salt addition, but the extent of this effect was smaller at higher protein concentration. At the lowest protein concentration (2.5 g kg−1) and in the absence of salt, some creaming destabilization was observed, but in the presence of salt, a total stabilization was observed after 45 days of storage. At intermediate and high protein concentrations (5.0–10.0 g kg−1), all emulsions were stable regardless of the salt addition. The stability would be ascribed to the formation of a three-­ dimensional network including gums, flocs, and CTW biopolymer aggregates. All systems behaved as pseudoplastic fluids in flow measurements and as weak gels in oscillatory assays. Although salt addition showed opposite results on rheological properties at low and high protein concentrations, stable emulsions were obtained. The biopolymers in CTW are suitable as emulsifiers in acid food emulsions such as dressings and sauces, with an appropriate response to salt addition. These findings contribute to in- creasing the added value of TW wastewater as a by-­ product of tofu manufacture in the development of stable emulsion-­ based food products.

The objective was to evaluate the capacity of L. plantarum LP5r to improve the microbiological and physicochemical quality of wastewater from a dairy company. L. plantarum LP5r was inoculated (8.8log10CFUg−1mL−1) into 50L containers of wastewater, 10mL was added to T1, 10mL to T2 with monthly replenishment, 50mL to T3, and 50mL to T4 with monthly replenishment. The CT was kept without inoculum. Initially, L. plantarum LP5r showed values above 6 log10CFUg−1. In T1 and T3 decreased to undetectable values, but in T2 and T4 remained above 4 log10CFUg−1. Enterobacteriaceae were initially 5.46 log10CFUg−1 and decreased to 4.88 and 4.73 log10CFUg−1 for T2 and T4 and increased to 7.31 log10CFUg−1 in CT. Coliforms were reduced from 7.38 log10CFUg−1 to 2.95 and 2.11 log10CFUg−1 in T2 and T4. Initial suspended solids were 19997mgL−1, which decreased to 6058.3mgL−1 and 4118.9mgL−1 for CT and T4. The pH did not differ between samples. An initial BOD5 of 7680mgL−1 was detected in all samples, which decreased to 2385mgL−1 for CT and 820mgL−1 for T4, and the COD decreased from 17827mgL−1 to 4839mgL−1 and 1649mgL−1 for the CT and T4 samples. L. plantarum LP5 positively influences the microbiological quality and COD and BOD5 of the dairy's wastewater.

Bread wheat quality is largely determined by genotype (G), particularly the combination of glutenins and gliadins, and in turn, is affected by the environment (E) and the GxE interaction. In Argentina, wheat cultivars are classified into different quality groups (QG) according to their baking aptitude. Knowing the combination of high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-Gs) would be a good tool for choosing the genotype. In this research, 134 bread wheat cultivars released between 1980 and 2020 were analyzed using one-dimensional gels obtained by SDS-PAGE. Great genetic diversity was found among the HMW-Gs alleles, particularly in the Glu-B1 locus, even within the same quality groups. Furthermore, it was found that modern genotypes have alleles associated with better industrial quality according to the Glu-1 score. However, in the last decade analyzed, most of the genotypes did not present the subunit 7 overexpressed which is related to quality improvements (7 + 8* subunits). In addition, the gliadin patterns more frequently observed in recently released cultivars are not related to good baking quality. Being able to know the quality of gluten proteins, even within each quality group, could constitute a contribution to agronomic management practices that do not imply an extra cost.

Studies on economic integration in Latin America indicate that countries within the region encounter significant challenges in sustaining long-term growth and exhibit a marked lack of convergence with developed economies. A critical factor in this context is the quality of institutions, particularly the stability of governmental policies. This study examines the convergence of total factor productivity across 16 Latin American countries from 1980 to 2019, evaluating the impact of public policy volatility, particularly in relation to regional integration agreements. We employ econometric panel data models with corrected standard errors to ensure a robust analysis. The results indicate that high volatility is associated with greater divergence in productivity, underscoring the importance of political stability and institutional quality in promoting more balanced economic development in the region.

