Riereta.net. : Apuntes epistemo-políticos desde una etnografía tecnoactivista

En este artículo exponemos una experiencia de investigación etnográfica en Riereta, taller tecnoactivista de Barcelona dedicado al desarrollo e implementación de software libre y tecnologías de la información (TICs) al servicio de proyectos y colectivos activistas de la ciudad. A través de nuestra experiencia responderemos a una serie de cuestiones metodológicas pero también epistemo-políticas: ¿qué herramientas metodológicas implementar que permitan experienciar la dimensión semiótico-material del fenómeno?, ¿cómo introducir la tecnología en nuestra acción investigativa?, ¿qué metodología desarrollar que sea coherente con los deseos y "modos de vida" de las participantes? o ¿cómo dar cuenta de las múltiples voces disonantes que componen toda comprensión etnográfica y práctica creativa?. Interrogantes que se podrían resumir en cómo hacer de la investigación social y esta práctica etnográfica una forma de acción tecnopolítica. Para ello organizamos el artículo en torno a tres ejes: 1) cuál fue la relación entre sujetos y objetos de investigación, y que transitó desde una aproximación a la co-investigación hasta una perspectiva epistémica articulatoria; 2) la metodología empleada, próxima a una perspectiva etnográfica performativa y virtual que se apoya en herramientas tecnológicas como el Tiki-Wiki; y 3) los productos del proceso de investigación: comprensiones colectivas y situadas acerca del tecnoactivismoIn this article we report on an ethnographic research experience on Riereta, a techno-activist workshop located in Barcelona, where free software and other technologies are developed and put at the disposal of other political projects and activist collectives. Through our research experience, we answer some methodological issues but also raise related epistemic and political questions: What kind of methodical tools must we implement in order to experience the semiotic and material dimension of the subject? How to introduce the technology in our research activity? What kind of methodology can we develop if we want to be consistent with participants' wishes and ways of life? or How to take account of multiple and different voices that compose every ethnographic comprehension and creative practice? All of these questions could be summarized as an quest for turning social research and ethnographic practice into techno-political action. The article is organized in three parts: 1) the relationship between research subjects and objects variously constituted, shifting from a co-research perspective to an epistemologically articulated one; 2) the methodology applied, close to a performative and virtual ethnographic perspective where some technological tools, such as Tiki-Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikiWiki), are used; and 3) the products of the research process: collective and situated understandings of technoactivis

Sperm Conjugates (Association of Several Sperm in the Epididymis) Reach Zone Fertilization in Rats, but Fertilizes Only One Sperm

Mammalian sperm con jugation phenomenon occurs both in the epididymis or post ejaculation. Sperm conjugates consist of tens to hundreds of partner sperm. The combination of sperm is found in the ejaculate of some species but it is unknown if the female tract amount reaching the área of ??fertilization (distal third of the tubes) and if the dissociation before or during interaction with the oocyte cumulus. Various mechanisms have been proposed by which the formation of these structures favor fertilization: a. increased speed of scrolling synergies with individual sperm, particularly in cases of sperm, b competition. conjugated sperm protection against the hostile environment, c. prevention of early acrosome reaction, among others. Our group described this phenomenon in rat and mouse rosettes and proposed calling them a possible associative mechanism. These conjugates consist of groups of sperm joined at their heads and with their free scourges in no less than 10 cells. They were described within the lumen of the region of the cauda epididymis, but not in more proximal sites, suggesting that sperm join together must have matured and made contact with factors of epididymal fluid. To know what the final destination of the spermatic conjugates we studied the presence of male gametes conjugate or in the female genital tract after ejaculation rat. Samples of the contents of the tubes obtained different times allowed us to observe mating post near the complex conjugates cumulus - oocyte. But only individual sperm between the cumulus cells were observed. This suggests that the conjugates after reaching sperm fertilization area are separated into individual sperm

A novel high-content immunofluorescence assay as a tool to identify at the single cell level γ-globin inducing compounds

