Reflexiones de estudiantes universitarios, docentes de Agroecología (U.N.Cuyo) y agentes de extensión del INTA en prácticas de intervención socioproductivas en las zonas de Luján de Cuyo y Valle de Uco, Mendoza

En el marco de la asignatura Agroecología y Ambientes Rurales de la carrera en Ingeniería en Recursos Naturales Renovables (FCA- UNCuyo), se han realizado durante 10 años académicos consecutivos, dos actividades consistentes en visitar a diferentes tipos sociales agrarios ubicados en Luján de Cuyo y el Valle de Uco. En las nombradas actividades, los estudiantes realizan una visita extendida a productores que integran diferentes cadenas productivas, con el objetivo de caracterizar el ecosistema, sociosistema y tecnosistema en cada caso, además de diferenciar manejos convencionales y agroecológicos. Con la información recabada y reflexionada, los estudiantes realizan un trabajo integrador, con carácter de condición obligatoria para rendir el examen final de la asignatura, que rescata una problemática detectada y propone una solución socio tecnológica con base agroecológica, ajustada a las características de tipo social agrario abordado. El nombrado material queda a disposición de los actores involucrados para ser utilizado como una herramienta de comprensión de la dinámica socio-productiva y territorial. En el presente relato realizamos una breve síntesis sobre las experiencias de cada visita a campo y se presentan las reflexiones de los actores involucrados acerca de esta experiencia.In the framework of agroecology and rural environments race course in Engineering in Renewable Natural Resources (FCA UNCuyo) were performed for 10 consecutive school years, two consistent activities visit different agricultural social types are located in Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley. In the named activities, students made an extended visit to producers that integrate different production chains, in order to characterize the ecosystem, sociosistema and Technosystem in each case, in addition to conventional agro differentiate and handling. With the information gathered and reflected, students take an integrative work, as an obligatory condition to take the final exam of the subject, who rescues a detected problem and proposes a solution partner agroecologically technological basis and adjusted to the characteristics of a social nature agricultural addressed. The named material is available to the actors involved to be used as a tool for understanding the socio-productive and territorial dynamics. In this story is a brief summary of experiences of each field visit and reflections of stakeholders about this experience are presented.Eje: A2: Paisajes, Territorios y AgroecologíaFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Reflexiones de estudiantes universitarios, docentes de Agroecología (U.N.Cuyo) y agentes de extensión del INTA en prácticas de intervención socioproductivas en las zonas de Luján de Cuyo y Valle de Uco, Mendoza

En el marco de la asignatura Agroecología y Ambientes Rurales de la carrera en Ingeniería en Recursos Naturales Renovables (FCA- UNCuyo), se han realizado durante 10 años académicos consecutivos, dos actividades consistentes en visitar a diferentes tipos sociales agrarios ubicados en Luján de Cuyo y el Valle de Uco. En las nombradas actividades, los estudiantes realizan una visita extendida a productores que integran diferentes cadenas productivas, con el objetivo de caracterizar el ecosistema, sociosistema y tecnosistema en cada caso, además de diferenciar manejos convencionales y agroecológicos. Con la información recabada y reflexionada, los estudiantes realizan un trabajo integrador, con carácter de condición obligatoria para rendir el examen final de la asignatura, que rescata una problemática detectada y propone una solución socio tecnológica con base agroecológica, ajustada a las características de tipo social agrario abordado. El nombrado material queda a disposición de los actores involucrados para ser utilizado como una herramienta de comprensión de la dinámica socio-productiva y territorial. En el presente relato realizamos una breve síntesis sobre las experiencias de cada visita a campo y se presentan las reflexiones de los actores involucrados acerca de esta experiencia.In the framework of agroecology and rural environments race course in Engineering in Renewable Natural Resources (FCA UNCuyo) were performed for 10 consecutive school years, two consistent activities visit different agricultural social types are located in Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley. In the named activities, students made an extended visit to producers that integrate different production chains, in order to characterize the ecosystem, sociosistema and Technosystem in each case, in addition to conventional agro differentiate and handling. With the information gathered and reflected, students take an integrative work, as an obligatory condition to take the final exam of the subject, who rescues a detected problem and proposes a solution partner agroecologically technological basis and adjusted to the characteristics of a social nature agricultural addressed. The named material is available to the actors involved to be used as a tool for understanding the socio-productive and territorial dynamics. In this story is a brief summary of experiences of each field visit and reflections of stakeholders about this experience are presented.Eje: A2: Paisajes, Territorios y AgroecologíaFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Reflexiones de estudiantes universitarios, docentes de Agroecología (U.N.Cuyo) y agentes de extensión del INTA en prácticas de intervención socioproductivas en las zonas de Luján de Cuyo y Valle de Uco, Mendoza

