ReDiHurInicio

Unidades organizativas

Proyectos de investigación

Eventos y actividades

Documentos institucionales

Comunidad

Publicaciones

Actas y ponencias

Tesis y trabajos finales

Enseñanza

Investigación

Gestión

Envíos recientes

2026-04-02
Conversion of anaerobic digestates into biochar for sustainable fodder production in soilless agriculture.
Navas-Romero, Ana L; Sánchez, Eliana; Zabaleta, Romina; Torres, Erick; Fernández-Maldonado, Viviana N; Riveros-Gómez, Mathias; Bres, Patricia; Mazza, Germán; Fabani, M Paula; Rodriguez, Rosa
The valorization of anaerobic digestates through slow pyrolysis offers a sustainable pathway for agricultural systems. This study assessed the effects of digestate type (swine, cattle, and dairy) and pyrolysis temperature (400, 500, and 600 °C) on biochar properties and evaluated their impact on maize (Zea mays) fodder grown under hydroponic-like soilless conditions. Thirty-six treatments were evaluated in a factorial design combining digestate source, temperature, and application rate (0-6.25 g per container). Biochar from dairy digestate (BDST) pyrolyzed at 500 °C exhibited the most favorable characteristics, with high carbon content (60.4%), low electrical conductivity (≈ 916 µS cm-1), and improved water and nutrient retention. At an application rate of 6.25 g per container, BDST-500 also achieved the highest SPAD and dry mass values. In contrast, swine- and cattle-derived biochars presented higher ash and salinity, reducing their agronomic performance. Multivariate analysis indicated that digestate type was the main determinant of plant physiological performance, beyond the individual effects of pyrolysis temperature and application rate. Overall, dairy-derived biochar demonstrates strong potential as a functional amendment for hydroponic fodder systems and as a tool to advance circular bioeconomy practices.
2026-07-01
Towards globally equitable bioinformatics adoption.
Magaña, Paulyna; Gopalasingam, Piraveen; Fleming, Jennifer R; Kovalevskiy, Oleg; Žídek, Augustin; Ebenezer, ThankGod Echezona; Laydon, Agata; Onions, Roz; Akurut, Eva; Al Sium, Syed Muktadir; Balderas-Martínez, Yalbi Itzel; Chowdhury, Sanjana Fatema; Chowdhury, Saikat; Christie, Sylvia; Dabburu, Govinda Rao; Fofana, Fatoumata Gnine; Galiwango, Ronald; Ganji, Mahipal; Jjingo, Daudi; Kakembo, Fredrick Elishama; Kebirungi, Grace; Kiyaga, Shahiid; Ksouri, Ayoub; Mahtha, Sanjeet Kumar; Maracaja-Coutinho, Vinicius; Mason, Jack; Molina-Mora, Jose Arturo; Nabisubi, Patricia P N; Nji, Emmanuel; Othman, Houcemeddine; Paoletta, Martina Soledad; Scherer, Nicole M; Senadheera, Bhagya; Turjanski, Adrián Gustavo; Twesigomwe, David; Walakira, Andrew; Velankar, Sameer; Brooksbank, Cath
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven bioinformatics promise democratized discovery, yet major inequities persist. Equitable adoption of bioinformatics tools will require sustained investment in infrastructure, training, institutions, and global communities, not just access.
2026-07-20
Heterologous Expression of the Bean Chitinase Gene (ch5B) in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Confers Enhanced Tolerance to Rhizoctonia solani and Demonstrates Agronomic Substantial Equivalence in Field Trials
Radonic, Laura M.; Beracochea, Valeria; Filippi, Carla V.; Moschen, Sebastián; López, Nilda; Hopp, H. Esteban; López Bilbao, Marisa
Fungal pathogens cause severe yield losses in lettuce production worldwide. We developed transgenic lettuce lines overexpressing the ch5B chitinase gene from Phaseolus vulgaris (bean) under the regulation of the rbcS1 (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit) promoter. Molecular characterization confirmed stable transgene integration and expression across the selected lines. In vitro assays demonstrated that transgenic leaf extracts significantly inhibited Rhizoctonia solani mycelial growth. Furthermore, inoculation assays in both seedlings and adult plants in the greenhouse showed a significant reduction in lesion areas compared to non-transgenic (NT) controls. Finally, two lines were evaluated in field trials, both showing agronomic substantial equivalence to the NT, satisfying international biosafety frameworks for commercial development. Among them, the ch5B 3-4 line appears to be the most promising candidate for further studies, as it showed slightly higher fresh weight compared to the NT under field conditions.
2026-07-30
A very rapidly rotating white dwarf in nova YZ Reticuli