In barley and wheat, remote sensing of nitrogen through the normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) enable the estimation of nitrogen deficiencies. The relationship between the nitrogen sufficiency index (NSI) and the economic optimum nitrogen rate (EONR) has enabled NSI threshold definition for diagnostic models adjustment. The objectives of this study were to quantify the differences in yield formation and its relationship with NSI in barley and in wheat under contrasting soil depth conditions. Nitrogen fertilization experiments were performed in 16 barley and wheat production sites located in the Pampas region of Argentina. Half of the experiments took place in (i) deep Typic Argiudolls and the other half were conducted in (ii) shallow Petrocalcic Hapludolls and Petrocalcic Argiudolls. The NDVI was measured at early growth stages, NSI was calculated, and yields were quantified. The EONR was associated with NSI values ranging from 0.95 to 0.97 in barley and from 0.89 to 0.99 in wheat. Soil depth affected NSI only in wheat crops and at higher input-product price ratios (I: P = 6 and 10). The NSI effectively adjusts the nitrogen nutrition status in barley and wheat during their growth cycle. However, its application should account for site specific conditions such as soil depth and economic factors like the input-product price ratio.

The effective design and management of public transport systems are essential to ensuring the best service for users. The performance of a transport system will depend heavily on users behavior and decisions. Generally, users have individual objectives, such as seeking to minimize their own travel time. These decisions can affect the performance of the entire system, making it inefficient. A measure that allows to quantify the inefficiency of the system in the face of non-cooperative behavior is the price of anarchy. Our objective is to investigate the price of anarchy in the common-lines problem. In this approach, users choose which lines to use based on the best strategy for them. While Wardrop equilibrium has been studied for the common-lines problem, no contributions have been made toward the social optimum. In this work, we propose two optimization problems to obtain this optimum on simple networks, using strategy flow and line flow formulations. In addition, we prove that both optimization problems are equivalent, and we obtain a characterization of the social optimum flows. These contributions allow us to obtain results about the behavior of the price of anarchy in simple networks as demand increases.

Objetivos Conocer la opinión pública de la población argentina, como voz relevante para influenciar en la formulación de las políticas de salud. Analizar la percepción/imaginario social respecto a la atención de salud pública en el territorio. Pacientes y métodos Los Estados proponen programas de políticas públicas diseñados desde el punto de vista de los teóricos, antepuestos a las percepciones y necesidades de las comunidades. Los datos recogidos refieren a la población argentina, usuaria o no de los servicios de salud. En relación con esto, el propósito es conocer la percepción y el imaginario de las personas sobre los servicios de salud pública. Estrategia de difusión y envío del estudio: Instagram institucional y la plataforma para WhatsApp Chattigo. La aplicación de Google Suite con el diseño de formularios permitió recolectar los datos. Se aclara que la encuesta es anónima y que los datos que permitieron el envío fueron de identificados. Métodos cuantitativos y cualitativos, considerados complementarios, con 8 preguntas cerradas y 2 preguntas abiertas. Resultados Participaron 2368 personas. El 78% consultado percibe de forma positiva la atención recibida en el centro de salud pública. Por lo que concierne a la percepción sobre las habilidades técnicas del personal de salud, el 85,9% afirma que recomendaría el centro de salud donde concurre habitualmente. Se evidencia una oportunidad de mejora en aspectos tales como la escucha y la contención (5,1%). Las habilidades sociales del personal de salud se consideran insuficientes. Las dos preguntas abiertas mostraron un amplio acuerdo sobre la buena atención recibida. Se reveló sesgo por parte de los encuestados, que infirieron que la evaluación era sobre la organización que enviaba el estudio. Conclusiones Este estudio de opinión constituye un insumo clave. Los servicios públicos de salud tienen el desafío de reconocer el peso de la percepción/imaginario social, así como la importancia de los procesos comunicacionales, humanizando la atención con un abordaje integral: bio-psico-social.