En el marco de la asignatura Agroecología y Ambientes Rurales de la carrera en Ingeniería en Recursos Naturales Renovables (FCA- UNCuyo), se han realizado durante 10 años académicos consecutivos, dos actividades consistentes en visitar a diferentes tipos sociales agrarios ubicados en Luján de Cuyo y el Valle de Uco. En las nombradas actividades, los estudiantes realizan una visita extendida a productores que integran diferentes cadenas productivas, con el objetivo de caracterizar el ecosistema, sociosistema y tecnosistema en cada caso, además de diferenciar manejos convencionales y agroecológicos. Con la información recabada y reflexionada, los estudiantes realizan un trabajo integrador, con carácter de condición obligatoria para rendir el examen final de la asignatura, que rescata una problemática detectada y propone una solución socio tecnológica con base agroecológica, ajustada a las características de tipo social agrario abordado. El nombrado material queda a disposición de los actores involucrados para ser utilizado como una herramienta de comprensión de la dinámica socio-productiva y territorial. En el presente relato realizamos una breve síntesis sobre las experiencias de cada visita a campo y se presentan las reflexiones de los actores involucrados acerca de esta experiencia.In the framework of agroecology and rural environments race course in Engineering in Renewable Natural Resources (FCA UNCuyo) were performed for 10 consecutive school years, two consistent activities visit different agricultural social types are located in Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley. In the named activities, students made an extended visit to producers that integrate different production chains, in order to characterize the ecosystem, sociosistema and Technosystem in each case, in addition to conventional agro differentiate and handling. With the information gathered and reflected, students take an integrative work, as an obligatory condition to take the final exam of the subject, who rescues a detected problem and proposes a solution partner agroecologically technological basis and adjusted to the characteristics of a social nature agricultural addressed. The named material is available to the actors involved to be used as a tool for understanding the socio-productive and territorial dynamics. In this story is a brief summary of experiences of each field visit and reflections of stakeholders about this experience are presented.Eje: A2: Paisajes, Territorios y AgroecologíaFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Sustentabilidad vitivinícola para diferentes tipos de agricultores vitivinícolas

