Dynamic Effects of MERCOSUR : An Assessment for Argentina

Calfat, Germa´n,Flo^res, Renato G. Jr.,Granato, Maria Florencia 세종대학교 국제경제연구소 2003 Journal of Economic Integration Vol.18 No.3

We evaluate the potential dynamic effects of MERCOSUR on the Argentinean economy. Two approaches, already used with other regional integration agreements, are applied for measuring medium and long-term effects. Special care has been taken in separating intr from extra zone effects. All estimations are carefully checked and have their magnitudes contrasted with other figures derived from different sources. Besides, complementary empirical assessments are done. The diverse empirical evidences found support the argument that Argentina experienced growth effects due to MERCOSUR.

Properties of Contact and Bulk Impedances in Hybrid Lead Halide Perovskite Solar Cells Including Inductive Loop Elements

Guerrero, Antonio,Garcia-Belmonte, Germà,Mora-Sero, Ivan,Bisquert, Juan,Kang, Yong Soo,Jacobsson, T. Jesper,Correa-Baena, Juan-Pablo,Hagfeldt, Anders American Chemical Society 2016 The Journal of Physical Chemistry Part C Vol.120 No.15

<P>Impedance spectroscopy offers access to all the different electronic and ionic processes taking place simultaneously in an operating solar cell. To date, its use on perovskite solar cells has been challenging because of the richness of the physical processes occurring within similar time domains. The aim of this work is to understand the general impedance response and propose a general equivalent circuit model that accounts for the different processes and gives access to quantitative analysis. When the electron-selective contacts and the thickness of the perovskite film are systematically modified, it is possible to distinguish between the characteristic impedance signals of the perovskite layer and those arising from the contacts. The study is carried out using mixed organic lead halogen perovskite (FA(0.85)MA(0.15)Pb(I0.85Br0.15)(3)) solar cells with three different electron-selective contacts: SnO2, TiO2, and Nb2O5. The contacts have been deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD), which provides pinhole-free films and excellent thickness control in the absence of a mesoporous layer to simplify the impedance analysis. It was found that the interfacial impedance has a rich structure that reveals different capacitive processes, serial steps for electron extraction, and a prominent inductive loop related to negative capacitance at intermediate frequencies. Overall, the present report provides insights into the impedance response of perovskite solar cells which enable an understanding of the different electronic and ionic processes taking place during device operation.</P>

Effect of Spirulina maxima and Its Protein Extract on Micronuclei Induction by Hydroxyurea in Pregnant Mice and Their Fetuses

Isela A ´ lvarez-Gonza´lez,Jorge Va´zquez-Sa´nchez,Germa´n Chamorro-Cevallos,Eduardo Madrigal-Bujaidar 한국식품영양과학회 2013 Journal of medicinal food Vol.16 No.11

The purpose of the present report was to determine the inhibitory effect of Spirulina maxima (Sm) and its protein extract (PE), mainly consisting of C-phycocyanin, on the increase in micronuclei and bone marrow cytotoxicity induced by hydroxyurea (HU) in pregnant mice and their fetuses. The two tested antimutagenic agents were administered daily from day 10 to day 18 of pregnancy, and HU (300 mg/kg) was administered once on day 16 of the assay. The experimental design also included mice that were administered only Sm or PE (1000 and 400 mg/kg, respectively), two control groups that were administered with vehicles (water and 0.5% Tween 80), and one additional group that was treated solely with HU. Blood samples from the pregnant mice and their fetuses were examined at day 19 of pregnancy. Significant increases in the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and in the total number of micronucleated erythrocytes were observed in all HU-treated animals. In contrast, similarly low numbers of micronuclei were observed in the two control groups and in the groups treated with Sm and PE alone. The administration of Sm (100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg) and PE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) to HU-treated animals conferred moderate genotoxic protection (*30%) and some protection against the cytotoxicity induced by HU in mice. The obtained results provide new information regarding the capacity of the tested agents to confer protection to adult mice and transplacentally, as well as on a specific subclass of micronuclei.

