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The paper addresses vulnerability to Global Environmental Change of rural producers of Mendoza River basin, in Argentina. Vulnerability is a complex phenomenon that is generated at the intersection of environmental, social and economic dimensions. From a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews with producers of the study area, the paper explain the processes affecting actors (exposures / sensitivities) and the practices (adaptations) they develop to address these phenomena. The main idea is that hydroclimatological events act on a number of previous, long-term vulnerabilities defined by access to resources. Also it shows that resources are critical to the development of adaptive capacities, but finds that "availability of resources" and "capacity building" are not phenomena always related by a linear and direct causality. That is, sometimes the mere existence of resources is not enough to foster adaptive capacities. Noting some capacities gaps, the article identifies critical factors that could improve rural actors' capacities and could strengthen them to cope with future global climate events and other factors that affect their living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic change effects and the processes of urban growth caused environmental deterioration in the city of Buenos Aires. This situation alters the natural hydrological cycle and the hydrograph of floodwaters in urbanizing watersheds will modify, presenting flows higher peak and shorter rise times as it progresses. On the other hand, the global warming has caused an increase in mean annual precipitation and extreme values generated by storms of connective type, in the central region and North of Argentina. One of the possibilities to mitigate these effects is the implementation of extensive green roofs systems in terraces of buildings and houses built that help to reduce runoff factor. The objective of this paper was: to determine the reduction of surface runoff and water quality delivered for different types of green roofs with different types of vegetation implanted in normal rainfall in the city of Buenos Aires. The results of the study that was carried out along one year, showed that the retention capacity of the tested lots varied, depending upon precipitation, type of vegetation and coverage. For the range of 21 and 41 mm the retention ratesreached between 63% and 68%, with rainfall between 42 and 60 mm are observed percentages of retention from 31% to 39%. For the range of 61 to 80 mm the retention percentage was similarly to the range previously analyzed, 25% to 38%, and finally analyzing rainfall greater than 90 mm, the percentage of retention varies between 16% and 22%. The Aptenia cordifolia presented minors values of retention in all ranges except the first. The results of the test showed that green roofs system represent a good alternative in the integrated management of water runoff in urban watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper falls within the framework of the FAO-INA Agreement that was entered into to "identify new potential irrigated and supplementary-irrigated areas in the basins of northeastern Argentina". The agreement seeks to collect information on monthly reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo), analyze its variability, and show it on isoline maps. The study comprised the central northeastern part of Argentina; the program used was CROPWAT 8.0 – FAO; and climate data were obtained from CLIMWAT 2.0. The information was plotted with ArcView 3.2ª and the variables of interest were interpolated with the Kriging method. Results show that: a) Santiago del Estero is the station with the highest annual ETo: 1767 mm.year-1, while the lowest ETo value is found in Loreto (Misiones) with 1150 mm.year-1; b) the average ETo in January ranges between 160 to 200 mm.month-1, while in July it is between 35 - 90 mm.month-1; c) the average ETo in January in the northeastern part of Cordoba ranges between 165 - 185 mm. month-1 while in July the variability is less pronounced; and d) rainfall in an average hydrological year ranges between 605 and 1825 mm.year-1 with an effective rainfall of 500 and 1400 mm.year-1 that tends to increase towards the northeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, the socioeconomic analysis of natural systems does not enter into the realms of natural science. This paper, however, estimates the human-welfare effects of possible anthropogenic-pressures on the Mendocinian piedmont by a lower provision of environmental services. The discrete choice experiment is applied to elicit the trade-offs in perceived values for three environmental services generated in the basins west of Gran Mendoza (alluvional risk, plant cover, and recreation) and for the costs of programmes designed to mitigate the intensity of such effects. Increased alluvional risk is the anthropogenic-pressure effect on the Mendocinian piedmont that most concerns the population, followed by a decrease of plant cover and recreation. An increase of 1% in alluvional risk is estimated to cost each person, on average, 24.13 pesos (2013 value) yearly in lost welfare, a figure equivalent in social welfare to a decrease of 6% in plant cover. These trade-off values may help policy makers, land managers, and ecologists to consider social preferences in the design of their programmes and activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to find a synergism between maximum solar activity and rains in Azul, Buenos Aires (36°45' S, 59°57' W and altitude. 