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Previously unknown postharvest rots in Packham's Triumph pear were detected in a batch of long-term cold-stored fruit during 2022 in North Patagonia, Argentina. Rots were characterized according to their symptoms and the causal agent was isolated and identified through cultural and molecular methods. Pathogenicity tests were performed on different pear cultivars both at 20 °C and under storage conditions (0 °C − 95% RH). Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re-isolation of the pathogen. Our results indicated that Phacidiopycnis pyri was the causal agent of postharvest rot in the fruit examined. This would constitute the first report of P. pyri as a causal agent of postharvest decay in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We applied elastic thermobarometry on garnet-bearing migmatites along two transects through the crustal section at Sierra Valle Fértil-La Huerta, Argentina. We performed quartz-in-garnet barometry and zircon-in-garnet thermometry on metapelites from different paleo-depths across the crustal section. Our work recovers entrapment pressures ranging from 240 to 1330 MPa and entrapment temperatures between 691 and 1574 °C. The entrapment conditions are broadly consistent with anticipated pressures and temperatures along the crustal section derived previously using conventional, thermodynamic thermobarometers. The quartz-in-garnet barometer reproduces those conventionally established entrapment conditions when samples only experienced conditions within the alpha-quartz stability field. Raman-derived pressures for samples that experienced beta-quartz reference conditions are commonly much higher than those established by conventional barometry. Samples that preserve compressive (positive) residual pressures best reproduce reference entrapment pressures. Entrapment temperatures show high variability and overestimation of temperature conditions compared to conventional results. These results indicate elastic thermobarometry over- or under-estimates crystallization conditions in rocks crystallized at high temperatures, as is common in the Famatinian Arc deep-crust. We suggest that modeling quartz behavior across the alpha–beta transition may present challenges, as does shape maturation, viscous deformation, and radiation damage in zircon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental problems on a global scale (such as climate change) are of increasing concern in the scholar. However, it is unclear to what extent society is aware of the severity of these problems. The aim of this study is to advance our knowledge about the environmental perceptions of citizens, with the understanding that citizen participation and action are key to mitigating environmental problems. Specifically, we aim to determine the degree of importance of demographic and sociocultural factors in this perception. To this end, data from 506 questionnaires carried out in Spain and Argentina were analysed. Quantitative data were treated using multivariate analysis based on multiple logistic regression. The results showed that demographic variables, such as location and age, have a greater influence than sociocultural variables, such as profession and sources of environmental information, in the perception of environmental problems. Our findings show that the analysis of environmental perception is a useful tool both for incorporating the point of view of local actors in public policies and for defining effective strategies for action in participatory management. They also show that the different age, occupation and profession of the population must be taken into account and that, to address specific environmental problems, it is necessary to carry out diagnoses focussed on demographic factors, mainly to find out which aspects should be strengthened through programmes and projects aimed at solving environmental problems. It is important to bear in mind that the behaviour of local actors is related to their environmental perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Derogenes ruber Lühe, 1900, the type-species of the genus Derogenes Lühe, 1900, is a poorly known derogenid digenean. The original description of this species was not illustrated and aspects of the morphology of the parasite from the type-host remain scarce. Available records of this species were brief and/or lacked illustrations and were based on morphology alone. Additionally, molecular data for Derogenes spp. are warranted to untangle species complexes as they provide a better assessment of interspecific genetic divergence. Methods: Derogenes ruber is redescribed based on newly collected specimens from the gall bladder of its type-host Chelidonichthys lastoviza (Bonnaterre, 1788) collected in the Western Mediterranean off the Algerian coast during 2017–2019 and molecular data are provided using a partial fragment of the nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA gene (28S rRNA), the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. Results: We herein provide a detailed illustrated redescription and morphometric data of D. ruber from its type-host C. lastoviza. We report a new geographical record (off Algeria) for it. Derogenes ruber is also genetically characterised for the first time. Species/lineages of Derogenes were recovered in five strongly supported reciprocally monophyletic clades: (i) D. ruber from C. lastoviza off Algeria; (ii) D. lacustris from Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns) off Argentina; (iii) Lineage "D. varicus DV1" (D. varicus sensu stricto) from fish hosts in the White and Barents seas and the North Sea; (iv) Lineage "D. varicus DV2" from mollusc hosts in the White Sea; and (v) Lineage "D. varicus DV3" from Eumicrotremus fedorovi Mandrytsa. in the Pacific Ocean. Hence, comparison of the newly generated sequences with other available data for Derogenes species supports the distinction of D. ruber confirming its taxonomic status and helping assess interspecific variation. Comparison of D. ruber with the closely related species Derogenes latus revealed overlaps in morphometric data and the validity of the latter species is questioned. Conclusion: The combination of morphological and molecular data provided for D. ruber provides a firm foundation for further investigations of Derogenes spp. Although we do describe herein material of D. ruber from the type-host, given that the occurrence of a single Derogenes species in various hosts has been challenged by molecular data, and both D. lacustris and D. varicus sensu stricto had been genetically proven to occur in various hosts, D. ruber and D. latus may be indeed synonymous. Additional sequencing effort on Derogenes spp. will strengthen systematic comparative studies and evolutionary relationships within the Derogenidae in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The chilla or grey fox (Lycalopex griseus) is a native species from continental Chile and neighboring areas of Argentina. It was introduced to Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego in 1951 and began to increase its abundance, to the chagrin of local sheep ranchers. Since 1998, its hunting has been authorized. Here we update information on the density, abundance, and activity of this fox in the Chilean sector of Tierra del Fuego Island, to evaluate its population trend since the last census conducted by the Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) in 2007. Methods and results: We carried out two fox censuses on a 941-km transect on public roads, divided into eight routes, from October to November (spring) of 2021 and 2022, following the same design used by SAG for the fox assessments carried out from 1999 to 2007. We report a reduction of > 50% in the density and abundance of chilla foxes with respect to the 2007 estimate, which could be attributed to the interference by free-ranging dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), through restricting the use of space by the fox, while transmitting diseases and parasites, and to human hunting pressure and vehicle collisions. Discussion: The chilla fox decline highlights the need for an in-depth study to determine the ecological and socioeconomic impact of this exotic species on the ecosystems of Tierra del Fuego Island and the desirability of its management, if needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's perception of their parents' behavior is very important for their adjustment. Raising a child with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be particularly challenging. However, little is known about how children with ADHD perceive their parents' childrearing style. The main purpose of this paper is to study how children with ADHD perceive acceptance and control in parent-child relationships and this perception's relationship with inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and externalizing behaviors. Participants were children between 7 and 13 years old with ADHD who were attending psychotherapy (ADHD), children without ADHD who were attending psychotherapy (APG), and children with unknown ADHD status who were not attending psychotherapy (NPG). Furthermore, one parent of each child participated in the study. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that children with ADHD perceived higher levels of pathological control in their relationships with their mothers than did APG and NPG children. NPG children perceived higher extreme autonomy than ADHD and APG children. Linear regression analyses revealed that the perception of pathological parental control and extreme autonomy predicted externalizing symptoms in children with ADHD. The perception of maternal acceptance and pathological control predicted inattention in APG children. Also, perceived maternal pathological control and perceived paternal acceptance predicted externalizing symptoms in APG children. Thus, these results show the importance of taking into account children's perception of their relationships with their parents in addition to parental reports of their own behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a model of planned corporate environmental behaviour that emphasises the values and attitudes of managers towards the environment, environmental intentions and the context in which these intentions are formed and translated into actual performance. In particular, we focus on the extent to which environmentally reactive (as oppose to pro-active) managers influence the environmental performance of their firms. We identify the factors that mitigate or accentuate the effects of environmental 'reactivism'-i.e. a mind-set shared by those who assign to the state the responsibility of protecting the environment. We generate a series of hypotheses and use structural equation modelling to test them in the context of a unique dataset of Argentinean firms. Our system's approach to corporate environmental behaviour explains approximatively 70 % of the variation in reported environmental performance across firms while highlighting elements of the model that may potentially be influenced by policy. Amongst other things, our empirical results suggest that stakeholder pressures can be an effective tool in the development of pro-environmental attitudes (and environmental intentions in the case of small firms) and in so doing offset some of the negative effects of environmental reactivism on environmental performance. Our paper highlights a number of other important implications for the design and implementation of environmental policies that account for human managerial determinants of corporate behaviour and social factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ArGIS was used to obtain the knowledge of spatial variability of macronutrients and Chlorophyll a in different p arts of Bahía Blanca Estuary (BBE). Dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphorous and silicates associated with the seasonal pattern of Chlorophyll a, in the inner and the middle estuary of Bahia Blanca, are evaluated in this paper. During November 2008-September 2011, continuous samples of seawater were taken aboard the institutional boat, in the main Channel. Twenty-one stations in the inner and middle zone were studied. Physicochemical parameters were in situ measured. Surface water samples for nutrients, Chlorophyll a and phaeopigments analysis were collected. Phosphates levels increase during spring (3.24 μmol L) in the outer station and minimum values were observed during winter in the inner stations (0.93 μmol L). The maximum value of Chlorophyll a was observed in winter (13.17 µg L) at middle stations, associated with minimum values of phosphates. Several changes have been observed in chemical and biological parameters found in the intermediate zone of BBE during the coldest months of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to discuss conceptual and methodological issues related with the archaeological study of lithic landscapes and exemplify the approach with a case study (artifact distribution data from east-central Argentina). A lithic landscape-understood as the co-occurrence, in a given geographic space, of different structural units each one composed by a raw material source and the complete set of unmodified and human-modified pieces of rock extracted from that source and then transported, used, and discarded across the landscape ( i.e., a scatter area)-can be modeled using kriging, a geostatistical interpolation tool useful for integrating scattered information into coherent spatial models. The case study allows for the examination and discussion of, on one hand, the relationships between the type and location of the sources and the size and shape of the respective scatter areas and, on the other, the reciprocal relationships between different raw materials and sources. It is concluded that a proper description of the spatial structure of a lithic landscape is the needed baseline from which to evaluate different explanatory models. Such models should take into account different sets of initial conditions and generative mechanisms, in order to cope with the pervasive problem of equifinality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows that contract archaeology activities geared to large mining projects in Argentina articulates with a global discourse on heritage that seeks to patrimonialize places of Indigenous memory. However, these hegemonic moves for the creation of a sense of the 'real'-which positions mining as an unavoidable and even desired 'reality' and mining corporations as sensitive and responsible actors-are confronted by counter-hegemonic forces, among which current narratives of aboriginality are prominent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of groundwater resources sustainability indicators is a process of scientific approach that presents the different characteristics of the groundwater systems in a simplified and understandable way. Although its use in such a system is relatively recent, their proper selection provides a valid basis to support coordinated actions in the process of resource operation, planning and management. The central area of Santa Fe province, Argentina, is one of the main producing regions of the province and the country, standing out for its dynamism in both the economic and socio-cultural aspects. In particular, the study area is characterized by strong agriculture-farming and industry activities. The grain and oilseed production has great preponderance in this area, which is complemented by dairies, meat and tanneries strengthened by the presence of the livestock sector. It also highlights the timber ventures, fine furniture stores, and provision of industrial and food systems. The natural quality of groundwater and the scarcity of exploitable surface water resources make groundwater exploited as the exclusive source of supply. This paper focusses on the use of groundwater sustainability indicators in an area of the Santa Fe province, Argentina, where groundwaters are the only source of supply to satisfy the demand for the various purposes. From the indicators used, the indicators of groundwater abstraction demonstrated that local recharge rate is not sufficient to meet the current demand in the area. Therefore, the identification of these indicators incorporates the high added value that they offer as a synthetic measure for the sustainability of groundwater exploitation. Besides, it is expected that the selected indicators contribute to the evaluation of the management of these water resources, to the development of new shares and/or the establishment of plans and projects for their proper management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a three-dimensional numerical model of heat flux using finite-difference approximation for the simulation, prediction, and visualization of sediment, water, and air temperature, applied in Villa del Mar saltmarsh, Bahía Blanca Estuary, Argentina. To make this computation, we develop an open-source software tool called Hemera 1.0 which is characterized by having little complexity and low hardware requirements. The model considers three heat transfer processes: diffusion, convection, and radiation, using bulk aerodynamic formulas as boundary conditions between the interfaces. The aforementioned model was applied for the month of January 2009. The