Un modo de resistir al biopoder: El lugar de la parrhesia en las reflexiones ético políticas de Michel Focault

La propuesta del presente artículo versa sobre la posibilidad de pensar la importancia del vínculo entre los conceptos de libertad y parrhesia dentro del proyecto filosófico de Michel Foucault. Para llevar a cabo esta tarea vamos a mostrar, por un lado, de qué manera emerge el problema de la libertad en los escritos foucaultianos. Estudiaremos que el giro suscitado entre el primero y el segundo momento del proyecto del filósofo plantea una vía que, a la vez que resuelve ciertas tensiones de los primeros análisis de la noción de poder, también abre un espacio de inteligibilidad para pensar de otra manera el vínculo entre libertad y poder. Asimismo, mostraremos en qué medida la noción de parrhesia abre un espacio para trabajar el problema de la libertad y su vínculo con la ética y la política.  Finalmente, la propuesta consiste en bosquejar cómo el concepto de la parrhesia, en los términos de un decir franco, emerge como un ejercicio de resistencia al biopoder.Palabras claves: Bipolítica, Poder, Libertad, Parrhesia, Sujeto.Abstract:This text’s proposal deals with the possibility to examine the relevance of the link between the concepts of freedom and parrhesia in Michel Foucault’s philosophical project. In order to do so, we intend to demonstrate, on the one hand, how the problem of freedom emerges in Foucault’s writings. Then we will study how the passage from the first to the second moment in Foucault’s project opens a path that, besides resolving certain tensions resulting from his earlier analysis of the notion of power, provides a space of intelligibility to rethink the link between freedom and power. On the other hand, we can also examine in what measure does the notion of parrhesia open a space to deal with the problem of freedom and its link to ethics and politics. Finally, our proposal attempts to outline how the concept of parrhesia, in the terms of an honest use of language, emerges as an exercise of resistance against bio-power. Keywords: Biopolitics-Power-Freedom-Parrhesia-Subject </p

Ontología y democracia en Baruch Spinoza

En sus escritos políticos, Baruch Spinoza afirma que la democracia es el mejor modo de gobierno posible. Ahora bien, esta afirmación puede ser comprendida desde dos lecturas diferentes. Por un lado, dentro de la clásica teoría del contrato, en donde Spinoza se limitaría a proponer una teoría sobre el mejor modo de gobierno posible. Pero, por otro lado, es posible acercarnos de otra manera a sus textos políticos, y considerar un vocabulario político en Spinoza que se encontraría desbordado por su propia ontología y no ya dentro de la tradicional teoría del contrato. En ese sentido, nos interesa pensar ¿qué papel le cabe a la democracia en el marco de la ontología inmanente de Spinoza?  Palabras claves: Ontología, Democracia, Política y ÉticaAbstract:This article will analyze the importance of the concept of democracy within the writings of Baruch Spinoza. In order to do so, this concept will be examined from two different perspectives. On one hand, this concept will be studied within the classical contract theory. On the other hand, a review will be made in regards to how Spinoza shows democracy as an onthological problem in his writings. This article aims to characterize the importance that onthology plays in his political thoughts. Its main hypothesis is that one can find an original way of thinking about democracy within the analysis of the relationship between ethics and politics.Keywords: Ontology, Democracy, Politics, Ethics.</p

Influence of climatic variables on crown condition in pine forests of Northern Spain

Producción CientíficaThe aim of this study was to find relationships between crown condition and some climatic parameters to identify which are those having a main influence on crown condition, and how this influence is shown in the tree (crown transparency), and to contribute to the understanding of how these parameters will affect under future climate change scenarios

Mitogen- and Stress-Activated Kinase 1 (MSK1) Regulates Cigarette Smoke-Induced Histone Modifications on NF-κB-dependent Genes