Luna, Gerardo Juan Manuel; Rawat, N.; Angeloni, R.; Orio, M.; Scaringi, S.; Dobrotka, A.; Magdolen, J.
YZ Ret (Nova Reticuli 2020) is the first VY Scl-type nova-like variable observed to have undergone a classical nova eruption. Following the outburst, a timing analysis of 20-s cadence TESS data revealed a periodicity at approximately 42 s, suggesting its plausible classification as a fast-spinning intermediate polar (IP). To definitively identify the nature of this modulation, we performed a multi-instrument timing analysis using high-speed ground-based photometry Zorro/Gemini South (1 s cadence) and the South African Astronomical Observatory (5 s cadence) alongside TESS Sector 97 observations. Our ground-based data reveal a highly coherent period of 37.69131 ± 0.00001 s, which we identified as the true rotation period of the white dwarf. We demonstrate that the apparent 42.61 s signal in the TESS data is a Nyquist alias of this fundamental frequency. Furthermore, the signal amplitude in the TESS data is suppressed by a factor of ≈0.6 relative to the Gemini observations, a result that is consistent with the theoretical sinc-function damping expected for a 20-s integration time. The extreme coherence and long-term stability of the 37.69131 s signal rule out transient phenomena such as dwarf nova oscillations or non-radial pulsations. We conclude that YZ Ret hosts a fast-spinning magnetic white dwarf in an IP configuration. This discovery implies that mass loss during the nova eruption was likely driven by a fast magnetic rotator wind and provides a physical explanation for the missing supersoft X-ray phase, suggesting that nearly the entire accreted envelope was exhausted, promptly quenching the process of nuclear burning.
2026-07-15
The Powerful Shocks in RS Oph: NuSTAR X-Ray Data and a Complete Review
Orio, Marina; Luna, G. J. M.; Behar, Ehud; Diesing, Rebecca; Gallagher, Jay; Mikolajewska, Joanna; Ness, Jan-Uwe
Abstract: In the 2021 outburst of RS Ophiuchi, the gamma-ray and the X-ray flux were measured quasi-simultaneously from day 1 after the optical peak, offering the first comprehensive view of shocks in a nova occurring in a symbiotic system. We present a previously unpublished observation done with NuSTAR in the 3–79 keV range, 9 days after maximum, and we review the complex history of the evidence of shocks in the previous outbursts of this nova in light of the intensive X-ray monitoring of 2021. We find evidence that the shock causing the particle acceleration measured with the Cherenkov telescopes also produced the thermal flux detected in the 0.2–30 keV X-ray range, while the large gamma-ray flux observed with Fermi after about a day is not consistent with the X-ray observations. We conclude that an initial, strong shock, with a particle–particle loss timescale shorter than the timescale of particle acceleration at energy higher than a few GeV, occurred close to the red giant atmosphere, where either the X-rays’ emitting volume was reduced by turbulence, or—perhaps less likely—the X-rays were completely absorbed by large column density near the giant and by the accretion wake along the line of sight. We compare RS Oph with other novae in long-period systems with evolved companions, discussing how the shocks’ phenomenology is a powerful tool to derive other physical parameters. Finally, we discuss predictions that in T CrB, expected to have a new nova outburst within the next few years, the shocks may not be as energetic as in RS Oph.
2026-06-01
Las críticas de Johann Georg Hamann al movimiento de Ilustración y a las nociones kantianas de razón, emancipación y libertad
Quiroz, David E.
El presente artículo aborda las diferencias del pensamiento de Hamann con las ideas de la Ilustración alemana. Particularmente, mencionaremos las críticas a Kant acerca de la noción de razón pura y especialmente sobre los conceptos de libertad, emancipación y usos de la razón. El propósito es observar la importancia de tales cuestionamientos, considerando que el propio Hamann formó parte del movimiento, pero a la vez logró ser un crítico de su tiempo y de las ideas de sus contemporáneos.
2026-04-29
Synthesis and characterization of carbon dots derived from spinach, green tea, and yerba mate for photodynamic therapy
Vega, Daniela Maza; Cacciari, R. Daniel; Lillo, Cristian; Sosa, Ayelen M.; Cardinal, M. Fernanda; Tuninetti, Jimena; Alonso, Silvia del Valle; Prieto, María Jimena; Martinez, Carolina Soledad; Gonzalez, Mónica C.; Alvira, Fernando; Caregnato, Paula; Montanari, Jorge