model reproduced adequately the physical processes of the heat balance and showed an adequate response to changes in the boundary conditions. In addition, according to the model design, meteorological and oceanographic data and some soil properties are the only data input used for modeling. It is easily adaptable to other environments such us lakes and reservoirs, among others, in order to carry out similar studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish as bioindicators are a widely used tool for environmental monitoring of freshwater ecosystems worldwide. However, its adaptation to temperate Neotropical streams constitutes a challenge due to the presence of pauperised ichthyofauna with high tolerance to environmental degradation. We designed, evaluated, and validated an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) that uses fish as bioindicators of the ecological integrity of streams of the Pampa Plain, Argentina. An integral characterization of the environmental conditions (water quality, habitat structure, and riparian condition) and fish assemblages were performed in 17 study sites (natural grasslands, urban, and livestock reaches). The IBI was designed with 10 metrics and showed to be sensitive to different environmental conditions due to significant differences between study sites and land uses. The IBI also showed to be responsive due to its significant associations with water quality, habitat structure variables, and some multimetric indexes. Moreover, when validated against a recently fish database, it demonstrated to be sensitive for use in other temperate streams exposed to similar environmental conditions. An integral environmental assessment as the one designed can lead to optimized strategies for the management and conservation of these fragile ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The items of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (Andreassen et al., 2012) were adapted to study the construct in Instagram users. This construct is defined as the tendency to be overly concerned about Instagram, spending so much time and effort on this platform to the point of harming other activities in the individual's life, interpersonal relationships and psychological well-being. Different Item Response Theory (IRT) models was applied for polytomous items in order to determine which one best explains the responses of those evaluated. The six items were translated into Spanish and evaluated by an expert jury. A total of 754 Instagram users from the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area took part in the study (65.8% women). An Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed to verify the unidimensional assumption and the assumption of local independence was corroborated. The results referring to the models fit data allows us to provide evidence that the Grades Response Model (GRM) presents the most adequate parametric structure to shape the subject's responses. All items were adjusted to GRM. Parameters a ranged from 2.02 to 3.45 (Mean = 2.69; SD = 0.49). Parameters b were located within the expected range (-3 to 3) with a minimum θ of -0.51 and a maximum of 2.74. The Ordinal Alpha and Omega were elevated. The Information Function shows a maximum value of 14.26 around a θ of 1.2. This function shows a negative asymmetry, indicating that the scale is more accurate for measuring high levels of the trait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continental arcs are associated with volcanism concentrated into two main belts—the main arc and back arc, often separated by fold and thrust belts. The Loicas Trough, Argentina, is a post-orogenic extensional feature that obliquely cuts the fold and thrust belts. The trough hosts large Pliocene–Holocene volcanic centres, including Domuyo and Tromen, that lie between the main arc and back arc and thus provide a rare window into this setting. We present major and trace element data for the Loicas Trough, which we combine with geochemical modelling using the Magma Chamber Simulator (MCS) to explore the origin and evolution of the volcanism. The lavas display a wide continuous range from alkaline basalts to subalkaline rhyolites. Trace elements reveal variable extents of arc enrichment (2 < Nb/U < 28), which correlate with proximity to the trench and differentiation indices. Our results and MCS models indicate that the Loicas Trough parental magmas formed from compositionally zoned mantle. Best-fit models indicate that the differentiation occurs at middle and upper crustal levels, in sharp contrast to lower crustal hot zones beneath main arcs. Assimilation of partial crustal melts drives compositional evolution and obscures source signatures. Pure or high fraction end-member partial crustal melts are also identified at Domuyo based on their low Ba (~ 250 ppm) and moderate Sc contents (~ 8 ppm). We find evidence of similar lavas in transtensional settings adjacent to continental arcs worldwide, which do not adhere to the main versus back arc volcanism binary. We suggest the term arc-adjacent magmatism, where compositions are mainly controlled by extensive assimilation and reworking in the middle to upper crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The conversion of forests into agricultural lands can be a threat because the forests carbon stored could be a source of emissions. The capacity to improve the predictions on the consequences of land use change depends on the identification of factors that influence carbon pools. We investigated the key driving factors of tree biomass and soil carbon pools in xerophytic forests in northeastern Argentina. Based on analyses of forest structure variables and abiotic factors (topography and soil properties) from 18 mature forests, we evaluated carbon pools using uni- and multivariate (redundancy analysis) methods. Results: The total carbon pool was estimated at 102.4 ± 24.0 Mg ha−1. Soil organic carbon storage is the single largest carbon pool relative to tree biomass, representing 73.1% of total carbon. Tree canopy cover and basal area were positively correlated with biomass carbon pool (r = 0.77 and r = 0.73, p < 0.001, respectively), proving to be significant drivers of carbon storage in this compartment. Slope, soil clay content and cation-exchange capacity had a better explanation for the variability in soil carbon pools, and all showed significant positive correlations with soil carbon pools (r = 0.64, 0.60 and 0.50; p < 0.05, respectively). The vertisols showed a 27.8% higher soil carbon stock than alfisols. Conclusions: The relevance of our study stems from a dearth of information on carbon pools and their drivers in xerophytic forests, and in particular, the importance of this ecosystems' type for Argentina, because they cover 81.9% of native forest area. Basal area and tree canopy cover exert a strong effect on the carbon pool in tree biomass but not in the soil. The results suggests that there is a potentially major SOC accumulation in forests located in slightly sloping areas and soils with higher topsoil clay content, such as vertisols. This could provide an important reference for implementing forestry carbon sink projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect faunas from the latest Cretaceous are poorly known worldwide. Particularly, in the Southern Hemisphere, there is a gap regarding insect assemblages in the Campanian-Maastrichtian interval. Here we present an insect assemblage from the Maastrichtian Chorrillo Formation, southern Argentina, represented by well-preserved and non-deformed, chitinous microscopic remains including head capsules, wings and scales. Identified clades include Chironomidae dipterans, Coelolepida lepidopterans, and Ephemeroptera. The assemblage taxonomically resembles those of Cenozoic age, rather than other Mesozoic assemblages, in being composed by diverse chironomids and lepidopterans. To the best of our knowledge, present discovery constitutes the first insect body fossils for the Maastrichtian in the Southern Hemisphere, thus filling the gap between well-known Early Cretaceous entomofaunas and those of Paleogene age. The presented evidence shows that modern clades of chironomids were already dominant and diversified by the end of the Cretaceous, in concert with the parallel radiation of aquatic angiosperms which became dominant in freshwater habitats. This exceptional finding encourages the active search of microscopic remains of fossil arthropods in other geological units, which could provide a unique way of enhancing our knowledge on the past diversity of the clade. An insect assemblage gathered from the Chorrillo Formation in Argentina constitutes an important set of