Invernadero adosado: tecnología solar para acondicionamiento térmico de viviendas y obtención de hortalizas y forrajes en comunidades de bajos recursos

Se presenta el estudio realizado respecto de la incorporación de tecnología solar (invernaderos adosados) con el fin de mejorar la calidad de vida de la población carenciada de la periferia de las ciudades; a través de alimentación equilibrada, mejores condiciones térmicas, y también mejorando su capacidad económica. Se ha pensado en la posibilidad de construir invernaderos adosados a las viviendas para cultivo de especies vegetales, hortalizas, aromáticas para infusiones y eventualmente forraje para animales de granja. Para evaluar el comportamiento de la propuesta, se ha construido un invernadero contiguo al dormitorio de una vivienda en el Barrio "Pappa", Mendoza, Argentina. La temperatura promedio del local estudiado sin la incorporación del invernadero en los días medidos es de 14.6ºC, con el aporte del invernadero adosado el promedio se eleva a 18.3ºC. También se puede observar que las temperaturas más bajas dentro del invernadero están alrededor de 10°C; en promedio 5°C superiores a las del exterior, protegiendo las plantas en crecimiento. Es un ejemplo de las posibilidades que tiene esta tecnología de ser utilizada para su transferencia y de ser adoptada por la gente. Además, sirve de base para otras comunidades de la región que se encuentran en una situación similar y que necesitan una pronta respuesta en este aspecto, contribuyendo además a la generación de una conciencia social ambiental.It is introduced the study of the inclusion of solar technology (through added solar greenhouses) with the objective of improving the quality of life of the precarious population that lives in the periphery of cities, through an equilibrated nourishment, better thermal conditions, and also improving their economical capability. It’s thought about the possibility of building solar greenhouses added to houses for purposes of house heating and growing of vegetables, aromatic herbs for infusions and eventually fodder for farm animals. To evaluate the performance of the proposal, a greenhouse was built contiguous to a bedroom of a house at “Barrio Pappa”, Mendoza, Argentina. The average temperature of the studied room, without the inclusion of the greenhouse is 14.6ºC, with the contribution of the greenhouse the average raises to 18.3º; with the consequent improvement of the living conditions of the inhabitants. It also can be observed that the lowest temperatures inside the greenhouse are of about 10°C; these are in average 5°C higher than the exterior temperatures, protecting the growing plants from freezing. It’s an example of the possibilities that this sustainable technology has for been transfered, used and adopted by people. Moreover, it is useful as a base example for other communities of the region that are in similar situations and where a fast and apropiate answer in this aspect is needed, also contribuiting to the generation of an environmental social conscience.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Invernadero adosado: tecnología solar para acondicionamiento térmico de viviendas y obtención de hortalizas y forrajes en comunidades de bajos recursos

Se presenta el estudio realizado respecto de la incorporación de tecnología solar (invernaderos adosados) con el fin de mejorar la calidad de vida de la población carenciada de la periferia de las ciudades; a través de alimentación equilibrada, mejores condiciones térmicas, y también mejorando su capacidad económica. Se ha pensado en la posibilidad de construir invernaderos adosados a las viviendas para cultivo de especies vegetales, hortalizas, aromáticas para infusiones y eventualmente forraje para animales de granja. Para evaluar el comportamiento de la propuesta, se ha construido un invernadero contiguo al dormitorio de una vivienda en el Barrio "Pappa", Mendoza, Argentina. La temperatura promedio del local estudiado sin la incorporación del invernadero en los días medidos es de 14.6ºC, con el aporte del invernadero adosado el promedio se eleva a 18.3ºC. También se puede observar que las temperaturas más bajas dentro del invernadero están alrededor de 10°C; en promedio 5°C superiores a las del exterior, protegiendo las plantas en crecimiento. Es un ejemplo de las posibilidades que tiene esta tecnología de ser utilizada para su transferencia y de ser adoptada por la gente. Además, sirve de base para otras comunidades de la región que se encuentran en una situación similar y que necesitan una pronta respuesta en este aspecto, contribuyendo además a la generación de una conciencia social ambiental.It is introduced the study of the inclusion of solar technology (through added solar greenhouses) with the objective of improving the quality of life of the precarious population that lives in the periphery of cities, through an equilibrated nourishment, better thermal conditions, and also improving their economical capability. It’s thought about the possibility of building solar greenhouses added to houses for purposes of house heating and growing of vegetables, aromatic herbs for infusions and eventually fodder for farm animals. To evaluate the performance of the proposal, a greenhouse was built contiguous to a bedroom of a house at “Barrio Pappa”, Mendoza, Argentina. The average temperature of the studied room, without the inclusion of the greenhouse is 14.6ºC, with the contribution of the greenhouse the average raises to 18.3º; with the consequent improvement of the living conditions of the inhabitants. It also can be observed that the lowest temperatures inside the greenhouse are of about 10°C; these are in average 5°C higher than the exterior temperatures, protecting the growing plants from freezing. It’s an example of the possibilities that this sustainable technology has for been transfered, used and adopted by people. Moreover, it is useful as a base example for other communities of the region that are in similar situations and where a fast and apropiate answer in this aspect is needed, also contribuiting to the generation of an environmental social conscience.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Invernadero adosado: tecnología solar para acondicionamiento térmico de viviendas y obtención de hortalizas y forrajes en comunidades de bajos recursos