Un Desarrollo Rural Sustentable requiere de sistemas agrícolas sustentables, que sean ecológicamente adecuados, económicamente viables y socio culturalmente aceptables Abbona et al, (2004). Sarandon, (2010), define la agricultura sustentable como aquella que es: suficientemente productiva, económicamente viable, ecológicamente adecuada y cultural y socialmente aceptable. En el contexto de cambio de la vitivinicultura, se hace necesario conocer la sustentabilidad de los mismos. En este caso se usó la tipología que propuesta por Martín, (2009) que plantea tres tipos sociales: productores descapitalizados pluriactivos, productores familiares capitalizados y empresarios. El objetivo de este trabajo fue: analizar, mediante el método propuesto por Sarandón (2002) y el uso de indicadores, la sustentabilidad predial de tres modelos productivos vitivinícolas: productores descapitalizados pluriactivos, productores familiares capitalizados y empresarios, de la 1º zona de Mendoza. La propuesta de metodológica estuvo basada en la metodología de Sarandón (2002) y estaba propuesto realizar tres etapas, de 2 años cada una. En una primera etapa se desarrollaron dos acciones. Lo primero fué buscar y analizar antecedentes e información regional sobre el tema y la segunda acción fue buscar y seleccionar 2 fincas del departamento de Lujan de Cuyo que fueran representativas, para cada tipo social, factibilidad de acceso y predisposición de los agricultores. En una segunda etapa se caracterizaría, a través del enfoque sistémico, el funcionamiento de los agroecosistemas en tres dimensiones: ambiental-ecológica, tecnológica, y socioeconómica. Y en una tercera etapa: se construirán indicadores para evaluar la sustentabilidad de los sistemas agrícolas, Se logró la primera etapa y se pudo: conceptualizar y profundizar el concepto de sustentabilidad integral y su aplicación en la agronomía, proponer variables con potencial de indicadores de sustentabilidad y seleccionar las fincas.A Sustainable Rural Development requires sustainable agricultural systems that are environmentally suitable, economically viable and culturally acceptable (Abbona et al, 2004). Sarandon (2010) defines sustainable agriculture as one that is: productive enough, affordable, ecologically appropriate and culturally and socially acceptable. In the context of the viticulture changes, it is necessary to study their sustainability. In this case we take the typology proposed by Martin, 2009 that summarizes it in three social types: pluriactive undercapitalized producers, family farmers and entrepreneurs capitalized. The objective of this work was to analyze, through the method proposed by Sarandón (2002) and the use of indicators, the property sustainability of three vitivinícolas production models: pluriactively de-capitalized producers, capitalized family producers and entrepreneurs, from the first zone of Mendoza. The methodological proposal was based on the methodology of Sarandon (2002) and was proposed to perform three stages, each of 2 years. In the first stage two actions were developed. The first was to seek and analyze regional background and information on the subject; And the second action was to search and select 2 farms in the department of Lujan de Cuyo that were representative for each social type, feasibility of access and predisposition of farmers. In a second stage, the systemic approach would characterize the functioning of agroecosystems in three dimensions: environmental-ecological, technological, and socioeconomic. And in a third stage: indicators will be constructed to evaluate the sustainability of agricultural systems, The first stage was achieved and it was possible to: conceptualize and deepen the concept of integral sustainability and its application in agronomy, propose variables with potential for sustainability indicators and successful selection of farms.Trabajo publicado en Filippini, María Flavia (comp.). Congreso Internacional Aguas, Ambiente y Energía de la Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevideo: Resúmenes de trabajos. Mendoza: Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 2017.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Sustentabilidad vitivinícola para diferentes tipos de agricultores vitivinícolas