Spirulina (Arthrospira) Protects Against Valproic Acid–Induced Neural Tube Defects in Mice

Gerardo N. Escalona-Cardoso,Norma Paniagua-Castro,Ricardo Pe´rez-Paste´n,Germa´n Chamorro-Cevallos 한국식품영양과학회 2012 Journal of medicinal food Vol.15 No.12

Valproic acid (VPA) is a potent inducer of neural tube defects in human and mouse, its teratogenicity is associated with its potential to generation of free radicals and increase oxidative stress. Furthermore, spirulina (SP) has shown pharmacological properties against teratogenicity, which are attributed to its antioxidant potential. Accordingly, the present study was performed to investigate the influence of SP on the teratogenicity of VPA in imprinting control region mice and the possible mechanisms of action. VPA (sodium valproate) was administered intraperitoneally to mice on gestation day (GD) 8 at a dose of 600 mg/kg. SP was given orally at 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg daily from GD0 through GD18. The most common finding in fetuses with VPA exposure was exencephaly. SP decreased the incidence of this and other malformations and increased levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. In conclusion, these results illustrate the protective action of SP through its antioxidant activity against VPA-induced teratogenicity.

Protective Effect of Grapefruit Juice on the Teratogenic and Genotoxic Damage Induced by Cadmium in Mice

Nancy Argu¨elles,Isela A ´ lvarez-Gonza´lez,Germa´n Chamorro,Eduardo Madrigal-Bujaidar 한국식품영양과학회 2012 Journal of medicinal food Vol.15 No.10

In the present study, we injected pregnant mice at Day 7 of gestation with cadmium chloride (CC) (1.5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and determined its effect on the frequency of fetal malformations at Day 17 of pregnancy. On the same day, we also determined the level of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPEs) and of micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes (MNNEs) in blood cells of both the mothers and their fetuses. A significant increase in the number of malformations was found, mainly exencephaly, micrognathia, ablephary, microphthalmia, and clubfoot, as well as a significant increase in the amount of MNPEs and MNNEs. In addition, pregnant mice were administered grapefruit juice (GJ) orally from Days 0 to 17 of the experiment (from 200 to 800 μL/g) to evaluate the potential of the juice in preventing the damage induced by CC. We found a dose-dependent decrease in the number of visceral and skeletal malformations, as well as in the number of MNPEs and MNNEs, in both the mothers and their fetuses. Furthermore, we determined the level of DNA oxidation by measuring levels of the adduct 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, and we found a significant increase in such level induced by CC; in contrast, there was a significant decrease when we added GJ. Therefore, the observed teratogenic and genotoxic protection can probably be related with the antioxidant potential of GJ.

Antioxidant Effect of Spirulina (Arthrospira) maxima on Chronic Inflammation Induced by Freund’s Complete Adjuvant in Rats

Gabriel Alfonso Gutie´rrez-Rebolledo,Marcela Galar-Martı´nez,Rosa Virginia Garcı´a-Rodrı´guez,Germa´n A. Chamorro-Cevallos,Ana Gabriela Herna´ndez-Reyes,Elizdath Martı´nez-Galero 한국식품영양과학회 2015 Journal of medicinal food Vol.18 No.8

One of the major mechanisms in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation is the excessive production of reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species, and therefore, oxidative stress. Spirulina (Arthrospira) maxima has marked antioxidant activity in vivo and in vitro, as well as anti-inflammatory activity in certain experimental models, the latter activity being mediated probably by the antioxidant activity of this cyanobacterium. In the present study, chronic inflammation was induced through injection of Freund’s complete adjuvant (CFA) in rats treated daily with Spirulina (Arthrospira) maxima for 2 weeks beginning on day 14. Joint diameter, body temperature, and motor capacity were assessed each week. On days 0 and 28, total and differential leukocyte counts and serum oxidative damage were determined, the latter by assessing lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content. At the end of the study, oxidative damage to joints was likewise evaluated. Results show that S. maxima favors increased mobility, as well as body temperature regulation, and a number of circulating leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes in specimens with CFA-induced chronic inflammation and also protects against oxidative damage in joint tissue as well as serum. In conclusion, the protection afforded by S. maxima against development of chronic inflammation is due to its antioxidant activity.