The identification of drugs capable of reactivating γ-globin to ameliorate β-thalassemia and Sickle Cell anemia is still a challenge, as available γ-globin inducers still have limited clinical indications. High-throughput screenings (HTS) aimed to identify new potentially therapeutic drugs require suitable first-step-screening methods combining the possibility to detect variation in the γ/β globin ratio with the robustness of a cell line. We took advantage of a K562 cell line variant expressing β-globin (β-K562) to set up a new multiplexed high-content immunofluorescence assay for the quantification of γ-and β-globin content at single-cell level. The assay was validated by using the known globin inducers hemin, hydroxyurea and butyric acid and further tested in a pilot screening that confirmed HDACs as targets for γ-globin induction (as proved by siRNA-mediated HDAC3 knockdown and by treatment with HDACs inhibitors entinostat and dacinostat) and identified Heme-oxygenases as novel candidate targets for γ-globin induction. Indeed, Heme-oxygenase2 siRNA knockdown as well as its inhibition by Tin protoporphyrin-IX (TinPPIX) greatly increased γ-globin expression. This result is particularly interesting as several metalloporphyrins have already been developed for clinical uses and could be tested (alone or in combination with other drugs) to improve pharmacological γ-globin reactivation for the treatment of β-hemoglobinopathie

Semen Quality and Sperm Function Loss by Hypercholesterolemic Diet Was Recovered by Addition of Olive Oil to Diet in Rabbit

Fat increment (0.05% cholesterol, chol) in standard diet promoted a significant increase in serum and sperm membrane chol, which ultimately altered membrane-coupled sperm specific functions: osmotic resistance, acrosomal reaction, and sperm capacitation in White New Zealand rabbits. These changes were also associated with a reduction in motility percentage and appearance of abnormal sperm morphology. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary olive oil (OO, 7% v/w) administration to several male hypercholesterolemic rabbits (hypercholesterolemic rabbits, HCR) with altered fertility parameters. These HCR males were achieved by feeding normal rabbits with a high-fat diet (0.05% chol). HCR were associated with a modest non-significant increase in body weight (standard diet, 4.08±0.17 Kg, versus high-fat diet, 4.37±0.24 Kg). Hypercholesterolemic rabbits presented a marked decrease in semen volume, sperm cell count, and percentage of sperm motility, associated with a significant increase in sperm cell abnormalities. Moreover, sperm capacitation measured by the characteristic phosphorylated protein pattern in and induced acrosomal reaction were also altered suggesting sperm dysfunction. However, the administration of OO (for 16 weeks) to rabbits that were fed with 50% of the high-fat diet normalized serum chol. Curiously, OO supply succeeded to attenuate the seminal and sperm alterations observed in HCR group. Administration of OO alone did not cause any significant changes in above mentioned parameters. These data suggest that OO administration to HCR male rabbits recovers the loss of semen quality and sperm functionality.Fil: Saez Lancellotti, Tania Emilce Estefania. Universidad del Aconcagua. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Histología y Embriología de Mendoza; Argentina;Fil: Boarelli, Paola Vanina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Histología y Embriología de Mendoza; Argentina; Universidad del Aconcagua. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina;Fil: Romero, Aida Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Histología y Embriología de Mendoza; Argentina;Fil: Funes, Abi Karenina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Histología y Embriología de Mendoza; Argentina;Fil: Cid Barria, Macarena. Universidad del Aconcagua. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina;Fil: Cabrillana, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Histología y Embriología de Mendoza; Argentina; Universidad del Aconcagua. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina;Fil: Monclus, Maria de Los Angeles. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Histología y Embriología de Mendoza; Argentina; Universidad del Aconcagua. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina;Fil: Simón, Layla Yamila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Histología y Embriología de Mendoza; Argentina;Fil: Vincenti, Amanda Edith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Histología y Embriología de Mendoza; Argentina;Fil: Fornes, Miguel Walter. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Histología y Embriología de Mendoza; Argentina; Universidad del Aconcagua. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina

Occupational therapy : autonomy, governmentality and subjectification

This paper explores Occupational Therapy (OT) interventions using a dialogical perspective with therapists and people with functional diversity.[1] Framing the dialogue between the discourses that participate in the therapeutic process, the paper reflexively explores the interferences in the forms of subjectivity that the discipline promotes under the governmental umbrella. The research uses ethnographic and narrative material as the basis of its methodology. The material suggests that OT, like other health disciplines, constitutes a governmental mechanism of bodily regulation that produces subjectification through certain procedures: distributing persons in space, regulating their use of time, and perfecting their performance of activities. The reflection allows us to reconsider the construction of the "patient" in OT interventions considering the rights of persons with functional diversityEste trabajo explora las intervenciones de Terapia Ocupacional (TO) utilizando una perspectiva dialógica con los terapeutas y con las personas con diversidad funcional.2 Enmarcando el diálogo entre quienes participan en el proceso terapéutico el texto explora reflexivamente las interferencias de este diálogo sobre las formas de subjetividad que la disciplina promueve bajo una perspectiva gubernamental. La investigación utiliza como metodología material etnográfico y narrativo. El material sugiere que la TO, como otras disciplinas de la salud, constituyen un mecanismo gubernamental de la regulación corporal que genera la producción de subjetivación través de ciertos procedimientos como la distribución de las personas en el espacio, la regulación del uso del tiempo y el perfeccionamiento de su desempeño de las actividades. La reflexión permite reconstruir la construcción del "paciente" en las intervenciones de TO, considerando los derechos de las personas con diversidad funcionalEste trabalho explora as intervenções de Terapia Ocupacional (TO) utilizando uma perspectiva dialógica com os terapeutas e com as pessoas com diversidade funcional.[3] Delimitando o diálogo entre os que participam do processo terapêutico, o texto explora de forma reflexiva as interferências desse diálogo sobre as formas de subjetividade que a disciplina promove sob um ponto de vista governamental. A pesquisa utiliza como metodologia material etnográfico e narrativo. O material sugere que TO, como outras disciplinas da saúde, constituem um mecanismo governamental da regulação corporal que a produção de subjetivação gera por meio de certos procedimentos como: a distribuição das pessoas no espaço, a regulação do uso do tempo e o aperfeiçoamento de seu desempenho das atividades. A reflexão permite reconstruir a construção do "paciente" nas intervenções de TO, considerando os direitos das pessoas com diversidade funciona

Sperm parameters and epididymis function in transgenic rats overexpressing the Ca-2-binding protein regucalcin: a hidden role for Ca-2 in sperm maturation?

Sperm undergo maturation acquiring progressive motility and the ability to fertilize oocytes through exposure to the components of the epididymal fluid (EF). Although the establishment of a calcium (Ca-2) gradient along the epididymis has been described, its direct effects on epididymal function remain poorly explored. Regucalcin (RGN) is a Ca-2-binding protein, regulating the activity of Ca-2-channels and Ca-2-ATPase, for which a role in male reproductive function has been suggested. This study aimed at comparing the morphology, assessed by histological analysis, and function of epididymis, by analysis of sperm parameters, antioxidant potential and Ca-2 fluxes, between transgenic rats overexpressing RGN (Tg-RGN) and their wild-type littermates. Tg-RGN animals displayed an altered morphology of epididymis and lower sperm counts and motility. Tissue incubation with Ca-45(2) showed also that epididymis of Tg-RGN displayed a diminished rate of Ca-2-influx, indicating unbalanced Ca-2 concentrations in the epididymal lumen. Sperm viability and the frequency of normal sperm, determined by the one-step eosin-nigrosin staining technique and the Diff-Quik staining method, respectively, were higher in Tg-RGN. Moreover, sperm of Tg-RGN rats showed a diminished incidence of tail defects. Western blot analysis demonstrated the presence of RGN in EF as well as its higher expression in the corpus region. The results presented herein demonstrated the importance of maintaining Ca-2-levels in the epididymal lumen and suggest a role for RGN in sperm maturation. Overall, a new insight into the molecular mechanisms driving epididymal sperm maturation was obtained, which could be relevant to development of better approaches in male infertility treatment and contraception.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under Program COMPETE [PEst-C/SAU/UI0709/2011]; FCT; FCT fellowships [SFRH/BD/60945/2009, SRFH/BPD/80451/2011]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Superblocks, neighbourhood units and residential islands as fragments of the collage city

In the intense debate that surrounds modernist housing estates in Europe there is a common argument: the contrast between the high quality of urban spaces in the compact traditional city and the low quality of new mass housing developments. In our opinion, the comparison should be made not with the traditional city but with the remaining peripheral landscape. The question is: do those ‘fragments’ of the modern ‘collage city’ that float between infrastructures and urban voids have greater or worse urban quality than the so-called ‘ordinary peripheries’? In this regard, determining the level of isolation from or integration into the immediate urban tissue is a key issue. The aim of this paper is to study eight housing estates in four cities (Rome, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona) and analyse how these ‘fragments’ developed in regard to their immediate urban context. How were they designed and with what specific features, compared to their European counterparts? What role and impact did urban planning and projects have in their fragmentary development? What conclusions can we draw comparing these quartieri and polígonos fifty years later? What are the values and weaknesses of those ‘fragments’ in comparison with the urban tissues of the surrounding ‘ordinary peripheries’