137 m ), using a series of annual rainfalls from 1913 to 2012. The results showed that the last four solar activity maxima correspond to the years of highest rainfall. Annual rainfalls for those years recorded on average 1317mm (2.4 standard deviation above the mean), which was significantly different from the mean of the last hundred years (855.7mm ±191.1 mm). A positive relationship between years of maximum solar activity and the occurrence of extreme rainfall events that generate excess water and flooding in the rural and urban sectors of Azul was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out in 7 alkaline wetlands located in the plain sector of the Azul creek basin (center of Buenos Aires province, Argentina). Such environments, due to soil limitations are used for breeding cattle. The aim of this paper is to analyze these landscape units from a perspective that allows their revaluation, considering the great diversity of plant species of medicinal value that develops in them. 150 species were identified, of which 81 (54%) had medicinal properties. The family with most species with medicinal use was Asteraceae, followed by Poaceae and, to a lesser extent, Apiaceae and Plantaginaceae. The medicinal use group most represented was that of digestive, then diuretic and hepatic. These environments should be considered as providers of ecosystem services because of the wide diversity of their flora and its medicinal potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to estimate, at basin level, the volume of water used by the wineries in Mendoza, which consists mainly of groundwater. This information can be used to calculate the water balance in the context of industrial water use. Estimates were based on winemaking data provided by the Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura. Coefficients of liters of water per liter of wine were obtained through qualified informants as well as by local and international literature; they were applied to wine production per basin. The said coefficients ranged between 1.5 and 6 liters of water/liters of wine, excluding the use of water for irrigation. To analyze the impact of water use on efficieny, consumption, the results were sensitized for three coefficient values. It has been estimated that wineries in Mendoza use between 1.66 and 6.66 hm3/year, depending on water use efficiency. Out of the total volume of water used by wineries, 85.2% is drawn from the Northern Basin of Mendoza, comprising the Mendoza river and the lower reach of the Tunuyan river [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vinal (Prosopis ruscifolia G.) is a highly-tolerant to saline stress species of forest-importance native to the Western Chaco Phytogeographical Region. The aim of this paper was to test the hypothesis that supplementing vinal seedlings with CaSO4 lowers their concentration of toxic ions and increases proline concentration allowing for osmotic adjustment. The seedlings were cultivated in a 25% Hoagland solutions whether adding 0.4 mol L-1 of NaCl or not, and whether supplementing it with 5 or 10 mmol L-1 of CaSO4 or not. Both dry matter, mineral composition, relative water content and proline and soluble sugar concentrations were determined. A totally randomized experimental design was used with five repetitions and the results analyzed with ANOVA and the Tukey test. The results obtained endorse the protecting role of Ca+2 by maintaining Ca+2, K+, and Mg+2 concentrations in tissues; the Na+ absorption inhibition; and the osmotic adjustment by synthesizing osmocompatible solutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some activities carried out in the Northern part of the province of Mendoza may affect groundwater quality: industrial effluent disposal and reuse for irrigation, fertilizer application, on-site sanitation systems, sewer leaks, etc. In this area, cut across by the Mendoza and Tunuyán rivers, two large hydro-geological units developed from Quaternary sedimentation: unconfined aquifers (area of alluvial cones) and upper water-table and underlying semiconfined and confined aquifers (where the study area is located). The objective of this paper is to identify the source of nitrate contamination in aquifers. Several physical-chemical and biological parameters were analyzed to assess groundwater quality, and isotope techniques were used to trace the origin of groundwater and the source of nitrates. Results show that nitrate contamination in semi-confined and confined aquifers does not originate in the overlying unconfined aquifer, which is affected by reuse of industrial effluents, but is caused by the horizontal groundwater flow from the greater Mendoza area contaminated by sewer leakage and on-site sanitation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to explore the availability of raw materials that could have been used in the manufacture of greyware ceramics at the site archaelogical San Ignacio (AD 640), located in the Potrerillos Valley in the northern part of the province of Mendoza. It is attempted to experimentally reproduce production and firing clay-baking techniques in order to obtain a product with analogous characteristics to the archaeological ceramics. The methodology consisted of these stages: collection of clays, characterization of physical properties of raw material, chemical analyses, experimental development of firing baking and post clay-baking analyses of the experimental products. The products show a good material structure and sintering, although a completely reductive atmosphere, using this particular kind of fuel, was not achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is part of the ongoing research “The Argentinian pianistic school", authorized and subsidized by The National Agency of Scientific and Technological Research (Proyecto Picto 00043-2007), and the Secretariat of Science, Technology and Postgraduate Studies of