Objetivos Determinar el impacto del Programa de percepción y clima mediado por estrategias comunicacionales para con los trabajadores del HEC. Sensibilizar al personal sobre la necesidad de realizar su labor específica, con competencias socioemocionales y comunicacionales (desarrollo de habilidades blandas) como un eje clave de gestión. Pacientes y métodos El Programa, desarrollado entre 2021 y 2023, involucró a todo el personal, a fin de identificar las percepciones en una institución pública de salud. La estrategia elegida es de carácter cualitativo. Una investigación de complexión descriptiva basada en estudio de campo, formulada con instrumentos de creación propia, como modelo para el Programa. El trabajo inició escuchando y midiendo la participación voluntaria, para coconstruir el plan estratégico (encuestas autoadministradas, grupos focales y entrevistas en profundidad). Se triangularon los datos y la información (Bericat, 1998) y, en conjunto con la dirección ejecutiva, se determinaron como nodos críticos ocho servicios transversales. Los ejes de acción implicaron el desarrollo de un protocolo diseñado a medida. Resultados El universo de estudio fueron los servicios nodales, integrados por 986 personas. Se obtuvo una muestra del 35,45% mediante una encuesta anónima digital autoadministrada enviada vía WhatsApp. Los datos fueron anonimizados. Resultados: sienten pertenencia el 76%. Vieron reflejados en el plan estratégico sus aportes en la gestión el 47,42%. Sienten orgullo del crecimiento edilicio el 71,14%. Manifestaron que la comunicación institucional es central para formarse como buen comunicador el 60%. Conclusiones El algoritmo de la gestión es centrar la atención en las personas, sin importar sus roles como equipo de salud o pacientes. La comunicación en salud con impacto es la clave para lograr el alineamiento con los objetivos, gestionar el posicionamiento y despertar los sentimientos de pertenencia. En conclusión, las personas han reaccionado positivamente al Programa de percepción y clima laboral. Es inexcusable la necesidad de desarrollar e incorporar estrategias comunicacionales en salud.

INTRODUCTION Imaging biomarkers are fundamental in diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases, but their use in FTD remains limited. This study examines PET biomarkers in Argentine bvFTD patients. METHODS We studied a cohort of bvFTD patients (n = 20) and controls (n = 21) with three different PET radiotracers (18F‐FDG, 11C‐PiB, and 18F‐AV1451). RESULTS In bvFTD patients, 18F‐FDG PET showed significant hypometabolism in frontotemporal regions, along with hypermetabolism in the precentral gyrus, compared to normal controls. 11C‐PIB did not reveal a pattern typical of Alzheimer's disease, yet increased uptake was notably observed in the precentral region. We found 18F‐AV1451 uptake in frontal lobe, parietal, precuneus, cuneus, posterior cingulum, highly significant in bvFTD with respect to NCs. DISCUSSION PET biomarkers are a crucial tool in diverse real‐world clinical scenarios. However, their utility in revealing questions about the underlying pathology in FTD is still limited. Highlights First bvFTD study using 18F‐FDG, 11C‐PIB, and 18F‐AV1451 PET in a Latin American cohort. Frontotemporal hypometabolism with compensatory precentral hypermetabolism due to amyloid. Amyloid deposits observed in the precentral gyrus without an Alzheimer's‐like pattern. 18F‐AV1451 shows limitations in specificity for bvFTD pathology. Study provides new insights into PET biomarker utility for bvFTD clinical assessment.

PURPOSE Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 2%-3% of adult cancers globally. In Argentina, RCC is the fifth most common cancer, with over 2,000 new patients annually. This study aims to evaluate treatment trends for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in Argentina. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted involving 689 patients with mRCC treated in Argentina between 2015 and 2022. The study analyzed treatment patterns and outcomes over time. RESULTS Access to combination treatments for mRCC in Argentina has increased significantly, with 87% of patients receiving such therapies during the 2021-2022 period. The real-world data demonstrated that combination treatments in this Latin American population resulted in prolonged progression-free survival and improved overall response rate. CONCLUSION The results underscore the importance of ensuring access to combination therapies for patients with mRCC in Latin America. These findings should inform public health policies aimed at guaranteeing access to effective combination therapies.

In the nanometric scale, alloy nanomaterials behave as new materials since they are able to display structures and properties which are different from those of the pure metal nanostructures or bulk alloys. In this work, the compositional characteristics of AlCu alloy nanoparticles (NPs) obtained by †Femtosecond Laser Ablation Synthesis in Solution (FLASiS) on solid targets with different percentages of Al and Cu were studied, motivated by their increasing importance in the construction, aerospace and transportation industrial areas, as well as catalytic activity, and antibacterial effects. Morphology, structure, composition and plasmonic behaviour of the NPs were analysed by SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD and OES. From the obtained results, a configuration model of a host alumina matrix with Cu inclusions, together with a possible kinetic formation mechanism of these nanostructures are both proposed. Analysis of the plasmonic resonance in the experimental optical extinction spectra of the synthesized colloids using this model shows that the nanoparticles in the colloid have Cu filling factors in the range 0.002 ‐ 0.005. Results from TEM images on selected NPs are compared with those obtained independently from the fitting of experimental spectra using the proposed model. Deviation from bulk stoichiometry in the alloy NPs is discussed.