Un Desarrollo Rural Sustentable requiere de sistemas agrícolas sustentables, que sean ecológicamente adecuados, económicamente viables y socio culturalmente aceptables Abbona et al, (2004). Sarandon, (2010), define la agricultura sustentable como aquella que es: suficientemente productiva, económicamente viable, ecológicamente adecuada y cultural y socialmente aceptable. En el contexto de cambio de la vitivinicultura, se hace necesario conocer la sustentabilidad de los mismos. En este caso se usó la tipología que propuesta por Martín, (2009) que plantea tres tipos sociales: productores descapitalizados pluriactivos, productores familiares capitalizados y empresarios. El objetivo de este trabajo fue: analizar, mediante el método propuesto por Sarandón (2002) y el uso de indicadores, la sustentabilidad predial de tres modelos productivos vitivinícolas: productores descapitalizados pluriactivos, productores familiares capitalizados y empresarios, de la 1º zona de Mendoza. La propuesta de metodológica estuvo basada en la metodología de Sarandón (2002) y estaba propuesto realizar tres etapas, de 2 años cada una. En una primera etapa se desarrollaron dos acciones. Lo primero fué buscar y analizar antecedentes e información regional sobre el tema y la segunda acción fue buscar y seleccionar 2 fincas del departamento de Lujan de Cuyo que fueran representativas, para cada tipo social, factibilidad de acceso y predisposición de los agricultores. En una segunda etapa se caracterizaría, a través del enfoque sistémico, el funcionamiento de los agroecosistemas en tres dimensiones: ambiental-ecológica, tecnológica, y socioeconómica. Y en una tercera etapa: se construirán indicadores para evaluar la sustentabilidad de los sistemas agrícolas, Se logró la primera etapa y se pudo: conceptualizar y profundizar el concepto de sustentabilidad integral y su aplicación en la agronomía, proponer variables con potencial de indicadores de sustentabilidad y seleccionar las fincas.A Sustainable Rural Development requires sustainable agricultural systems that are environmentally suitable, economically viable and culturally acceptable (Abbona et al, 2004). Sarandon (2010) defines sustainable agriculture as one that is: productive enough, affordable, ecologically appropriate and culturally and socially acceptable. In the context of the viticulture changes, it is necessary to study their sustainability. In this case we take the typology proposed by Martin, 2009 that summarizes it in three social types: pluriactive undercapitalized producers, family farmers and entrepreneurs capitalized. The objective of this work was to analyze, through the method proposed by Sarandón (2002) and the use of indicators, the property sustainability of three vitivinícolas production models: pluriactively de-capitalized producers, capitalized family producers and entrepreneurs, from the first zone of Mendoza. The methodological proposal was based on the methodology of Sarandon (2002) and was proposed to perform three stages, each of 2 years. In the first stage two actions were developed. The first was to seek and analyze regional background and information on the subject; And the second action was to search and select 2 farms in the department of Lujan de Cuyo that were representative for each social type, feasibility of access and predisposition of farmers. In a second stage, the systemic approach would characterize the functioning of agroecosystems in three dimensions: environmental-ecological, technological, and socioeconomic. And in a third stage: indicators will be constructed to evaluate the sustainability of agricultural systems, The first stage was achieved and it was possible to: conceptualize and deepen the concept of integral sustainability and its application in agronomy, propose variables with potential for sustainability indicators and successful selection of farms.Trabajo publicado en Filippini, María Flavia (comp.). Congreso Internacional Aguas, Ambiente y Energía de la Asociación de Universidades Grupo Montevideo: Resúmenes de trabajos. Mendoza: Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 2017.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Genome-wide expression analyses of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC11168 reveals coordinate regulation of motility and virulence by flhA.

We examined two variants of the genome-sequenced strain, Campylobacter jejuni NCTC11168, which show marked differences in their virulence properties including colonization of poultry, invasion of Caco-2 cells, and motility. Transcript profiles obtained from whole genome DNA microarrays and proteome analyses demonstrated that these differences are reflected in late flagellar structural components and in virulence factors including those involved in flagellar glycosylation and cytolethal distending toxin production. We identified putative sigma(28) and sigma(54) promoters for many of the affected genes and found that greater differences in expression were observed for sigma(28)-controlled genes. Inactivation of the gene encoding sigma(28), fliA, resulted in an unexpected increase in transcripts with sigma(54) promoters, as well as decreased transcription of sigma(28)-regulated genes. This was unlike the transcription profile observed for the attenuated C. jejuni variant, suggesting that the reduced virulence of this organism was not entirely due to impaired function of sigma(28). However, inactivation of flhA, an important component of the flagellar export apparatus, resulted in expression patterns similar to that of the attenuated variant. These findings indicate that the flagellar regulatory system plays an important role in campylobacter pathogenesis and that flhA is a key element involved in the coordinate regulation of late flagellar genes and of virulence factors in C. jejuni

Regulating and Deregulating the Public Utilities 1830-2010

History can provide invaluable insights into important issues of the economic and social regulation of utilities, and offer lessons towards future debates. But the history of utility regulation – which speaks of changing, diverse and complex experiences around the world – was, unfortunately, sidelined or marginalised when economists and policymakers enthusiastically embraced the question of how to reform the utilities from the 1970s. This paper provides an overview of the three, overarching, `waves' of utility regulation from the nineteenth century to the present, documenting how, when and why the ways in which the roles of the state, the market and firms altered over time. It then contextualises and explains the main contributions of each of the papers included in this special issue of Business History, which cover energy, communications, water, transportation and other urban infrastructure regulation, across Western Europe, the United States and Australia