the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. The aim of our research is to go further into the demonstration of the existence of an Argentinian pianistic school, based on the theory proposed by Piero Rattalino in his 1983 book, Le grandi scuole pianistiche. Rattalino elaborates a pianistic genealogy starting from Mozart, Clementi and Beethoven, including the evolution of the pianistic technique from the beginnings of the pianoforte up to the great pianist-pedagogues of the 20th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oasis irrigated by the Mendoza River (Province of Mendoza, Argentina) -like most cities at present- is facing problems such as urban encroachment into agricultural land, multiplicity of users, and reduced availability of water resources, both in quantity and quality. Efforts and investments have been made to secure water availability (improved efficiencies, water saving); however, this is not the case as regards preservation of water quality. The agricultural sector in Mendoza has become the victim of pollution caused by urban and industrial development due to effluent discharges (point and/or diffuse) in the irrigation network. Studies conducted in Mendoza's Northern Oasis have shown high levels of phosphate pollution in the Mendoza River. The objective of this paper is to study the spatio-temporal evolution as well as the sources of this type of pollution. The study, which was based on a number of samplings carried out from 2003 to 2009, points to moderate levels of phosphate pollution in the Northern Oasis irrigated by the Mendoza River. Considerably high phosphate levels were also detected at three specific sites in the oasis: 1. the area irrigated by the Cacique Guaymallén and Jocolí canals (phosphate levels were six times the phosphate content in the water: from 0.2 mg L-1 at site R I to 1-2 mg L-1 at site C II); downstream of this latter site only a small area of 7300 ha is irrigated; 2. the area irrigated by the Pescara Canal downstream of site DVIII (1,250 ha), with mean content values seventeen times higher (8.5 mg L-1) than at site D I (0.49 mg L-1), where agricultural and stormwater runoff is discharged; 3. the Lower Mendoza River area, where phosphate content increased sixteen times in the middle and tail-end sections of the system, with mean values ranging from 0.2 mg L-1 at site R II to 3.25 mg L-1 at R III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at assessing performance of drip irrigation in irrigated areas of the Mendoza and Tunuyán river basins in the Province of Mendoza, Argentina. Assessments in 17 properties made it possible to determine uniformity coefficients, irrigation water salinity and soil salinity at the head, center and tail of the irrigation unit, in the wet bulb and in the spacing between laterals in two layers of the soil profile (0.10-0.30 m and 0.30-0.50 m). Soil texture and its possible relation with salinity levels measured in the rhizosphere were also determined. The uniformity coefficient in 18% of the irrigation subunits was below the recommended range and significant differences were observed in 94% of the properties between mean lows in irrigation subunits and operational sectors. When soil extracted from the bulb was compared with soil extracted from the spacing between laterals, significant differences were found in salinity of the soil saturation extract, in sodium content and in chloride anion content. No differences in the above variables were found at different soil depths. Increase in salinity levels was due to: sampling location (bulb or spacing between laterals), irrigation water quality, and soil texture. Variations in sodium content, on the other hand, depended on sampling location (bulb or spacing between laterals) and bicarbonate content in the soil. Results show that routine assessments of uniformity of irrigation systems and irrigation-induced-salinization should be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the North of the Entre Ríos province, a model for rice production has been developed, based in the use of superficial water from more than 60 land dams with variable surfaces. The usage of agrochemicals in the area might bring a contamination factor to the soil and dam water. The objective of this work was to determine water quality from 19 irrigation dams situated in the Central North of the Entre Ríos province through germination bioassays of Lactuca sativa, butterhead variety. Bioassays were carried out in Petri boxes with filter paper at the bottom, wet with 3 ml of corresponding sample water. Twenty seeds were sowed per box, treatments being distributed in blocks at random with 4 repetitions in germination chamber under alternating light and dark condition. Germination percentage was recorded and the average root length; a germination index was estimated. The average germination percentage of treatments was 96.07% and 97.9% in the control treatment. The germination index in all cases was higher than 60% and toxicity was not detected in the water from different dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are few published identification key to thrips larvae. Nevertheless the subject is of basic interest for detection of the host range of thrips. Some species are able to transmit Tospovirus, causal agents of spotted wilt and other diseases. The insect acquires the virus only as larvae. A key to larvae is a useful tool for epidemiological studies. The identification of larvae is difficult because they have fewer distinctive characters than adults, also individuals are constantly growing. The larvae of the species included in this work were obtained from field on several weeds and some cultivated and native plants. Also, they were reared on bean pods or pollen and diluted