Cigarette smoke (CS) causes sustained lung inflammation, which is an important event in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We have previously reported that IKKα (I kappaB kinase alpha) plays a key role in CS-induced pro-inflammatory gene transcription by chromatin modifications; however, the underlying role of downstream signaling kinase is not known. Mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1 (MSK1) serves as a specific downstream NF-κB RelA/p65 kinase, mediating transcriptional activation of NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory genes. The role of MSK1 in nuclear signaling and chromatin modifications is not known, particularly in response to environmental stimuli. We hypothesized that MSK1 regulates chromatin modifications of pro-inflammatory gene promoters in response to CS. Here, we report that CS extract activates MSK1 in human lung epithelial (H292 and BEAS-2B) cell lines, human primary small airway epithelial cells (SAEC), and in mouse lung, resulting in phosphorylation of nuclear MSK1 (Thr581), phospho-acetylation of RelA/p65 at Ser276 and Lys310 respectively. This event was associated with phospho-acetylation of histone H3 (Ser10/Lys9) and acetylation of histone H4 (Lys12). MSK1 N- and C-terminal kinase-dead mutants, MSK1 siRNA-mediated knock-down in transiently transfected H292 cells, and MSK1 stable knock-down mouse embryonic fibroblasts significantly reduced CS extract-induced MSK1, NF-κB RelA/p65 activation, and posttranslational modifications of histones. CS extract/CS promotes the direct interaction of MSK1 with RelA/p65 and p300 in epithelial cells and in mouse lung. Furthermore, CS-mediated recruitment of MSK1 and its substrates to the promoters of NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory genes leads to transcriptional activation, as determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Thus, MSK1 is an important downstream kinase involved in CS-induced NF-κB activation and chromatin modifications, which have implications in pathogenesis of COPD

Minimising Mortality in Endangered Raptors Due to Power Lines: The Importance of Spatial Aggregation to Optimize the Application of Mitigation Measures

Electrocution by power lines is one of the main causes of non-natural mortality in birds of prey. In an area in central Spain, we surveyed 6304 pylons from 333 power lines to determine electrocution rates, environmental and design factors that may influence electrocution and the efficacy of mitigation measures used to minimise electrocution cases. A total of 952 electrocuted raptors, representing 14 different species, were observed. Electrocuted raptors were concentrated in certain areas and the environmental factors associated with increased electrocution events were: greater numbers of prey animals; greater vegetation cover; and shorter distance to roads. The structural elements associated with electrocutions were shorter strings of insulators, one or more phases over the crossarm, cross-shaped design and pylon function. Of the 952 carcasses found, 148 were eagles, including golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) and Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata). Electrocuted eagles were clustered in smaller areas than other electrocuted raptors. The factors associated with increased eagle electrocution events were: pylons function, shorter strings of insulators, higher slopes surrounding the pylon, and more numerous potential prey animals. Pylons with increased string of insulators had lower raptor electrocution rates than unimproved pylons, although this technique was unsuccessful for eagles. Pylons with cable insulation showed higher electrocution rates than unimproved pylons, both for raptors and eagles, despite this is the most widely used and recommended mitigation measure in several countries. To optimize the application of mitigation measures, our results recommend the substitution of pin-type insulators to suspended ones and elongating the strings of insulators

High-Content, High-Throughput Analysis of Cell Cycle Perturbations Induced by the HSP90 Inhibitor XL888

BACKGROUND: Many proteins that are dysregulated or mutated in cancer cells rely on the molecular chaperone HSP90 for their proper folding and activity, which has led to considerable interest in HSP90 as a cancer drug target. The diverse array of HSP90 client proteins encompasses oncogenic drivers, cell cycle components, and a variety of regulatory factors, so inhibition of HSP90 perturbs multiple cellular processes, including mitogenic signaling and cell cycle control. Although many reports have investigated HSP90 inhibition in the context of the cell cycle, no large-scale studies have examined potential correlations between cell genotype and the cell cycle phenotypes of HSP90 inhibition. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To address this question, we developed a novel high-content, high-throughput cell cycle assay and profiled the effects of two distinct small molecule HSP90 inhibitors (XL888 and 17-AAG [17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin]) in a large, genetically diverse panel of cancer cell lines. The cell cycle phenotypes of both inhibitors were strikingly similar and fell into three classes: accumulation in M-phase, G2-phase, or G1-phase. Accumulation in M-phase was the most prominent phenotype and notably, was also correlated with TP53 mutant status. We additionally observed unexpected complexity in the response of the cell cycle-associated client PLK1 to HSP90 inhibition, and we suggest that inhibitor-induced PLK1 depletion may contribute to the striking metaphase arrest phenotype seen in many of the M-arrested cell lines. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our analysis of the cell cycle phenotypes induced by HSP90 inhibition in 25 cancer cell lines revealed that the phenotypic response was highly dependent on cellular genotype as well as on the concentration of HSP90 inhibitor and the time of treatment. M-phase arrest correlated with the presence of TP53 mutations, while G2 or G1 arrest was more commonly seen in cells bearing wt TP53. We draw upon previous literature to suggest an integrated model that accounts for these varying observations