In this work, we explore the way in which rock art mediates social memory. Our study case is based on the rock art sequence established for Los Toldos archaeological locality, Argentina, which begins in the Pleistocene/Holocene transition and extends to the Late Holocene. The analysis focuses on superimpositions, with an emphasis on the human attitudes towards previous images. Despite changes detected along the sequence, Los Toldos manifests a strong emphasis on recalling the past, which is evidenced by the superimposition, replication, maintenance and recycling of motifs. These behaviors show a multi-generational dialogue that kept an ancestral memory alive but also recreated it through grouping images from different times for telling stories. This study places an emphasis on the users/consumers of rock art rather than on its makers. This focus narrows the gap between the archaeological record and the ethnographic sources by claiming that the Tehuelche people were engaged with rock art even though they did not make it.

The presence of meso and macroplastics extracted from the surface and the soil of the banks of the most polluted point of the Langueyú stream, located in the Pampas Region of Argentina, was studied. The plastic waste extracted from the surface occupies 19.4% of the total area and 70.7% corresponded to single-use plastics, with a predominance of Bags. 331 plastic wastes were extracted from the soil, 93.7% were macroplastics, with a predominance of Threads, Others, Wrappers and Bags. The most abundant categories of mesoplastics were Bags, then Threads and Coarse plastics. 73.6% of the plastics extracted from the surface and the macroplastics extracted from the soil were white or transparent, and these occupied a total area of 8090 cm², with a greater quantity of plastics with areas less than 100 cm². The meso/macroplastics ratio was 0.07 on the surface and 14.76 in the soil. Macroplastics on the surface would come mainly from flooding of the stream and from inappropriately deposited waste. There would also be an influence of the wind, which could move macroplastics from their entrapment in vegetation towards the water or away from the banks of the stream. Another important process in this case is the burial of plastics in the banks of the stream and their degradation and fragmentation into mesoplastics. The results were analyzed within the framework of local and national regulations, and current legislation regarding the use of single-use plastics in other countries in the region and abroad was presented.

Hunter-gatherers are often assumed to be less affected by dento-alveolar infections due to limited carbohydrate intake. Many studies, however, used outdated methods, suggesting that data from these societies need revision. This paper aims to assess whether late Holocene hunter-gatherers from Chubut Province (Argentina) exhibited a high frequency of caries and periapical lesions (PL) despite their reduced carbohydrate intake; explore whether different diets and environments between coastal and valley populations produced differences in oral infections; and investigate whether European contact negatively impacted oral health. The sample included 38 adults (638 teeth and 1031 alveoli). Caries and PL (granulomas, cysts, and chronic abscesses) were recorded and compared across sex, age, subregions (coast and valley), and temporal periods (precontact and postcontact). Dento-alveolar infections affected 71.1% of individuals (caries: 47.4%; PL: 36.8%) and correlated with dental wear and AMTL, suggesting underestimation of lesions. Caries were more frequent in young (60%) than in middle (52.6%) or old adults (22.2%), whereas PL mainly affected old (77.7%) compared to young (10%) and middle adults (31.6%). Caries were similar in both sexes (47.4%), whereas males had a higher frequency of PL (52.6%). No significant differences were found between coastal (caries 57.1%, PL: 38.1%) and valley populations (caries: 35.3%, PL: 35.3%). Periapical lesions were restricted to precontact period (61.1%), whereas caries were more frequent postcontact (66.7%). Hunter-gatherers from central Patagonia had a higher frequency of dento-alveolar infections than expected. Cysts were more common PL, likely due to lack of treatment before antibiotics. With respect to dietary groups, results suggest that environmental factors, cultural practices, or oral hygiene played a key role. A higher frequency of caries was recorded during postcontact, possibly linked to processed food consumption, whereas the abrasive precontact diet and higher dental wear may explain the increased PL frequency. This study enhances understanding of pathological diversity among past hunter-gatherers, considering diet, environment, and chronology. It also offers insights into the evolution of oral infectious diseases and their impact on human societies.