Se presenta el estudio realizado respecto de la incorporación de tecnología solar (invernaderos adosados) con el fin de mejorar la calidad de vida de la población carenciada de la periferia de las ciudades; a través de alimentación equilibrada, mejores condiciones térmicas, y también mejorando su capacidad económica. Se ha pensado en la posibilidad de construir invernaderos adosados a las viviendas para cultivo de especies vegetales, hortalizas, aromáticas para infusiones y eventualmente forraje para animales de granja. Para evaluar el comportamiento de la propuesta, se ha construido un invernadero contiguo al dormitorio de una vivienda en el Barrio "Pappa", Mendoza, Argentina. La temperatura promedio del local estudiado sin la incorporación del invernadero en los días medidos es de 14.6ºC, con el aporte del invernadero adosado el promedio se eleva a 18.3ºC. También se puede observar que las temperaturas más bajas dentro del invernadero están alrededor de 10°C; en promedio 5°C superiores a las del exterior, protegiendo las plantas en crecimiento. Es un ejemplo de las posibilidades que tiene esta tecnología de ser utilizada para su transferencia y de ser adoptada por la gente. Además, sirve de base para otras comunidades de la región que se encuentran en una situación similar y que necesitan una pronta respuesta en este aspecto, contribuyendo además a la generación de una conciencia social ambiental.It is introduced the study of the inclusion of solar technology (through added solar greenhouses) with the objective of improving the quality of life of the precarious population that lives in the periphery of cities, through an equilibrated nourishment, better thermal conditions, and also improving their economical capability. It’s thought about the possibility of building solar greenhouses added to houses for purposes of house heating and growing of vegetables, aromatic herbs for infusions and eventually fodder for farm animals. To evaluate the performance of the proposal, a greenhouse was built contiguous to a bedroom of a house at “Barrio Pappa”, Mendoza, Argentina. The average temperature of the studied room, without the inclusion of the greenhouse is 14.6ºC, with the contribution of the greenhouse the average raises to 18.3º; with the consequent improvement of the living conditions of the inhabitants. It also can be observed that the lowest temperatures inside the greenhouse are of about 10°C; these are in average 5°C higher than the exterior temperatures, protecting the growing plants from freezing. It’s an example of the possibilities that this sustainable technology has for been transfered, used and adopted by people. Moreover, it is useful as a base example for other communities of the region that are in similar situations and where a fast and apropiate answer in this aspect is needed, also contribuiting to the generation of an environmental social conscience.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Identification of a Novel Gammaretrovirus in Prostate Tumors of Patients Homozygous for R462Q RNASEL Variant

Ribonuclease L (RNase L) is an important effector of the innate antiviral response. Mutations or variants that impair function of RNase L, particularly R462Q, have been proposed as susceptibility factors for prostate cancer. Given the role of this gene in viral defense, we sought to explore the possibility that a viral infection might contribute to prostate cancer in individuals harboring the R462Q variant. A viral detection DNA microarray composed of oligonucleotides corresponding to the most conserved sequences of all known viruses identified the presence of gammaretroviral sequences in cDNA samples from seven of 11 R462Q-homozygous (QQ) cases, and in one of eight heterozygous (RQ) and homozygous wild-type (RR) cases. An expanded survey of 86 tumors by specific RT-PCR detected the virus in eight of 20 QQ cases (40%), compared with only one sample (1.5%) among 66 RQ and RR cases. The full-length viral genome was cloned and sequenced independently from three positive QQ cases. The virus, named XMRV, is closely related to xenotropic murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs), but its sequence is clearly distinct from all known members of this group. Comparison of gag and pol sequences from different tumor isolates suggested infection with the same virus in all cases, yet sequence variation was consistent with the infections being independently acquired. Analysis of prostate tissues from XMRV-positive cases by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed that XMRV nucleic acid and protein can be detected in about 1% of stromal cells, predominantly fibroblasts and hematopoietic elements in regions adjacent to the carcinoma. These data provide to our knowledge the first demonstration that xenotropic MuLV-related viruses can produce an authentic human infection, and strongly implicate RNase L activity in the prevention or clearance of infection in vivo. These findings also raise questions about the possible relationship between exogenous infection and cancer development in genetically susceptible individuals

Progressive Telomere Dysfunction Causes Cytokinesis Failure and Leads to the Accumulation of Polyploid Cells