Protein Isoaspartate Methyltransferase Prevents Apoptosis Induced by Oxidative Stress in Endothelial Cells: Role of Bcl-Xl Deamidation and Methylation

BACKGROUND:Natural proteins undergo in vivo spontaneous post-biosynthetic deamidation of specific asparagine residues with isoaspartyl formation. Deamidated-isomerized molecules are both structurally and functionally altered. The enzyme isoaspartyl protein carboxyl-O-methyltransferase (PCMT; EC 2.1.1.77) has peculiar substrate specificity towards these deamidated proteins. It catalyzes methyl esterification of the free alpha-carboxyl group at the isoaspartyl site, thus initiating the repair of these abnormal proteins through the conversion of the isopeptide bond into a normal alpha-peptide bond. Deamidation occurs slowly during cellular and molecular aging, being accelerated by physical-chemical stresses brought to the living cells. Previous evidence supports a role of protein deamidation in the acquisition of susceptibility to apoptosis. Aim of this work was to shed a light on the role of PCMT in apoptosis clarifying the relevant mechanism(s). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Endothelial cells transiently transfected with various constructs of PCMT, i.e. overexpressing wild type PCMT or negative dominants, were used to investigate the role of protein methylation during apoptosis induced by oxidative stress (H(2)O(2); 0.1-0.5 mM range). Results show that A) Cells overexpressing "wild type" human PCMT were resistant to apoptosis, whereas overexpression of antisense PCMT induces high sensitivity to apoptosis even at low H(2)O(2) concentrations. B) PCMT protective effect is specifically due to its methyltransferase activity rather than to any other non-enzymatic interactions. In fact negative dominants, overexpressing PCMT mutants devoid of catalytic activity do not prevent apoptosis. C) Cells transfected with antisense PCMT, or overexpressing a PCMT mutant, accumulate isoaspartyl-containing damaged proteins upon H(2)O(2) treatment. Proteomics allowed the identification of proteins, which are both PCMT substrates and apoptosis effectors, whose deamidation occurs under oxidative stress conditions leading to programmed cell death. These proteins, including Hsp70, Hsp90, actin, and Bcl-xL, are recognized and methylated by PCMT, according to the general repair mechanism of this methyltransferase. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE:Apoptosis can be modulated by "on/off" switch partitioning the amount of specific protein effectors, which are either in their active (native) or inactive (deamidated) molecular forms. Deamidated proteins can also be functionally restored through methylation. Bcl-xL provides a case for the role of PCMT in the maintenance of functional stability of this antiapoptotic protein

Shewanella knowledgebase: integration of the experimental data and computational predictions suggests a biological role for transcription of intergenic regions

Shewanellae are facultative γ-proteobacteria whose remarkable respiratory versatility has resulted in interest in their utility for bioremediation of heavy metals and radionuclides and for energy generation in microbial fuel cells. Extensive experimental efforts over the last several years and the availability of 21 sequenced Shewanella genomes made it possible to collect and integrate a wealth of information on the genus into one public resource providing new avenues for making biological discoveries and for developing a system level understanding of the cellular processes. The Shewanella knowledgebase was established in 2005 to provide a framework for integrated genome-based studies on Shewanella ecophysiology. The present version of the knowledgebase provides access to a diverse set of experimental and genomic data along with tools for curation of genome annotations and visualization and integration of genomic data with experimental data. As a demonstration of the utility of this resource, we examined a single microarray data set from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 for new insights into regulatory processes. The integrated analysis of the data predicted a new type of bacterial transcriptional regulation involving co-transcription of the intergenic region with the downstream gene and suggested a biological role for co-transcription that likely prevents the binding of a regulator of the upstream gene to the regulator binding site located in the intergenic region