A phase two randomised trial of neratinib monotherapy versus lapatinib plus capecitabine combination therapy in patients with HER2+ advanced breast cancer

Martin, M.,Bonneterre, J.,Geyer, C.E.,Ito, Y.,Ro, J.,Lang, I.,Kim, S.B.,Germa, C.,Vermette, J.,Wang, K.,Wang, K.,Awada, A. Pergamon Press 2013 European journal of cancer Vol.49 No.18

Background: The safety and efficacy of neratinib monotherapy were compared with that of lapatinib plus capecitabine in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive (HER2+), locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer and prior trastuzumab treatment. Methods: Patients received neratinib 240mg/d continuously (n=117) or lapatinib 1250mg/d continuously plus capecitabine 2000mg/m<SUP>2</SUP> per day on days 1-14 of each 21-d cycle (n=116). The primary aim was to demonstrate non-inferiority of neratinib for progression-free survival (PFS). Findings: The non-inferiority of neratinib was not demonstrated when compared with lapatinib plus capecitabine (hazard ratio, 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-1.60; non-inferiority margin, 1.15). Median PFS for neratinib was 4.5months versus 6.8months for lapatinib plus capecitabine and median overall survival was 19.7months versus 23.6months. Objective response rate (neratinib, 29% versus lapatinib plus capecitabine, 41%; P=0.067) and clinical benefit rate (44% versus 64%; P=0.003) were lower for the neratinib arm but consistent with previously reported results. In both treatment arms, diarrhoea was the most frequently reported treatment-related adverse event of any grade (neratinib, 85% versus lapatinib plus capecitabine, 68%; P=0.002) and of grade ¾ (28% versus 10%; P<0.001), but was typically managed with concomitant anti-diarrhoeal medication and/or study treatment modification. Importantly, neratinib had no significant skin toxicity. Interpretation: The results are considered as inconclusive since neither inferiority nor non-inferiority of treatment with neratinib versus lapatinib plus capecitabine could be demonstrated. The study confirmed relevant single-agent clinical activity and acceptable overall tolerability of neratinib in patients with recurrent HER2+ advanced breast cancer.

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of a starch film with bioextracts microencapsulated from cactus fruits (Opuntia oligacantha)

Antonio de Jesus Cenobio-Galindo,Diana Jaqueline Pimentel-Gonza´lez,Oscar Enrique Del Razo-Rodrı´guez,Gabriela Medina-Pe´rez,Marı´a Luisa Carrillo-Inungaray,Abigail Reyes-Munguı´a,Rafael Germa´nCampos 한국식품과학회 2019 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.28 No.5

The use of unconventional sources is very relevant in the food area. In the present study the development of active films with the addition of bioextract (BE) or microencapsulated bioextract (MBE) from xoconostle (Opuntia oligacantha) on chayotextle starch was investigated. The film formulations were: 4 g of chayotextle starch, 2 g of glycerol and 180 g of water, three films with BE added (0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 g) and three films with MBE added (0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 g). Total phenols, total flavonoids, antioxidant activity (ABTS and DPPH), Salmonella typhimurium inhibition, color and mechanical properties of the films were analyzed. The film with 1.2 g of MBE showed high concentration of total phenols (54.12 ± 0.77 mg EAG/100 g), total flavonoids (16.65 ± 0.10 mg QE/100 g) and antioxidant activity (29.11 ± 0.48 and 41.42 ± 1.81 mg EAA for ABTS and DPPH respectively). The addition of bioextract from xoconostle is an option for the development of active films with antioxidant properties.