insect body fossils for the Maastrichtian interval in the Southern Hemisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleeping behaviors, such as sleeping in clusters and sleeping-tree selection, are affected by several social and ecological factors simultaneously, among which weather conditions are suggested to be the most important. We evaluated the relationship between weather conditions (temperature and rainfall) and sleeping-cluster patterns, body posture, and foliage cover at sleeping sites in four groups of black-and-gold, howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) inhabiting San Cayetano (27° 30 'S-58° 41'W), Corrientes, Argentina. During 12 months (between June 2012 and July 2013), we collected clustering, postural, and weather data on 185 days. The number of individuals in sleeping clusters was higher at low temperatures and lower at higher temperatures. At low temperatures, the curled posture was the most frequent, whereas the spread posture increased in frequency as temperatures increased. We did not find a significant relationship between rainfall and sleeping body postures. At low and medium temperatures, individuals selected sleeping trees with dense foliage cover and used open-crowned sleeping trees on rainy days. Consistent with what was found in previous studies, our findings suggest that howler monkeys used behavioral thermoregulation strategies that reduce the exposition to adverse climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brown spot of pear (BSP), a fungal disease, was recently detected in the Alto Valle of Río Negro region in Patagonia, Argentina. BSP is caused by Stemphylium vesicarium (teleomorph: Pleospora herbarum, syn. P. allii) in its sexual and asexual stages, and its main symptoms are lesions in fruit and leaves. The aim of the present study was to characterize the susceptibility of four main pear cultivars grown in the Alto Valle of Río Negro to infection by S. vesicarium. Over four recent growing seasons, BSP incidence and severity were monitored in an orchard with 'Williams', 'Packham's', 'D'Anjou', and 'Abate Fetel' pear cultivars. In addition, inoculations of a pathogenic S. vesicarium strain were performed on detached fruit and leaves of the four cultivars. Both in-field observations and in vitro inoculation experiments indicated that fruit and leaf susceptibility to BSP was markedly higher in 'D'Anjou' and 'Abate Fetel' compared to 'Packham's' and 'Williams'. These findings provide valuable information for the correct allocation of resources to efficiently monitor and control BSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability is a vivid and important issue for financial markets. The financial markets discuss the sustainability' s advantages. This study intends to reveal the nexus of sustainability risk and market returns. It is the first study that attempts to understand the sustainability' effects on market returns. The five sub-indexes of Global Sustainable Competitiveness were used for sustainability performances. The sub-indexes are governance performance, intellectual capital, natural capital, social capital, and resource intensity. Also inflation rate and gross domestic product growth rate added the model as control variables. The dataset was from 2013 to 2020 for all G20 countries except Argentina. The results showed the all macroeconomic and sustainability factors but governance performance are important for stock market returns. Governance performance does not impact the market returns. The macroeconomic factors are more effective than sustainability factors for the returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The informed consent is an ethical and legal requirement for potential participants to enroll in a study. There is ample of evidence that understanding consent information and enrollment is challenging for participants in clinical trials. On the other hand, the reasoning process behind decision-making in HIV clinical trials remains mostly unexplored. This study aims to examine the decision-making process of people living with HIV currently participating in antiretroviral clinical trials and their understanding of informed consent. We conducted a qualitative socio-constructivist study using semi-structured interviews. Eleven participants were selected by purposive sampling in Argentina until data saturation was reached. A content analysis was performed. The findings highlight the fact that some participants decided to enroll on the spot, while others made the decision a few days later. In all cases, the decision was based on different aspects of trust (in doctors, in the clinical research site, in the clinical trials system) but also on emotions associated with HIV and/or treatment. Moreover, while people living with HIV felt truly informed after the consent dialogue with a researcher, consent forms were unintelligible and unfriendly. The immediacy of patient decision-making has rarely been described before. Enrollment in an HIV clinical trial is mainly a trust-based decision but this does not contradict the ethical values of autonomy, voluntariness, non-manipulation, and non‐exploitation. Thus, trust is a key issue to be included in reshaping professional practices to ensure the integrity of the informed consent process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Argentina was among the ten richest economies in terms of gross domestic product per capita with the United States being the leading economy most of the time. However, Argentina grew less and was less stable than the United States in a period of over 140 years (1875–2018). Structural breaks (1935 and 1975) were identified in the declining ratio of Argentina's gross domestic product per capita long-term trend to that of the United States, as well as in the long-term per capita growth rates of Argentina (1911 and 1975) and the United States (1935). The declining ratio partly reflects that growth in the United States accelerated after 1935 (during the post-1930 Great Depression recovery and the Second World War years) while it decelerated in Argentina after 1975 (in the context of large government deficits, high inflation, the first oil crisis, and the Latin American debt crisis). A Bayesian estimation model suggests that long-term growth was generally higher and less volatile in the United States than in Argentina, with relatively low spillovers from one country to the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current conservation status of Percichthys trucha (Creole perch) is Least Concern, although the population trend is considered to be decreasing. We conducted an extensive survey of parasite fauna in this species over two decades in its distribution range in Argentina. Fish were collected using gill and trawl nets. Parasites were collected, identified, and counted to calculate prevalence and mean intensity. The present work reports the parasite species infecting P. trucha, using data from our own survey and from previously published records. This information enables us to evaluate infection and distribution patterns, assess the role of P. trucha as host, determine the specificity of the parasites, and evaluate the threat represented by introduced, invasive parasites. The data set consists of a total of 453 host-parasite-locality records, of which only 15 are exclusively bibliographic. We found 44 parasite taxa: 19 digeneans, 4 monogeneans, 5 cestodes, 8 nematodes, 4 acanthocephalans, 3 crustaceans, and 1 mollusk. The most represented families were Diplostomidae, Heterophyidae, and Dactylogyridae. This study increases the number of parasite species known from 25 to 44. It can be concluded that this parasite fauna is characterized by high diversity, particularly of digeneans, and most of the parasites reproduce within this host, a pattern which is related to the top position of this fish species in the trophic webs. Six parasite species (Allocreadium patagonicum, Homalometron papilliferum, Acanthostomoides apophalliformis, Duplaccessorius andinus, Pseudodelphys limnicola, and Hysterothylacium patagonense) exhibit high host specificity (only matures in Creole perches) and are widely distributed, which could now be considered as "biogeographical core helminth fauna." Some P. trucha populations are affected by the invasion of alien fishes like Cyprinus carpio and pathogenic parasites like Lernaea cyprinacea and Schizocotyle acheilognathi. Our findings emphasize the need for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soy expansion model in Argentina generates structural changes in traditional lifestyles, which can be associated with different biophysical and socioeconomic impacts. To explore this