The National University of the Northeast (Spanish: Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, UNNE) is an Argentine national university. It is located in the cities of Corrientes and Resistencia, capitals cities of the Provinces of Corrientes and Chaco respectively, and was established on December 4, 1956. Known as the University of the Sun, it was the seventh-largest university in Argentina by student enrollment numbers as of 2017.
Forestry by-products, particularly bark, offer opportunities to add value to the forest production chain. Tannins are renewable, less toxic alternatives to formaldehyde-based adhesives, supporting sustainable, and circular bioeconomy strategies. This study valorizes Pinus taeda bark by developing and assessing an optimized extraction process for condensed tannins under conditions compatible with industrial implementation. Firstly, the magnitude of the solvent effect (hot water and ethanol/water mixture) was evaluated using a screening factorial design. When comparing bark extraction with both solvents, ethanolic extracts presented lower extraction yields but higher total polyphenol content (TPC), condensed tannin content (CT), and Stiasny number (SN) than aqueous extracts. Then, the optimization involved the ethanol/water mixture. Response surface methodology, utilizing a three-factor (ethanol concentration, temperature, liquid/solid ratio) central composite design, was employed to maximize CT and SN. The optimized extract was characterized by total carbohydrate content, TGA, and gel time. The optimal extraction condition was 65
The growing demand for plant-based proteins has prompted the exploration of alternative sources such as cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), due to its high protein content (26–28
An ideal vaccine adjuvant should be biocompatible, enable antigen storage and controlled release, and effectively stimulate the immune system. In this study, we evaluated the dual functionality of ascorbyl palmitate (ASC16): as an adjuvant additive in its dispersed state (120 µM), and as a coagel formed at low temperatures and high ASC16 concentrations (Coa-ASC16PEG), for use in the antivenom development. Coa-ASC16PEG was prepared by mixing ASC16 with polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) and solubilising the mixture at 64 °C for 2 min; subsequently, the formulation was allowed to cool to 40 °C and whole Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, which naturally contains a complex mixture of proteins, was incorporated for 10 s, including major toxins such as crotoxin, serine proteinases, L-amino acid oxidase, and phosphodiesterases. To produce experimental antivenom, mice were immunized with Coa-ASC16PEG or Freund’s adjuvant, with or without the addition of dispersed ASC16. The physicochemical analyses showed that the Coa-ASC16PEG exhibited a semi-crystalline, viscoelastic structure capable of effectively encapsulating and releasing proteins. The addition of dispersed ASC16 enhanced the immune response induced by both adjuvants (Freund’s and Coa-ASC16PEG), yielding up to a 1.2-fold increase in venom-specific IgG titres and an approximately 2.7-fold increase in IgG antibody avidity. ASC16-based formulations were associated with reduced local adverse reactions compared with Freund’s adjuvant–based formulations. In conclusion, we propose an alternative ASC16-based formulation obtained at low temperatures that preserves key physicochemical properties and shows minimal impact at the inoculation site. Moreover, the incorporation of dispersed ASC16 as an additive enhances the humoral immune response. Taken together, our results obtained in a murine model position ASC16 as a promising adjuvant, demonstrating reduced local reactogenicity compared with Freund’s adjuvant.
En el presente trabajo se da a conocer el hallazgo de Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. en Argentina. Se presenta la descripción, ilustraciones, usos, distribución geográfica y caracterización ecológica de la especie.
This work presents a numerical investigation of the damage mechanisms affecting a high-voltage transmission tower, with particular emphasis on the effects of foundation displacements on the structural response. Instead of a standard design verification, this paper proposes a forensic-predictive methodology that integrates surveying data into a nonlinear finite element environment (LS-DYNA). A detailed three-dimensional finite element model is developed to simulate the mechanical behavior of the tower and its foundation system under both design load conditions and observed support movements. The study bridges the gap between theoretical safety margins and operational reality, revealing that foundation-induced geometric non-linearities reduce the yield capacity to 60
