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Sierras de Córdoba (Argentina) is characterized by the occurrence of extreme precipitation events during the austral warm season. Heavy precipitation in the region has a large societal impact, causing flash floods. This motivates the forecast performance evaluation of 24-h accumulated precipitation and vertical profiles of atmospheric variables from different numerical weather prediction (NWP) models with the final aim of helping water management in the region. The NWP models evaluated include the Global Forecast System (GFS), which parameterizes convection, and convection-permitting simulations of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model configured by three institutions: University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (UIUC), Colorado State University (CSU), and National Meteorological Service of Argentina (SMN). These models were verified with daily accumulated precipitation data from rain gauges and soundings during the RELAMPAGO-CACTI field campaign. Generally all configurations of the higher-resolution WRFs outperformed the lower-resolution GFS based on multiple metrics. Among the convection-permitting WRF Models, results varied with respect to rainfall threshold and forecast lead time, but the WRFUIUC mostly performed the best. However, elevation-dependent biases existed among the models that may impact the use of the data for different applications. There is a dry (moist) bias in lower (upper) pressure levels which is most pronounced in the GFS. For Córdoba an overestimation of the northern flow forecasted by the NWP configurations at lower levels was encountered. These results show the importance of convection-permitting forecasts in this region, which should be complementary to the coarser-resolution global model forecasts to help various users and decision-makers.

Fil: Garcia Rodriguez, Carlos Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentina

The majority of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cases are late-onset and occur sporadically, however most mouse models of the disease harbor pathogenic mutations, rendering them better representations of familial autosomal-dominant forms of the disease. Here, we generated knock-in mice that express wildtype human Aβ under control of the mouse App locus. Remarkably, changing 3 amino acids in the mouse Aβ sequence to its wild-type human counterpart leads to age-dependent impairments in cognition and synaptic plasticity, brain volumetric changes, inflammatory alterations, the appearance of Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) granules and changes in gene expression. In addition, when exon 14 encoding the Aβ sequence was flanked by loxP sites we show that Cre-mediated excision of exon 14 ablates hAβ expression, rescues cognition and reduces the formation of PAS granules. Most instances of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are sporadic or not associated with a particular mutation. Here, the authors develop knock-in mice that express wildtype human Aβ under control of the mouse App locus, which may have potential for modelling some aspects of sporadic late onset AD.

The ‘Bajo Grande’ Wastewater Treatment Plant has a design capacity of 2.78 m3/s, and discharges into the Suquia River (Córdoba, Argentina). The river has an average flow rate of 10 m3/s, with lower values during the summer. Currently, the treatment plant does not have an accurate discharge-measurement system prior to the discharge into the river, which makes it difficult to evaluate the dosing of the disinfection treatment. The outflow rate is measured in a straight flume. However, at the inlet section of the flume, a 180° sharp bend induces a complex turbulent flow with instabilities and low-frequency velocity fluctuations which are not appropriate for flow quantification. In this type of flow, most of the in situ flow discharge-measurement systems have great uncertainty. Therefore, in situ flow measurements with an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, Large-Scale Particle-Tracking Velocimetry techniques and a prototype-scale Detached Eddy Simulation model were combined to obtain a detailed characterization of the turbulent flow. The results provide flow rates, fields of mean flow velocity, temporal evolution, and characteristic parameters of the turbulence. This allowed a better understanding of the effects of turbulence and flow instabilities. The results provide a basis to validate numerical models used in the hydraulics design of contact chambers to improve the disinfection process.

Natural pigments from haloarchaea are of great interest; bacterioruberin is the major pigment, it shows higher antioxidant power when compared with β-carotene. However, characterization of bacterioruberin and its isomers along with its antioxidant and the matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) inhibition activities in extracts from Natronoccoccus sp. TC6 and Halorubrum tebenquichense SU10 was not previously described, being the aim of this work. The carotenoids profile was performed by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, thin-layer chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Antioxidant capacity was determined for DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP. In addition, MMP-9 inhibition was studied using docking simulations. The carotenoid profile of studied strains was composed of bacterioruberin, some derivatives like mono, bis, and tris anhydrobacterioruberin, and also some bacterioruberin cis isomers. The carotenoid pools showed antioxidant capacity for DPPH > ABTS > FRAP; Natronococcus sp. TC6 carotenoid pool was better for ABTS and DPPH, while Halorubrum tebenquichense SU10 carotenoid pool was better for FRAP. Additionally, docking and molecular dynamics suggest that bacterioruberin inhibits MMP-9 through hydrophobic interactions near the catalytic site. Bacterioruberin shows the higher binding energy of −8.3 (kcal/mol). The carotenoids profile of both strains was elucidated, their antioxidant activity and singular participation of each carotenoid on MMP-9 in silico inhibition were evaluated.

South American coffee producers face growing challenges due to external trade dependencies and climate-induced disruptions. This study investigates the role of export market diversification as a sustainability strategy for four major regional exporters of roasted non-decaffeinated coffee: Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. A quantitative and comparative methodology was applied over a ten-year period using the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) to evaluate export market concentration and the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) Index—including its normalized variant—to assess international competitiveness by destination. The results reveal substantial disparities: Brazil and Colombia exhibit moderate to high diversification and relative competitiveness in select markets, while Peru and Ecuador remain dependent on a few strategic buyers, with limited or declining comparative advantages. The findings emphasize that sustained export performance in the coffee sector requires not only a broader destination portfolio but also improved positioning through trade agreements, infrastructure development, and climate-resilient innovation. This study concludes with a strategic proposal based on three pillars—commercial, logistical, and technological—to support structural transformation and enhance the long-term sustainability of the coffee trade in South America.