issue, we apply an innovative method for integrated assessment-the multi-scale integrated analysis of societal and ecosystem metabolism framework-to characterize two communities in the Chaco Region, Province of Formosa, North of Argentina. These communities have recently experienced the expansion of soy production, altering their economic activity, energy consumption patterns, land use and human time allocation. The integrated characterization presented in the paper illustrates the differences (biophysical, socioeconomic and historical) between the two communities that can be associated with different responses. The analysis of the factors behind these differences has important policy implications for the sustainable development of local communities in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landfills constitute potential sources of different pollutants that could generate human health and environmental problems. While some landfills currently work under the protection of a bottom liner with leachate collection, it was demonstrated that migration could take place even yet with these cautions. The purpose of this paper is to assess the pollution caused by a leachate plume from a municipal landfill that is affecting both groundwater and surface waters. The research was carried out at Pacará Pintado landfill in northwestern Argentina. Analysis of water samples indicates that leachate is affecting groundwater under the landfill area and an abandoned river channel hydraulically connected. In the center of the landfill area, the plume is anoxic and sulfate, nitrate, iron and manganese reduction zones were identified. Leachate plume presented high concentration of organic matter, Fe, Mn, NH, Cl and Cr reaching an extension of 900 m. The presence of a leachate plume in a landfill site with a single liner system implies that the use of this groundwater pollution control method alone is not enough especially if permeable sediments are present below. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives an account of the implementation of hydrochemical and isotopic techniques to identify and explain the processes that govern solute exchange in two groundwater-dependent shallow lakes in the Southeastern Pampa Plain of Argentina. Water samples (lakes, streams, spring water and groundwater) for hydrochemical and stable isotopic determination were collected and the main physical-chemical parameters were measured. The combination of stable isotope data with hydrogeochemical techniques was used for the identification of sources and preferential recharge areas to these aquatic ecosystems which allowed the explanation of the lake water origin. The hydrochemical processes which explain Los Padres Lake water chemistry are evaporation from groundwater, CO input, calcite dissolution, Na release by Ca and Mg exchange, and sulfate reduction. The model that best aligns with La Brava Lake hydrochemical constraints includes: mixing, CO and calcite dissolution, cationic exchange with Na release and Mg adsorption, and to a lesser extent, Ca/Na exchange. This model suggests that the fractured aquifer contribution to this water body is greater than 50 %. An isotopic-specific fingerprint for each lake was identified, finding a higher evaporation rate for La Brava Lake compared to Los Padres Lake. Isotopic data demonstrate the importance of these shallow lakes as recharge areas to the regional aquifer, becoming areas of high groundwater vulnerability. The Tandilia Range System, considered in many hydrogeological studies as the impermeable bedrock of the Pampean aquifer, acts as a fissured aquifer in this area, contributing to low salinity waters and with a fingerprint similar to groundwater isotopic composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the climatic conditions of warm and cold dry months in the humid and semi-humid Argentine region and some aspects of the regional circulation related to these cases. The climatic analysis of warm (temperatures above percentile 80) and cold (temperatures below percentile 20) dry months is based on precipitation and temperature data registered at reference stations over a period of at least 70 years, while the associated circulation is derived from daily data of geopotential height at 500 hPa from NCEP-DOE Reanalysis 2 database. The reference station for the center of the country registered a greater number of warm dry months during both the warm season (October-March) and the cold season (April-September), whereas the reference stations in the north-east and center-east showed differences depending on the time of the year, with more cold dry months during the April-September season and more warm dry months in the October-March season. A classification of daily fields of geopotential height anomalies at 500 hPa was used to analyze the atmospheric circulation related to warm and cold dry months. The circulation patterns were obtained by applying principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Findings show that some mid-level circulation patterns occur with a significant different frequency during the warm dry months or the cold dry months studied. Finally, cases of spatially extended precipitation-deficit conditions (hereinafter generalized droughts) were studied, noting dominant patterns that are coherent with the previous results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of regulated piped gas price changes on connection decisions and households’ welfare. The analysis explicitly considers bottled gas as a substitute for piped gas and therefore uses a simple utility maximization model that yields both a gas-type choice model and a demand specification whose parameterization allows examining households’ responses to regulated price changes. The results show that relative gas prices and household features explain households’ piped gas usage. They also provide insights on the distribution of welfare changes. The findings illustrate the impact of tariff rebalancing and unregulated substitutes on further access to regulated network services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban nature reserves (UR’s) fulfill unique functions for society and are irreplaceable, satisfying human needs particularly in urban and periurban areas. The aim of this paper was to use a perception based approach to analyze whether the urban nature reserves in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, Argentina were principally used by visitors according to their main conservation mission. Five hundred written surveys designed to evaluate users’ profile and their perceptions of the selected reserves were conducted during the summer of 2009 to visitors selected at random. Collected data was analyzed by multivariate analyses. The results discriminated two groups (1 and 2) of reserves showing that people chose to visit a nature reserve for two contrasting motivations: the contemplation of nature (group 1) or active recreation (group 2). Both groups of reserves, the respondents participated in environmental programs. All respondents knew about plants whereas knowledge of the fauna was related to the visitors’ level of education. In all reserves respondents considered that nature enhance the quality of human life in the first place, and valued biodiversity en second place. Visitors in group 1 considered nature as very important, while respondents in group 2 thought that is important as a place for having fun. Our findings can potentially assist administrators to understand better how visitors perceive the reserves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The production of bioethanol in Argentina is based on the sugarcane plantation system, with extensive use of agricultural land, scarce use of fertilizers, pesticides, and artificial irrigation, and burning of sugarcane prior to harvesting. The objective of this paper is to develop a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the fuel ethanol from sugarcane in Tucumán (Argentina), assessing the environmental impact potentials to identify which of them cause the main impacts. Methods: Our approach innovatively combined knowledge about the main impact pathways of bioethanol production with LCA which covers the typical emission-related impact categories at the midpoint life cycle impact assessment. Real data from the Argentinean industry subsystems have been used to perform the study: S1-sugarcane production, S2-milling process, S3-sugar production, and S4-ethanol production from molasses, honey, or sugarcane juice. Results and discussion: The results are shown in the three alternative pathways to produce bioethanol. Different impact categories are assessed, with global warming potential (GWP) having the highest impact. So, the production of 1 kg of ethanol from molasses emitted 22.5 kg CO (pathway 1), 19.2 kg CO from honey (pathway 2), and 15.0 kg CO from sugarcane juice (pathway 3). Several sensitivity analyses to study the variability of the GWP according to the different cases studied have been performed (changing the agricultural yield, including economic and calorific allocation in sugar production, and modifying the sugar price). Conclusions: Agriculture is the subsystem which shows the highest impact in almost all the categories due to fossil fuel consumption. When an economic and calorific allocation is considered to assess the environmental impact, the value is lower than when mass allocation is used because ethanol is relatively cheaper than sugars and it has higher calorific value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives an account of the implementation of a decision support system for assessing aquifer pollution hazard and prioritizing subwatersheds for groundwater resources management in the southeastern Pampa plain of Argentina. The use of this system is demonstrated with an example from Dulce Stream Basin (1,000 km encompassing 27 subwatersheds), which has high level of agricultural activities and extensive available data regarding aquifer geology. In the logic model, aquifer pollution hazard is assessed as a function of two primary topics: groundwater and soil conditions. This logic model shows the state of each evaluated landscape with respect to aquifer pollution hazard based mainly on the parameters of the DRASTIC and GOD models. The decision model allows prioritizing subwatersheds for groundwater resources management according to three main criteria including farming activities, agrochemical application, and irrigation use. Stakeholder participation, through interviews, in combination with expert judgment was used to select and weight each criterion. The resulting subwatershed priority map, by combining the logic and decision models, allowed identifying five subwatersheds in the upper and middle basin as the main aquifer protection areas. The results reasonably fit the natural conditions of the basin, identifying those subwatersheds with shallow water depth, loam-loam silt texture soil media and pasture land cover in the middle basin, and others with intensive agricultural activity, coinciding with the natural recharge area to the aquifer system. Major difficulties and some recommendations of applying this methodology in real-world situations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we analyze the influence of positivism in Argentina astronomical culture in the nineteenth century. We did the analysis from two dimensions, scientific knowledge development and science teaching. Because Argentina was a very young country at that time, it was of singular importance, not only the development of scientific knowledge itself, but also the training of human resources for the transfer of such knowledge. In this regard, the influence of astronomy, in its role of modernizing discipline related to positivist ideal, was particularly noticeable in the training of teachers of primary schools. Domingo F. Sarmiento represents a turning point for the astronomy development in Argentina; his thought was strongly influenced by the Comtean positivism. Sarmiento believed that Copernican astronomy was one of the critical scientific disciplines to the formation of a 'modern' citizen. Astronomy in Argentina was influenced by two epistemological streams: French and German positivism; however the first one was the most important. We shall show the relevant influence of the socio-historical context over the scientific development. We shall also see that science was a fundamental social actor in Argentina history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives an account of the assessment and quantification of the water balance and the hydrogeological processes related to lake-groundwater interaction in the Pampa Plain by using hydrogeochemical, isotopic and flow numerical modeling techniques. La Salada is a permanent shallow lake, with an area of 5.8 km, located on the SE of Buenos Aires Province. A total of 29 lake water samples and 15 groundwater samples were collected for both hydrochemical analysis and environmental stable isotope determination. Water table depths were measured in wells closed to the lake. Groundwater samples appear grouped on the Local Meteoric Water Line, suggesting a well-mixed system and that rainfall is the main recharge source to the aquifer. Water evaporation process within La Salada is also corroborated by its isotopic composition. The model that best adjusts to La Salada Lake hydrochemical processes includes evaporation from groundwater, calcite precipitation with CO release and cationic exchange. The annual water balance terms for the lake basin indicates for each hydrological component the following values: 1.16 E m rainfall, 8.15 E m evapotranspiration, 1.90 E m runoff, 1.55 E m groundwater recharge, 6.01 E m groundwater discharge to the lake, 9.54 E m groundwater discharge to the river, 5.00 E m urban extraction and 4.90 E m lake evaporation. Integrated analysis of hydrochemical and isotopic information helped to calibrate the groundwater flow model, to validate the conceptual model and to quantitatively assess the basin water balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As) may occur in surface freshwater ecosystems as a consequence of both natural contamination and anthropogenic activities. In this paper, As concentrations in muscle samples of 10 fish species, sediments and surface water from three naturally contaminated rivers in a central region of Argentina are reported. The study area is one of the largest regions in the world with high As concentrations in groundwater. However, information of As in freshwater ecosystems and associated biota is scarce. An extensive spatial variability of As concentrations in water and sediments of sampled ecosystems was observed. Geochemical indices indicated that sediments ranged from mostly unpolluted to strongly polluted. The concentration of As in sediments averaged 6.58 μg/g ranging from 0.23 to 59.53 μg/g. Arsenic in sediments barely followed ( r = 0.361; p = 0.118) the level of contamination of water. All rivers showed high concentrations of As in surface waters, ranging from 55 to 195 μg/L. The average concentration of As in fish was 1.76 μg/g. The level of contamination with As differed significantly between species. Moreover, the level of bioaccumulation of As in fish species related to the concentration of As in water and sediments also differed between species. Whilst some fish species seemed to be able to regulate the uptake of this metalloid, the concentration of As in the large catfish Rhamdia quelen mostly followed the concentration of As in abiotic compartments. The erratic pattern of As concentrations in fish and sediments regardless of the invariable high levels in surface waters suggests the existence of complex biogeochemical processes behind the distribution patterns of As in these naturally contaminated ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes concept formation and its empirical and theoretical implications for the study of subnational undemocratic regimes. The paper argues that extant conceptualizations of subnational political regimes, which generally draw on a strategy of 'conceptual expansion' have important drawbacks for the study of subnational undemocratic regimes (SURs). To overcome these shortcomings, the article claims for a strategy of 'conceptual separation' that disaggregates political regimes into two orthogonal dimensions, i.e., the access to and the exercise of state power. Drawing on original evidence from Argentina and Mexico, the article demonstrates that the strategy of conceptual separation helps researchers to (1) avoid truncation of the universe of cases for analysis, (2) obtain new and more precise information about the actual magnitude of the uneven territorialization of democracy, (3) recognize the existence of two ideal type domains of SURs: patrimonial and bureaucratic, and (4) gain more analytic leverage to identify the causal mechanisms that explain regime continuity within and across SUR types. In-depth case studies of the state of Puebla (Mexico) and the province of San Luis (Argentina) demonstrate empirically the workings of the mechanisms that account for regime continuity in bureaucratic-like SURs. The article also demonstrates the potential of distinguishing between SUR types for the study of SUR origins and SUR change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zooarchaeological works in