Ecolux Communities

Seven years, 103 days, 40 minutes and 17 seconds... On September 17, 2020, Artists Gan Golan and Andrew Boyd displayed a clock in Manhattan Square. This clock, however, displayed exactly how long we have until an irreversible climate disaster occurs, not regular time. Unless greenhouse gases are significantly reduced, the time we have before something like this occurs is limited. It is very easy to see the repercussions of our actions already happening. Many areas of the planet have already seen the 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit average above pre-industrial levels. The consequences of this, are also showing. Storms are increasingly getting worse, droughts are getting longer and heatwaves are getting more extreme. The planet is getting sick and we are feeling the effects, but we can also help heal it. The path to a healthier and more sustainable way of living can be paved by architects of today. Currently, buildings generate, on average, 40% of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The incorporation of new construction techniques, building materials and technologies could significantly help reduce that average. Sustainable design is a necessity in this endeavor and should immediately be incorporated into all types of design whether it be residential, commercial, or industrial. This thesis project will focus mainly on how to incorporate sustainable design into smaller communities. A proposed self-sufficient neighborhood will convey how altering our lifestyles can not only help improve the life of the planet, but also the physical and emotional well-being of humans as well. The community will focus on finding the balance between modern technology and traditional living methods to create a healthy, comfortable and unique environment where individuals and families can thrive

Depression in Cancer: the many biobehavioural pathways driving tumor progression

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is common among cancer patients, with prevalence rates up to four-times higher than the general population. Depression confers worse outcomes, including non-adherence to treatment and increased mortality in the oncology setting. Advances in the understanding of neurobiological underpinnings of depression have revealed shared biobehavioral mechanisms may contribute to cancer progression. Moreover, psychosocial stressors in cancer promote: (1) inflammation and oxidative/nitrosative stress; (2) a decreased immunosurveillance; and (3) a dysfunctional activation of the autonomic nervous system and of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Consequently, the prompt recognition of depression among patients with cancer who may benefit of treatment strategies targeting depressive symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, fatigue and sleep disturbances, is a public health priority. Moreover, behavioral strategies aiming at reducing psychological distress and depressive symptoms, including addressing unhealthy diet and life-style choices, as well as physical inactivity and sleep dysfunction, may represent important strategies not only to treat depression, but also to improve wider cancer-related outcomes. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the intertwined biobehavioural pathways linking depression to cancer progression. In addition, the clinical implications of these findings are critically reviewed