Abstract: Photodynamic Therapy is a directed and minimally invasive treatment modality that requires efficient and biocompatible photosensitizers. In this work, we develop a green nanomedicine platform by synthesizing Carbon Dots (CDs) using a solvothermal method from extracts of three commercially available and carbon-rich sources: spinach, green tea, and yerba mate. This approach leverages the sustainability of the starting materials and highlights the versatility of carbon-based hybrid systems while evaluating their theranostic functionality and capability as Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) therapeutic effectors. The synthesized CDs were rigorously characterized by Dynamic Light Scattering, Zeta Potential, High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, and Thermogravimetric Analysis. We found CDs populations with surface compositions rich in carboxyl, hydroxyl, and nitrogen-containing pyrrolic and pyridinic groups that contribute to their potential as nanoeffectors. We comprehensively evaluated the photogeneration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through oxygen consumption kinetics and hydrogen peroxide quantification, identifying a clear predominance of Type I photosensitization mechanisms. A significant singlet oxygen quantum yield of nearly 29% was obtained for spinach-derived CDs when irradiating at 355 nm, supported by their characteristic chlorophyll-like absorption at 675 nm. Additionally, antioxidant capacity assays demonstrated that green tea and yerba mate derivatives retain high antioxidant properties, contrasting with the superior photosensitizing performance of spinach. Finally, light-exposed viability assays on HaCaT and 3T3 cell lines demonstrated significant photodynamic activity and established that spinach-derived particles are the most biocompatible, maintaining cell viability at 100 µg per ml. These results demonstrate the potential of these plant-derived CDs for targeted and non-invasive therapy applications against cancer cells or parasites. This study provides a sustainable and biocompatible approach for delivering photodynamic therapy agents. By balancing radiative and non-radiative electronic pathways, these plant-derived CDs offer a promising alternative.
2026-01-30
Pangenomic Approach for the Identification and Functional Characterization of Active GASA Antimicrobial Genes in Citrus Rootstocks for Resistance Breeding Against Bacterial Pathogens.
Bekier, Florencia Nicole; Conte, Mariana; Machado, Rodrigo; Pereyra Ghidela, Lourdes; Almasia, Natalia Inés; Nahirñak, Vanesa; Frías, Nadia; Fernández, Paula Del Carmen; Vazquez Rovere, Cecilia; Hopp, Horacio Esteban; Conti, Gabriela
The SNAKIN/GASA family comprises antimicrobial peptides with proven activity against bacteria and fungi, making them promising candidates for improving disease resistance in citrus rootstocks. In sixty-seven new GASA variants from a citrus germplasm collection, the presence of the characteristic 12-cysteine domain was confirmed and were classified into three subfamilies. The absolute expression levels of ten representative genes were analyzed in floral tissues, young leaves, and mature leaves from five citrus accessions with contrasting susceptibility to Xanthomonas citri. Expression profiling revealed tissue-specific patterns, with higher transcript abundance in juvenile and floral tissues of tolerant accessions. Meta-analysis of HLB-related RNA-seq datasets revealed the upregulation of specific GASA genes. Three genes from Poncirus trifoliata-PtGASA6, PtGASA8, and PtGASA10-were then selected for functional validation in Nicotiana benthamiana. Transient overexpression of PtGASA6 and PtGASA10 significantly reduced disease symptoms caused by Pseudomonas syringae and heightened the hypersensitive response to X. citri, whereas PtGASA8 showed no detectable effect. Notably, PtGASA6 enhanced the hypersensitive response by 30% more than PtGASA10, while PtGASA10 delayed necrosis by 40% more than PtGASA6, indicating distinct antimicrobial mechanisms. Together, these results identify PtGASA6 and PtGASA10 as strong candidates for breeding and biotechnological strategies aimed at improving broad-spectrum bacterial disease resistance in citrus.

Unidades organizativas

Proyectos de investigación

Eventos y actividades

Documentos institucionales

Comunidad

Publicaciones

Actas y ponencias

Tesis y trabajos finales

Descubrir

Envíos recientes