honey from identified adults. In this paper a brief description of second instar larvae of Frankliniella australis Morgan, F. gemina Bagnall, F. occidentalis Pergande, F. schultzei Trybom, F. valdiviana Sakimura et O'Neil and Thrips tabaci Lindeman and a key to separate them, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of complementary irrigation on maize dry matter yield. A randomized complete design with 5 treatments and 4 replications was used. In order to schedule irrigations, the crop cycle was divided in three stages (pre-critical, critical and post-critical). Irrigation scheduling was based on a water balance calculated from weather data furnished by the meteorological station at the experimental field site. Irrigation was performed using lateral move pressurized systems. Maize matured in 138 days with all treatments and took 1660,6 degree days to attain physiological maturity. Dry matter yield showed significant differences (α = 0.05) among plots irrigated with the different treatments and between irrigated and control plots. Maximum production values ranged between 34,628 kg.ha-1 with T1 and 20,414 kg. ha-1 in the rain fed plots. The amount of water applied ranged between 360 and 300 mm; total crop water use, according to the water balance, was 575 mm ± 15 mm in the case of irrigated treatments, and 308 mm with the control treatments. Dry matter water use efficiency showed significant differences (α = 0.05) between irrigated treatments (5.7 kg.m-3) and rain fed (control) plots (6.6 kg.m-3). The harvest index was 0.49. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

German literature written abroad is still an unsolved problem in Germanistic studies. This is justified, on the one hand, by the complexity it represents as an object of study and, on the other hand, by Germany's peculiar historical situation due to its role during World War II. Even if by the late 70's this phenomenon was studied in German academic spheres, it is still difficult for Germanistic studies to view the object in its specificity and to get rid of undervaluing judgments, which consider German literature written abroad with the same parameters as those for literature written in German-speaking territories. This paper aims at showing from which perspectives it is possible to research literature in German written abroad, considering the specific case of German immigrants in Argentina, and taking into account some contributions of Epistemology that complement and enrich Germanistic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a case-study perspective, the paper analyses two agroindustrial initiatives aiming at finding a «local» solution to the crisis faced by goat-rearing production in Central Argentina: i) the «Goat Milk Project» led by the Cooperative of Got Farmers of Punilla, that seeks to develop a network for milk collection; and ii) the «Goat Farming Regulation Agency» which proposes to set up a slaughterhouse for goats. Even though both projects aim to promote regional development fostering goat rearing, they are very different since they draw upon different stakeholders networks, and have devised different strategies to reach their aims. Both experiences were studied considering the same analytical dimensions: origin of the initiative, trajectory of the project and of the stakeholders' network, and evaluation of the experiences considering their objectives. A systematic follow up of each case study allowed to understand their underpinning logics and their strengths and weakness. Finally, the causes explaining the scarce relationship between projects that should be closely linked are analysed, and some predictions are made about their possible trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the major crops grown in Humid Pampas of Argentina. The objective of this paper was to assess the impact of complementary irrigation on maize grain yield and its components. This research work was carried out during the 2001-2002 agricultural cycle at the experimental field site of the National University of Río Cuarto. A randomized complete design with 5 treatments and 4 replications was used. In order to schedule irrigations, the crop cycle was divided in three stages: pre-critical, critical and post-critical. Irrigation scheduling was based on a water balance. Grain yield showed no significant differences in the four irrigated treatments; however, there were significant differences ( α = 0.05) between irrigated and rain fed treatments. On average, grain yield with the irrigated treatments was 72 % higher than with the rain fed treatment. Yield components were greatly affected ( α = 0.05) by lack of irrigation. The amount of water applied ranged between 360 and 300 mm; total crop water use was 575 mm in the case of irrigated treatments, and 308 mm with the control. Grain water use efficiency, average, was 2.75 kg.m-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tool for water pollution risk management is developed in this paper. It has been inspired in methods commonly used on Environmental Impact Studies, such as Importance Matrix and Risk Evaluation. The study was focus on the lower Tunuyán River irrigated zone ("oasis"), being the catchment area located on the eastern side of the Cordillera de Los Andes, Mendoza province, Argentina. The proposed method is based on the determination of the following data in each Management Unit (MU)4: 1. terrain vulnerability; 2. wastewater hazard; 3. risk categories; 4. the index priorities of risk management. For easy understanding all variables can be shown on different maps. The data generated can be analyzed from different approaches, updated through new data and knowledge of the nature of hazard (i.e.: contaminant type, discharge period, etc.) and