the city lack of a specific theoretical and methodological framework to understand its faunal assemblages. The different analyses were done in most cases following procedures that had been developed for hunter-gatherer contexts. In this paper, we evaluate some questions related to this issue, encompassed in the acquisition mode and the characteristics of the archaeological record. Finally, an example from two sites in La Boca, Buenos Aires city, Argentina is given in order to understand some of these questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality has degraded dramatically in the Chocancharava River (Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina) due to point and non-point sources. This paper aims to assess spatial and temporal variations of physical and chemical parameters of the river. Six sampling sites and six sampling campaigns were developed. During the period 2007-2008, wet and dry seasons were included. A statistical analysis was carried out with 23 physical and chemical variables. Then, a new statistical analysis was carried out including the Riparian Corridors Quality Index and the physical and chemical variables (24 variables). Considering a multivariate system, analysis of variance, principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used. From the statistical analysis, the river was divided into two zones with different degrees of contamination. The most polluted zone is due to pollution inputs of urban, industrial and agricultural sources. This area showed a remarkable deterioration in water quality, mainly due to wastewater discharges. According to Riparian Quality, better results were found in sections of poor water quality, due to the fact that the river bank forest was less degraded downstream of the sewage discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upper limit of fluoride concentration in water for human consumption is 1.5 ppm. Many studies have been carried out concerning the water fluoride concentration in wide areas around the world, but none have studied the change of fluoride concentration as a function of geographical coordinates and through time. This paper describes 'microvariation' of fluoride concentration among wells separated by less than 500 m in a month. On the other hand, 'macrovariation' is also studied describing changes among cities that are separated by more than 10 km and compared with fluoride concentrations measured 65 years ago. Fluoride concentration was measured in a wide geographical area of Argentina, which is 133,000 km. Samples of water were collected from different regions. Macrovariation: Differences in fluoride concentration in well water among regions were found, as well as an increase in water fluoride concentration during seven decades. Microvariation: Daily water fluoride concentration in a specific area displayed a great variation in the measurements through time. In addition, wells with no more than 500 m of separation were measured at the same time and were significantly different. These results indicate that in order to determine the fluoride concentration of a region, different samples of the same area should be obtained and a sampling through time should also be done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epinotia aporema granulovirus (EpapGV) has attracted interest as a potential biocontrol agent of the soybean pest Epinotia aporema in Argentina. Studies on virus/host interactions conducted so far have lacked an accurate method to assess the progress of virus load during the infection process. The present paper reports the development of a real-time PCR for EpapGV and its application to describe viral kinetics following ingestion of two different virus doses by last-instar E. aporema larvae. Real-time PCR was shown to be a reliable method to detect and quantify the presence of EpapGV in the analyzed samples. The increase in virus titer (log) exhibited a sigmoidal pattern, with an exponential growth phase between 24 and 48 h postinfection for both initial doses tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates CO fluxes in a municipal site for final disposal of solid waste, located in Gualeguaychu, Argentina. Estimations were made using the accumulation chamber methods, which had been calibrated previously in laboratory. CO fluxes ranged from 31 to 331 g m day. Three different populations were identified: background soil gases averaging 46 g m day, intermediate anomalous values averaging 110 g m day and high anomalous values averaging 270 g m day. Gas samples to a depth of 20 cm were also taken. Gas fractions, XCO < 0.1, XCH < 0.01, XN ~0.71 and XO ~0.21, δC of CO (−34 to −18‰), as well as age of waste emplacement, suggest that the study site may be at the final stage of aerobic biodegradation. In a first approach, and following the downstream direction of groundwater flow, alkalinity and δC of dissolved inorganic carbon (−15 to 4‰) were observed to increase when groundwater passed through the disposal site. This suggests that the CO generated by waste biodegradation dissolves or that dissolved organic matter appears as a result of leachate degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 2008, under a region-wide drought, there were a large number of simultaneous fires in the Paraná River Delta region: the most affected vegetation was in marshes dominated by Schoenoplectus californicus (C.A.Mey.) Soják or Cyperus giganteus Vahl. The objective of this paper was to study fire severity in terms of fire effect on vegetation cover and soil properties, and the recovery of those properties after one growing season, using optical remote sensing techniques and fieldwork data. To this aim, we performed unsupervised classification of Landsat TM imagery and conducted vegetation censuses and soil sampling in November 2008 and May 2009. Our results show that we could identify three fire severity classes: low severity, medium severity, and high severity. These classes are characterized by a remnant vegetation cover of approximately 75 %, 25 %, and 5 %, respectively, and a diminution of soil organic carbon and nitrogen of 66 % and 59 % in the case of medium severity and high severity. Fire had almost no effect over pH and a slight effect on electrical conductivity. After one growing season, vegetation recovery is dependent on fire severity and hydrological condition, while soil properties did not show signs of recovery. This is one of the first studies of fire effects and recovery on fluvial herbaceous wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic matter is a fundamental factor in the biogeochemical cycle of carbon; it influences the chemical, physical, and biological properties of the soil. The aim of this paper is to determine the organic fractions in the three predominant morphologies of aggregates found in Typical Argiudolls of the Buenos Aires southeastern area and to link them to different soil uses, as possible indicators of soil quality. The study was carried out in the basin de Los Padres Pound (General Pueyrredón, Buenos Aires). We analyzed the first 5 cm of mollic epipedons of plots with different soil uses: (a) cultivated plots, (b) pine and eucalyptus forests, (c) pastures, and (d) a natural plot in the de Los Padres Pound Reserve as a reference. The percentage of soil organic carbon (SOC), light organic carbon (LOC), fulvic acids (FA), humic acids (HA), and humins (H) in elongated, quadrangular and spherical aggregates were determined. The results show slight variations in SOC (7.2-8.6%) in the spherical aggregates of all the plots and a greater variability in elongated and quadrangular aggregates (5.6-10% and 6.9-13.6%, respectively). HA are minimal in the agroecosystems with extreme values of 0.02% in the spherical aggregates of cultivated plots, and maximal in the elongated and quadrangular aggregates of natural plots (0.3-0.5%). Fulvic acids display a similar behavior, while H decrease slightly with the morphologies and the different practices. The substantial decrease of humic substances in cultivated plots translates into a lower biologic activity; this, in turn, influences the aggregation, thus lowering the structural stability of these plots, which have been under agro-horticultural management for more than 50 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suquía River is a medium-sized hydrological system (basin area of ~7,700 km) that supplies fresh water to Córdoba city, a town of ~1,500,000 inhabitants in central Argentina. This paper examines the present-day hydrochemistry of Suquía River urban catchment analyzing its major and minor dissolved components, and the nutrients variability by means of QUAL-2K modeling software. The