Most cancer cells accumulate genomic abnormalities at a remarkably rapid rate, as they are unable to maintain their chromosome structure and number. Excessively short telomeres, a known source of chromosome instability, are observed in early human-cancer lesions. Besides telomere dysfunction, it has been suggested that a transient phase of polyploidization, in most cases tetraploidization, has a causative role in cancer. Proliferation of tetraploids can gradually generate subtetraploid lineages of unstable cells that might fire the carcinogenic process by promoting further aneuploidy and genomic instability. Given the significance of telomere dysfunction and tetraploidy in the early stages of carcinogenesis, we investigated whether there is a connection between these two important promoters of chromosomal instability. We report that human mammary epithelial cells exhibiting progressive telomere dysfunction, in a pRb deficient and wild-type p53 background, fail to complete the cytoplasmatic cell division due to the persistence of chromatin bridges in the midzone. Flow cytometry together with fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated an accumulation of binucleated polyploid cells upon serial passaging cells. Restoration of telomere function through hTERT transduction, which lessens the formation of anaphase bridges by recapping the chromosome ends, rescued the polyploid phenotype. Live-cell imaging revealed that these polyploid cells emerged after abortive cytokinesis due to the persistence of anaphase bridges with large intervening chromatin in the cleavage plane. In agreement with a primary role of anaphase bridge intermediates in the polyploidization process, treatment of HMEC-hTERT cells with bleomycin, which produces chromatin bridges through illegimitate repair, resulted in tetraploid binucleated cells. Taken together, we demonstrate that human epithelial cells exhibiting physiological telomere dysfunction engender tetraploid cells through interference of anaphase bridges with the completion of cytokinesis. These observations shed light on the mechanisms operating during the initial stages of human carcinogenesis, as they provide a link between progressive telomere dysfunction and tetraploidy

The c-Myc Target Glycoprotein1bα Links Cytokinesis Failure to Oncogenic Signal Transduction Pathways in Cultured Human Cells

An increase in chromosome number, or polyploidization, is associated with a variety of biological changes including breeding of cereal crops and flowers, terminal differentiation of specialized cells such as megakaryocytes, cellular stress and oncogenic transformation. Yet it remains unclear how cells tolerate the major changes in gene expression, chromatin organization and chromosome segregation that invariably accompany polyploidization. We show here that cancer cells can initiate increases in chromosome number by inhibiting cell division through activation of glycoprotein1b alpha (GpIbα), a component of the c-Myc signaling pathway. We are able to recapitulate cytokinesis failure in primary cells by overexpression of GpIbα in a p53-deficient background. GpIbα was found to localize to the cleavage furrow by microscopy analysis and, when overexpressed, to interfere with assembly of the cellular cortical contraction apparatus and normal division. These results indicate that cytokinesis failure and tetraploidy in cancer cells are directly linked to cellular hyperproliferation via c-Myc induced overexpression of GpIbα

Prime movers : mechanochemistry of mitotic kinesins

Mitotic spindles are self-organizing protein machines that harness teams of multiple force generators to drive chromosome segregation. Kinesins are key members of these force-generating teams. Different kinesins walk directionally along dynamic microtubules, anchor, crosslink, align and sort microtubules into polarized bundles, and influence microtubule dynamics by interacting with microtubule tips. The mechanochemical mechanisms of these kinesins are specialized to enable each type to make a specific contribution to spindle self-organization and chromosome segregation

Adenocarcinoma of the caecum metastatic to the bladder: an unusual cause of haematuria

BACKGROUND: Primary malignancies of colorectal origin can metastasise to the bladder. Reports are however extremely rare, particularly from the caecum. CASE REPORT: The report describes the case of a 45-year old male with Duke's B caecal carcinoma treated with a laparoscopically-assisted right hemicolectomy and adjuvant 5-Fluorouracil chemotherapy. Subsequently, a metastatic lesion to the bladder was demonstrated and successfully excised by partial cystectomy. CONCLUSION: In order that optimal therapeutic options can be determined, it is important for clinicians to distinguish between primary disease of the bladder and other causes of haematuria. Various immunohistochemical techniques attempt to differentiate primary adenocarcinoma of the bladder from secondary colorectal adenocarcinoma. Suspicion of metastatic disease must be raised when histologically unusual bladder tumours are identified

KIF2A silencing inhibits the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells and correlates with unfavorable prognosis in breast cancer

Background; Kinesin family member 2a (KIF2A), a type of motor protein found in eukaryotic cells, is associated with development and progression of various human cancers. The role of KIF2A during breast cancer tumorigenesis and progression was studied. Methods; Immunohistochemical staining, real time RT-PCR and western blot were used to examine the expression of KIF2A in cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues from breast cancer patients. Patients’ survival in relation to KIF2A expression was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier survival and multivariate analysis. Breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231 was used to study the proliferation, migration and invasion of cells following KIF2A-siRNA transfection. Results; The expression of KIF2A in cancer tissues was higher than that in normal adjacent tissues from the same patient (P < 0.05). KIF2A expression in cancer tissue with lymph node metastasis and HER2 positive cancer were higher than that in cancer tissue without (P < 0.05). A negative correlation was found between KIF2A expression levels in breast cancer and the survival time of breast cancer patients (P < 0.05). In addition, multivariate analysis indicated that KIF2A was an independent prognostic for outcome in breast cancer (OR: 16.55, 95% CI: 2.216-123.631, P = 0.006). The proliferation, migration and invasion of cancer cells in vitro were suppressed by KIF2A gene silencing (P < 0.05). Conclusions; KIF2A may play an important role in breast cancer progression and is potentially a novel predictive and prognostic marker for breast cancer