Ornament and function

The architects and builders in the past lacked our knowledge concerning fluid dynamics, but they exhibited a deep rooted ability to observe and reflect - thus, different cultures have developed by trial and error. The authors have produced a stimulating analysis which couples the science of fluid dynamics and a sensitive understanding of past cultures. The paper is recommended reading.     

Diversity of Saccharomyces strains on grapes and winery surfaces: analysis of their contribution to fermentative flora of Malbec wine from Mendoza (Argentina) during two consecutive years

Spontaneous fermentations are still conducted by several wineries in different regions of Argentina as a common practice. Native Saccharomyces strains associated with winery equipment, grape and spontaneous fermentations of Malbec musts from "Zona Alta del Río Mendoza" region (Argentina) were investigated during 2001 and 2002 in the same cellar. Low occurrence of Saccharomyces on grapes and their limited participation during fermentation were confirmed. Strain sequential substitution during fermentation was observed. Between 30% and 60% of yeast population at the end of fermentation was coming from yeasts already present in the winery. A stable and resident Saccharomyces micro-flora in the winery was confirmed. It exhibited a dynamic behaviour during season and between years. Commercial strains were found during fermentation in different percentages, but their presence on winery equipment was low. The present work represents a first approach to winery yeast and spontaneous fermentation Saccharomyces population dynamics in an important viticultural region from Argentina that has never been characterized before. The results obtained have an important significance for the local industry, showing for the first time the real situation of the microbial ecology of alcoholic fermentation in an industrial winery from Mendoza, Argentina.     

The Hinterland Urbanised?

What defines the urban? And can the non-urban necessarily always be classified as rural? Neil Brenner , Director of the Urban Theory Lab at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, reflects on the lack of an overarching theory to describe these realms, and argues that what we call the countryside or the hinterland has become key to the process of capitalist urbanisation.     

Regional flood frequency analysis in the central‐western river basins of Argentina

Knowing the probability of occurrence of a flood event is an important issue for water resources planning. At‐site probability models require a long extension of hydrological data for robust estimation of low‐frequency events. As the mean record length of 25 gauge stations in western river basins of Argentina is 49 years (until 2010), regional models are an interesting tool to determine mountain rivers system dynamics. This study aims to estimate low‐frequency quantiles of annual maximum flow in Argentinean western river basins (28°S–37°S) applying regional frequency analysis based on the L‐moments method. Besides, mean annual maximum flow of 75 gauge stations (22°S–52°S) was analysed. First, an exploratory data analysis was performed; normality, independence, and randomness were accepted in the 27%, 87%, and 91% of cases, respectively. Increasing trends in annual maximum flows in the north‐western and central‐western rivers of Argentina were detected, whereas decreasing trends in annual maximum flow in the Patagonian Andes were identified. Base on at‐site characteristics and at‐site statistics, a homogeneous region of 12 stations with a record period of 568 years was formed. General extreme value was the most appropriate distribution for this homogeneous study region. Estimation accuracy using Monte Carlo simulations was performed. The error bounds were set at 90%, the mean square error was 9.23%, and the relative bias was 1.6%. The regional method performed better than the at‐site estimation.     

阿根廷圣豪尔赫盆地油气成藏特征及有利区预测

圣豪尔赫盆地是阿根廷重要的产油气盆地之一,其演化经历了4个阶段,形成三叠纪—早白垩世裂谷和早白垩世—新生代坳陷双层结构。从区域构造沉积演化入手,结合最新钻井资料,对盆地油气成藏特征及控制因素分析后指出,烃源岩主要为上侏罗统—下白垩统Neocomian群和下白垩统D-129组湖相页岩;主要储层为白垩系Chubut群砂岩;Chubut群内的湖相泥页岩构成最重要的盖层;断、拗以及安第斯造山运动形成了丰富的圈闭类型。成熟烃源岩的分布与断裂体系控制油气的富集;河流相砂体控制油气藏规模;油气主要围绕盆地中心呈环带状分布。在此基础上,预测了白垩系Chubut群上部砂岩、白垩系D-129组与上侏罗统—下白垩统Neocomian群的勘探有利区。     

Problems of implementing a large contract abroad: the Cordoba nuclear power station

The building of Argentina's second nuclear power station proved to be a true test of project-management skills: the contract was to be a joint effort between an Italian and a Canadian company, to be implemented in a country thousands of miles away; the Argentinian government changed four times during the course of the project; and the local currency was always unstable and unpredictable. The various difficulties that arose, and how they were solved, are described, and the role of the project management is evaluated.     

Mother-child emotional availability in ecological perspective: Three countries, two regions, two genders.

This study used a cross-national framework to examine country, region, and gender differences in emotional availability (EA), a prominent index of mutual socioemotional adaptation in the parent-child dyad. Altogether 220 Argentine, Italian, and U.S. mothers and their daughters and sons from both rural and metropolitan areas took part in home observations when the children were 20 months old. In terms of country, Italian mothers were more sensitive and optimally structuring, and Italian children were more responsive and involving, than Argentine and U.S. dyads. In terms of region, rural mothers were more intrusive than metropolitan mothers, and boys from metropolitan areas were more responsive than boys from rural areas. In terms of gender, mothers of girls were more sensitive and optimally structuring than mothers of boys, and daughters were more responsive and involving than sons. Understanding how country, region, and gender influence EA exposes forces that shape child development, parent-infant interaction, and family systems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Appraisal and optimization of agricultural water use in large irrigation schemes: II. Applications

In this paper, the theoretical approach presented in Part I is demonstrated by means of case studies on the irrigation schemes of Rio Mendoza and Rio Tunuyán in the Province of Mendoza, Argentina. The object of the case studies was the determination of optimal allocation of surface water to reduce the use of groundwater. Current and optimal conjunctive allocation of ground and surface water is studied by means of the developed simulation and optimization models.The second case study was designed on the basis of the experience gathered during the first one: each step of the case studies is compared. The comparison between the two case studies illustrates how to apply the proposed approach when the amount and quality of available data are different. For the more detailed Rio Tunuyán study, we determined the following physical characteristics of all terminal nodes: on-farm rotational intervals, mean water application depth, actual soil water storage capacity, crop water requirements, depth of groundwater table, aquifer transmissivity, and efficiency of groundwater use.The performance of the entire system is sensitive to changes in the water application depth, as it was shown by a simulation study.The application of our optimization approach to the conjunctive use of ground- and surface water showed that the total water requirements over a year can be met by a reassignment of water that reduces the total costs of a great amount.     

Psychotherapy in Argentina: Theoretical orientation and clinical practice.

This article focuses on the relationship between theoretical orientation and clinical practice in Argentina. Five hundred twenty-five psychotherapists were surveyed in the city of Buenos Aires and the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, La Pampa, Neuquén, Chubut, and Rio Negro. Psychoanalysis was chosen by 53.1% of the psychotherapists as the main theory used in their clinical practice. Integrationists made up 39.8% of the sample and represented the 2nd most important group. Within the integrationist group, psychoanalysis was mentioned by 63.2% as the main or base theory, followed by 12.9% mentioning cognitive theory. A longitudinal analysis shows how the trend toward integration of the different theories has grown over the years. These results reveal the importance of psychoanalysis and the trend toward integration within clinical practice in Argentina. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)