Suquía River has bicarbonate-type waters upstream the city and sulfate-type waters right downstream, whereas they exhibit a mixed-to-alkali-type cationic composition. The seasonal analysis of its major dissolved constituents clearly showed a dilution process during the wet season (i.e. austral summer). In the last 20 years, the Suquía River has modified its anionic composition, now showing higher relative concentrations of SO as a consequence of urban activities. However, trace elements dissolved concentrations do not evidence a strong pollution effect. Nutrients [nitrogen species, total phosphorous (TP)] and related parameters, such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and dissolved oxygen (DO), evidence a clear influence of human activities. The QUAL-2K model was used to evaluate the spatial behavior of selected nutrients and associated variables, (i.e. TP, N-NH, N-NO, DO, BOD). Nutrient concentrations are affected by point sources of contaminants, particularly domestic waste and sewage, as well as by diffuse agricultural pollution. A calibrated QUAL-2K modeling exercise clearly shows the impact of the Córdoba city's municipal wastewater treatment plant on the Suquía River water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the statistical characteristics and temporal variability of the urban heat island (UHI) intensity in Buenos Aires using 32-year surface meteorological data with 1-h time intervals. Seasonal analyses show that the UHI intensity is strongest during summer months and an 'inverse' effect is found frequently during the afternoon hours of the same season. During winter, the UHI effect is in the minimal. The interannual trend and the seasonal variation of the UHI for the main synoptic hours for a longer record of 48 years are studied and associated to changes in meteorological factors as low-level circulation and cloud amount. Despite the population growth, it was found a negative trend in the nocturnal UHI intensity that could be explained by a decline of near clear-sky conditions, a negative trend in the calm frequencies and an increase in wind speed. Urban to rural temperature differences and rural temperatures are negatively correlated for diurnal and nocturnal hours both for annual and seasonal scales. This result is due to the lower interannual variability of urban temperatures in comparison to rural ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the author's insights concerning the issues raised by authors Weller, Vakulabharanam, and Kasmir in commentaries on critical social theory and accounting practices. The author says that an ethnographic field study on the empresas recuperadas in Buenos Aires, Argentina has helped her to provide an ethnographic understanding in the issues. She adds that an open-ended methodology in social economy may help understand how accounting practices may obtain greater correspondence.

The rare but important phenomenon of business protest has not been adequately addressed in either literature on contentious politics or literature on business politics. Using Argentina's 2008 agricultural producers' protests as an illustration, this paper develops the concept of business protest and situates it within the classic framework of business' instrumental power, exercised through political actions, and structural power, arising from individual profit-maximizing behavior. Business protest entails public and/or disruptive collective action in either the economic arena or the societal arena. Business actors are most likely to consider protest in order to defend their core interests when their structural power is weak and when they lack sources of instrumental power that enhance the effectiveness of ordinary political actions like lobbying. I apply the business power and protest framework to explain the Argentine producers' failure to influence export tax policy from 2002 through early 2008 and the emergence of protest against a 2008 tax increase. I then examine how the producers' protests contributed to the reform's repeal. The producers' protests are an exceptional example of business protest in which the participants lacked key organizational resources that facilitate collective action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we summarize for the first time the effects of agriculture expansion and intensification on animal diversity in the Pampas of Argentina and discuss research needs for biodiversity conservation in the area. The Pampas experienced little human intervention until the last decades of the 19th century. Agriculture expanded quickly during the 20th century, transforming grasslands into cropland and pasture lands and converting the landscape into a mosaic of natural fragments, agricultural fields, and linear habitats. In the 1980s, agriculture intensification and replacement of cattle grazing-cropping systems by continuous cropping promoted a renewed homogenisation of the most productive areas. Birds and carnivores were more strongly affected than rodents and insects, but responses varied within groups: (a) the geographic ranges and/or abundances of many native species were reduced, including those of carnivores, herbivores, and specialist species (grassland-adapted birds and rodents, and probably specialized pollinators), sometimes leading to regional extinction (birds and large carnivores), (b) other native species were unaffected (birds) or benefited (bird, rodent and possibly generalist pollinator and crop-associated insect species), (c) novel species were introduced, thus increasing species richness of most groups (26% of non-rodent mammals, 11.1% of rodents, 6.2% of birds, 0.8% of pollinators). Much taxonomic and ecological work is still needed to understand Pampean animal biodiversity, to understand how agriculturization is affecting it, and to identify appropriate conservation actions. Networks of Important Bird Areas and Valuable Grassland Areas harbor a balanced representation of Pampean biodiversity and, if adequately protected, may provide valuable research sites, but complementary work should be carried out on agriculturized areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There exists a growing body of literature which looks at export decisions made by firms. Most studies focus on developed countries and do not explore whether different behavioral patterns prevail over the firm size distribution. This paper aims at filling this gap in the literature by analyzing the export behavior of a statistically representative sample of 192 small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in a developing country, Argentina, over the period 1996-1998. We find that the level of employment, sourcing from abroad, investment in product improvement, and average productivity are associated with higher probability of exporting. Training activities for employees are important to export outside of MERCOSUR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 1991 and 1995, the Italian National Program for Antarctic Research carried out two oceanographic campaigns in the framework of the International (Strait of) Magellan Project. In this paper, we describe the distribution, biochemical composition, and mineralogical characteristics of particulate matter and the characteristics of the water masses defining microbasins in the Strait of Magellan. The data analyses highlighted differences in quality and quantity of the suspended matter and its organic component in the basins that make up the Strait and the Pacific Ocean. The westernmost basin is subject to an eastward flow from the Pacific Ocean, and continental runoff in the surface layers, which are consequently rich in organic matter with a high C:N ratio. The central basin, Isla Carlos III-Segunda Angostura, is characterized by the mixing of Sub-Antarctic Pacific waters, continental runoff, and glacio-fluvial waters: The basin has the lowest particulate matter concentration, but at Paso Ancho showed high concentrations of organic matter with a lower C:N ratio. The easternmost basin, Segunda Angostura-Atlantic entrance, is characterized by the mixing of the water column due to strong Atlantic tides and showed high concentration of particulate matter with a high detritic component. Generally, the organic matter concentrations showed significant differences during the cruises, being higher in 1991. Using the multivariate discriminant factor analysis to determine whether statistically significant differences existed between defined sampling areas, we determined that temperature, particulate organic carbon, and total particulate matter were the variables most important for the difference between areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]