A tipping point for agricultural expansion? Technological changes and capital accumulation in Argentina's rural sector

Drawing upon a case study located in central Argentina, we analyse in what ways technology is contributing to the accumulation of capital in a context where prevailing strategies resting on farm-scale extension are no longer effective. We identify two major technological phases that go along with changes in actors' strategies aiming at re-establishing expanded capital accumulation. These phases allow a better understanding of the mediating role of technology between capital accumulation and the appropriation of nature. In a context of increasing depletion of agro-ecological conditions, the call for a new wave of innovations can be seen as an attempt to restore that mediating role. As we suggest, this entails broader changes in multiple levels.Fil: Caceres, Daniel Mario. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Gras, Carla Sylvina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Altos Estudios Sociales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Sodium tungstate modulates ATM function upon DNA damage

[EN] Both radiotherapy and most effective chemotherapeutic agents induce different types of DNA damage. Here we show that tungstate modulates cell response to DNA damaging agents. Cells treated with tungstate were more sensitive to etoposide, phleomycin and ionizing radiation (IR), all of which induce DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Tungstate also modulated the activation of the central DSB signalling kinase, ATM, in response to these agents. These effects required the functionality of the Mre11-Nbs1-Rad50 (MRN) complex and were mimicked by the inhibition of PP2A phosphatase. Therefore, tungstate may have adjuvant activity when combined with DNA-damaging agents in the treatment of several malignancies. (C) 2013 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.Rodríguez Hernández, CJ.; Llorens Agost, M.; Calbó, J.; Murguía, JR.; Guinovart, J. (2013). Sodium tungstate modulates ATM function upon DNA damage. FEBS Letters. 587(10):1579-1586. doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2013.04.003S157915865871

Managing the ship movements in the Port of Venice

The new mobile gates at the inlets of the Venice lagoon and the new previous environmental laws issued in response of the Costa Concordia wreckage in 2012 have forced the Port Authority of Venice to rethink the harbor activities. In this paper, we tackle the Port Scheduling Problem that the Port Authority faces in scheduling both ships' and tugs' movements within its canal harbor in this new context. We introduce the problem, explain which data it needs, and provide the description of an original heuristic algorithm for its solution. Finally, we present some practical applications