Highlights What are the main findings? The LIBS technique was successfully applied for the first time to quantify cadmium in commercial cocoa powder across concentrations ranging from 70 ppm to 5000 ppm. A mechanical mixing and pelletization protocol for sample preparation, combined with a background correction algorithm, significantly improved the accuracy and robustness of LIBS for cadmium detection in complex cocoa matrices. What are the implications of the main findings? LIBS demonstrates its potential as a rapid, field-deployable method for food safety monitoring and industrial contamination assessments. The methodology validates its applicability in high-contamination scenarios and expands the use of LIBS to other plant-based matrices and environmental monitoring. Abstract Cocoa is a major commodity in the global food industry. Heavy metal contamination, particularly cadmium (Cd), raises significant concerns. This work demonstrates the use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for fast Cd quantification in commercial cocoa powder across a wide range of concentrations (70–5000 ppm). Cocoa powder presents unique challenges due to its physical properties, such as the tendency to soften and liquefy at elevated temperatures, which complicates sample preparation. To address these issues, a mechanical mixing and pelletization protocol was implemented to ensure uniformity. Pellets were doped with known cadmium concentrations for calibration. Cadmium atomic lines at 340.36 and 361.05 nm were used to construct quantification curves. A special algorithm for background subtraction was implemented, and the LIBS plasma was characterized to ensure local thermodynamic equilibrium conditions. Out of eighteen samples, five double-blinded unknowns were evaluated. The concentrations agreed well within normalized standard deviations of 9.73% and 5.88% for the two cadmium lines. The limits of detection for the lines were 0.4 and 0.08 μg/g, respectively. LIBS is confirmed as a rapid and versatile analytical tool for Cd detection and quantification in complex food matrices, with potential applications in field-based and industrial monitoring systems.

The colony of southern elephant seals ( Mirounga leonina ) at Península Valdés (Argentina) grew by 0.9% from 2000 to 2022, reaching a population of 18,000 reproductive females. In 2023, an epidemic of the High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza H5N1 virus led to the death of almost all pups and an unknown number of adults. We tested five scenarios that included complete pup mortality along with varying levels of adult mortality and reduced fertility. Newborn mortality had the smallest impact on the future population due to high natural mortality. Consequences of pup deaths will not appear until 2027, when those lost pups would have first reproduced. Scenarios including mature female mortality had more severe and immediate consequences, with a reduction in the breeding population in 2024 predicted to match the flu death rate. It took about 10 years for the population to readjust to the 2022 age distribution. In scenarios including adult mortality, it will take decades for the population to return to the 2022 level. The 2023 epidemic may thus reverse the conservation status of a population previously having no threats to continued growth.

In recent years, it has become increasingly common to use UVs (unmanned vehicles) in both military and civilian operations. However, the lack of technical information about details such as building, customization, or the architecture used is a problem. In this article, we present the challenges and evolution of UV system architecture. The goal is to offer a general architecture that involves all the components of the system (vehicle, base station, etc.). This work, unlike publications focused on applications, presents the complete architecture of the system: the UV, base station, communications, and, eventually, some computing facilities for application processing. This paper presents the challenges and evaluates an incremental architecture proposal based on a proof of concept that supports evolution. At the end, two options for a UV system architecture are presented.

High temperatures for extended periods, which do not allow animals to recover from heat stress, affect in particular those BLV-infected animals that carry a high proviral load. For this study, animals were discriminated between BLV (+) and BLV (−), and those belonging to the first group, were classified based on their proviral load. The expression of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and its receptors, which play an important role in disease progression, were quantified by qPCR in two different seasons. During the summer, average temperature was 19.8 °C, maximums higher than 30 °C were frequent. Instead, during the autumn, the average temperature was 12.63 °C, and temperatures never exceeded 27 °C. During this season, almost no periods of temperatures exceeded the comfort limit. Our results revealed that the expression levels of TNF-α and its receptors were downregulated in animals with high proviral load. This fact could affect their antiviral response and predispose to viral dissemination; over time, animals with a poorer immune system are prone to acquiring opportunistic diseases. Conversely, animals with LPL maintained their expression profile, with behavior comparable to non-infected animals. These findings should be considered by producers and researchers, given the problems that global warming is causing lately to the planet.