vulnerable elements (i.e.: aquifer type, groundwater depth, strata permeability, soil quality, etc.) in relation with water pollution processes. This feature gives to this method a dynamic approach. Additionally, it is a practical tool since it allows the possibility of making a ranking of management priorities according to a gradual application of measures for water pollution risk reduction. Taking into account the worldwide glacier retreat tendency due to Global Warming and the related reduction of glacier-fed river discharges, it is essential to take water control measures as soon as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the infantile and juvenile literature view along the last two decades and between the works of important writers, we have detached in our province the contribution to the infantile poetics of Antología de meñique (1963) of Amílcar Urbano Sosa. Deeply compromised with the teaching an his land, the poet was forgeted of the antologies, dictionaries, and academic studies, and neverthelees he apprehended the docere delectans of the clasic tradition. In this paper we remind the twelve titles that correspond his specifically poetic work, from the publication of La rosa y la abeja (1947), to Melesca and Canto del descubrimiento, both of them in 1996. Also we are interested in the recuperation of Amílcar Urbano Sosa books for the argentine literature, specially of Mendoza. At that moment he was rewarded and valorated by the critics as an autentical poet of the life and his native land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An overview of the development of theatre during the 1900s shows as fundamental fact, perhaps as the turning point, the well-known dialectics between text and stage. Nowadays, however, at least in Argentina, the signs of a synthesis seem to be appearing and there are many authors staging their texts, actors helping in writing, directors assuming their condition of playwrights by publishing their works after they have been performed. This paper discusses Sacha Barrera Oro's production which recently appeared in the Mendocinian theatrical field, joins together the dramaturgical and directorial practices. After a brief biographical sketch, we will define the basal principles of his theatrical poetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results obtained from a field irrigation study conducted in the Province of Mendoza, Argentina. The objective was to assess: a) microbiological quality of garlics irrigated with domestic wastewater treated in oxidation ditches and their suitability for fresh consumption, and b) residual contamination in soils. Garlic crops grown on an experimental plot were surface irrigated with wastewater treated in oxidation ditches and with well water (control). Escherichia coli and Salmonella were tested after harvest, in garlic during three sampling events and in soils, during two sampling events. Results were compared with those obtained from a previous similar study. In keeping with the sampling plans of the International Commission on Microbiological Specification for Foods for fresh vegetable crops, it was concluded that garlic was acceptable for raw consumption 20 days after harvest and 26 days after the last irrigation was applied. No Salmonella were detected at harvest in wastewater irrigated garlic or in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Towards 1834, Juan Bautista Alberdi returns to his native Tucuman after a long absence. At the request of the then governor General Alejandro Heredia, he wrote his Descriptive Memoir of Tucuman, which is considered the first example of provincial literature in Argentina. In this brief text, shorter than 30 pages, the author combines his perspective of an "extra-ambiented", a traveler, a romantic and a patriot, all of which determine the structuring isotopies. This paper aims at recovering from oblivion such a valuable text. The structure, procedure and figures are analyzed, considering that, at the service of a clear intention manifested by the author, they configure an idealized vision of the native land. The main process of textualization is decriptive. Through it, the writer offers a subjective, idealizing, and humanizing view of the landscape, to present then the man from Tucuman, whose temperament seems to be determined by the surrounding geography. Finally, Alberdi focuses on historical monuments; in this case, his discourse materializes the confrontation between what he sees and what he remembers; and identifies the homeland's life with his own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leveillula taurica (Lév.) Salm. is a pathogenic fungus, at the moment, in expansion in Argentina and particularly in Mendoza. Physalis viscosa (groundcherry) grows spontaneously in several cultures and in its surroundings in Argentina. The finding of L. taurica on camambú a wide spread specie in our country has motivated the present study. The symptoms were characterized by the presence of yellow cuneiform patches in the adaxial face of the leaves corresponding with a white plush on the other leave face. Etiological studies based on the histopa-thology of the diseased tissues and fungal morphology have confirmed the presence of Leveillula taurica (Lév.) Salm on it anamorphic face of Oidiopsis taurica Sal. [= Oidiopsis sicula (Scal)]. Since it was found for the first time in 1996 in Tupungato, the fungus has been spreading itself everywhere in Mendoza. The pathogen attacks camambú from Decem-ber to May. This lengthy attack period could represent and important source of inoculum for susceptible cultures. This paper is the first report of L. taurica on Physalis viscosa not only in Argentina but worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]