Models of healthy aging are typically based on the United States and Europe and may not apply to diverse and heterogeneous populations. In this study, our objectives were to conduct a meta-analysis to assess risk factors of cognition and functional ability across aging populations in Latin America and a scoping review focusing on methodological procedures. Our study design included randomized controlled trials and cohort, case–control and cross-sectional studies using multiple databases, including MEDLINE, the Virtual Health Library and Web of Science. From an initial pool of 455 studies, our meta-analysis included 38 final studies (28 assessing cognition and 10 assessing functional ability, n  = 146,000 participants). Our results revealed significant but heterogeneous effects for cognition (odds ratio (OR) = 1.20, P  = 0.03, confidence interval (CI) = (1.0127, 1.42); heterogeneity: I 2  = 92.1%, CI = (89.8%, 94%)) and functional ability (OR = 1.20, P  = 0.01, CI = (1.04, 1.39); I 2  = 93.1%, CI = (89.3%, 95.5%)). Specific risk factors had limited effects, especially on functional ability, with moderate impacts for demographics and mental health and marginal effects for health status and social determinants of health. Methodological issues, such as outliers, inter-country differences and publication bias, influenced the results. Overall, we highlight the specific profile of risk factors associated with healthy aging in Latin America. The heterogeneity in results and methodological approaches in studying healthy aging call for greater harmonization and further regional research to understand healthy aging in Latin America.

Over the last quarter century, increasing honey bee colony losses motivated standardized large-scale surveys of managed honey bees ( Apis mellifera ), particularly in Europe and the United States. Here we present the first large-scale standardized survey of colony losses of managed honey bees and stingless bees across Latin America. Overall, 1736 beekeepers and 165 meliponiculturists participated in the 2-year survey (2016–2017 and 2017–2018). On average, 30.4% of honey bee colonies and 39.6% of stingless bee colonies were lost per year across the region. Summer losses were higher than winter losses in stingless bees (30.9% and 22.2%, respectively) but not in honey bees (18.8% and 20.6%, respectively). Colony loss increased with operation size during the summer in both honey bees and stingless bees and decreased with operation size during the winter in stingless bees. Furthermore, losses differed significantly between countries and across years for both beekeepers and meliponiculturists. Overall, winter losses of honey bee colonies in Latin America (20.6%) position this region between Europe (12.5%) and the United States (40.4%). These results highlight the magnitude of bee colony losses occurring in the region and suggest difficulties in maintaining overall colony health and economic survival for beekeepers and meliponiculturists.

Purpose COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is a new clinical entity linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection that is causing a rise on the risk of complications and mortality, particularly in critical patients. Methods We compared diagnostic and clinical features in two cohorts of patients with severe COVID-19 admitted in the intensive care units (ICU) of two different hospitals in Madrid, Spain, between February and June 2021. Clinical and microbiological relevant aspects for CAPA diagnosis were collected for further classification. CAPA was classified as colonization, possible, probable, proven, and tracheobronchial aspergillosis according to the ECMM/ISHAM consensus, with some modifications to consider tracheobronchial aspirate as sample comparable to non-bronchoscopic lavages (NBL). Results 56 patients admitted in HULP ( Hospital Universitario La Paz ) ICU and 61 patients admitted in HEEIZ ( Hospital de Emergencias Isabel Zendal ) ICU had clinical suspicion of invasive fungal disease in the context of COVID-19 infection. Cultures were positive for Aspergillus spp . in 32 patients. According to 2020 European Confederation of Medical Mycology and the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ECMM/ISHAM) consensus, 11 patients were diagnosed with possible CAPA and 10 patients with probable CAPA. Global incidence for CAPA was 6.3%. Global median days between ICU admission and diagnosis was 14 day. Aspergillus fumigatus complex was the main isolated species. Antifungal therapy was used in 75% of patients with CAPA suspicion, with inter-hospital differences in the administered antifungals. Global overall mortality rate for CAPA patients was 66.6% (14/21). All-cause mortality in non-CAPA cohorts were of 26.3% in HULP group (34/129) and 56.8% (104/183) in HEEIZ group. Conclusions There were no significant differences in incidence between the two hospitals, and differences in antifungal therapy did not correlate with differences in mortality, reflecting that both first-line azoles and Amphotericin B could be effective in treating CAPA infections, according to the current guideline indications.

Traditional techniques for cancer diagnosis, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, ultrasound and tissue analysis, require sophisticated devices and highly trained personnel, which are characterized by elevated operation costs. The use of biomarkers has emerged as an alternative for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and prediction because their measurement in tissues or fluids, such as blood, urine or saliva, is characterized by shorter processing times. However, the biomarkers used currently, and the techniques used for their measurement, including ELISA, western-blot, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or immunohistochemistry, possess low sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, the search for new proteomic, genomic or immunological biomarkers and the development of new noninvasive, easier and cheaper techniques that meet the sensitivity and specificity criteria for the diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of this disease has become a relevant topic. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview about the search for new cancer biomarkers, including the strategies that must be followed to identify them, as well as presenting the latest advances in the development of biosensors that possess a high potential for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and prediction, mainly focusing on their relevance in lung, prostate and breast cancers.