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Resumen En este artículo recogemos reflexiones críticas sobre el papel de la ciencia, la tecnología y la innovación en la reproducción del mundo contemporáneo. Convencidos de que una otra ciencia para la vida[1] es posible, exploramos críticas a las separación de los conocimientos científicos y tecnológicos de la vida cotidiana y comunitaria, así como su relacionamiento con sistemas extractivistas, individualistas y coloniales. Ante este panorama, abrimos espacio para reconocer movimientos de innovación de base, que, según vemos, representan caminos alternativos para la ciencia y la tecnología. Nos concentramos específicamente en planteamientos de las ciencias y tecnologías como bienes comunes. Finalmente, retomamos ocho elementos clave para motivar conversaciones sobre estas perspectivas alternativas en espacios de ciencia, tecnología e innovación convencionales; discutimos algunos retos y oportunidades emergentes. Abstract In this text we gather critical reflections on the role of science, technology and innovation in the reproduction of the contemporary world. Convinced that an other-science for life is possible, we explore critiques of the separation of scientific and technological knowledge from everyday and community life, as well as its relationship to extractive, individualistic and colonial systems. In this panorama we open space to recognize movements of grassroots innovation, which we argue represent alternative paths for science and technology. We focus specifically on those that pose science and technology as commons. Finally, we gather eight key elements to motivate conversations on these alternative perspectives in conventional spaces of science, technology and innovation; we discuss emerging challenges and opportunities. [1] Encuentro L@s Zapatistas y las ConCiencias por la Humanidad. CIDECI - San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, México, 2016.

Simón Uribe es profesor e investigador adscrito a la Facultad de Ciencias Políticas de la Universidad del Rosario en Bogotá. Estudió ciencias políticas en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia y es Doctor en geografía humana de la Escuela de Economía y Ciencias Políticas de Londres (LSE). Paralelamente a su carrera académica, ha dirigido dos cortos: Trampolín de la muerte (2014) y La guerra de los Cárdenas y los Valdeblánquez (2006). Suspensión es su primer largo documental.

El presente texto tiene como propósito compartir algunas reflexiones en torno a la Residencia Navegable Radicante 2021, llevada a cabo en el maritorio de la región del Estrecho de Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena. Históricamente, los territorios australes que hoy poseen Chile y Argentina han sido catalogados por el eurocentrismo como las tierras del “fin del mundo”. En varias crónicas e infinitas novelas estas geografías de América han sido presentadas como un lugar que aglomeró, por un lado, la desesperanza de sus fanáticos y, por otro lado, las más delirantes ilusiones de un nuevo lugar para la subsistencia humana.

El articulo presenta una revisión, reflexión y replanteamiento de los estudios de futuro(s) en el contexto de un terracidio motivado principalmente por el capitaloceno. Lo anterior, a partir de una limitada concepción de los imaginarios de futuros presentes en nuestra(s) sociedad(es), caracterizados por una tendencia tecno-determinista, poniendo en cuestión el monofuturismo. Por tanto, se manifiesta el rol de la especulación, la imaginación, y los diseños críticos como marco referencial para reclamar de nuevo nuestro(s) futuro(s). En este camino, se describen seis ramificaciones de los etnofuturismos como una espacio cultural, comparado y contextual desde los movimientos culturales y artísticos. Abriendo la discusión ampliamente para considerar el diseño especulativo, la ficción científica y la ficcionalización de los sistemas de conocimiento alternos como espacio fértil para futuros pluriversales mucho más que humanos.

La deficiencia de fructosa-1,6-bisfosfatasa (deficiencia de FBPasa) es un defecto metabólico congénito poco común que afecta la gluconeogénesis. Es una enfermedad genética autosómica recesiva. El paciente se presenta con hipoglucemia en ayunas y acidosis metabólica, y puede tener hiperventilación, apnea y cetosis. Aunque la enfermedad puede ser fatal en el período neonatal, el tratamiento adecuado puede producir un pronóstico excelente. A continuación, presentamos una paciente de 21 años con déficit de fructosa-1,6-bisfosfatasa, quien presentó cuadro gastroenteritis viral que provocó descompensación de su patológica de base, la paciente presentó evolución satisfactoria al manejo con cristaloides y dextrosa endovenosa. Se expone este caso porque es una entidad de baja frecuencia, con escasos reportes en adultos y con adecuada respuesta al tratamiento dietario.

Critical Conversations are held by members of the greater Engineering, Social Justice, and Peace network in the activist tradition of reflecting on our public engagement and collectively discovering ways of deepening our action. The particpants are selected based on their submissions (Expressions of Interest) in response to the Call for Participation in the Critcial Conversations disseminated through the ESJP website (esjp.org). For years, we have gathered in locations immersed in nature. In 2018 and 2019, the gathering took place in Cala Munda, organized by Caroline Baillie and Eric Feinblatt, in the beautiful Catskills mountains in upstate New York in the U.S.A. We want to feel our connection with the land while we engage in critical conversations on the intersection of the engineering field with social justice and peace. Caroline Baillie facilitates these conversations employing forest pedagogy. Through this pedagogy, we open our hearts to the forest for seeking guidance on how our profession can help restore, heal, and serve people, planet, and life instead of its current practice of destroying, pillaging, and harming nature. In the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, the urgency of action was evident in 2020 like never before. On June 26 and 27, 2020, a group of up to 40 educators, researchers, activists, and field practitioners, from 4 continents, met virtually for the 4th Annual Critical Conversations – almost thrice as large as the 2018 and 2019 groups that met in-person. The virtual format allowed for broader participation – both in numbers as well as geographical locations. Though we were physically separated in the online gathering, situated in our respective modern, often disconnected-from-nature enclaves, our hearts and minds were engaged in envisioning transition to a just and egalitarian society. In keeping with the need of the moment, our focus was on brainstorming action projects that we can implement in the near future. The retreat facilitated the formation of action teams, which spent the summer discussing possible action items moving forward. These teams are now looking for a more permanent structure with team leaders, team members, an infrastructure, and social media presence. This is a call to action! We carried out these deliberations in an open-space format, wherein the agenda for the two days was set by the participants. In the two sessions on day one, using this participatory approach, we were able to sift six main themes that participants were interested in exploring in-depth. On day two, we divided ourselves into six teams and each team took a deeper dive into their theme of choice. Five of these teams have written summaries of their deliberations and proposed their Calls to Action for the engineering community, which we report below.

The purpose of this text is to reflect on the ways that science fiction allows criticism on the modern technology path. Imagination has allowed us to think of some ends of the world, but it has been a privileged space. Creating other possible futures for our relationship with energy is essential. Corporate renewable energy projects are emerging in corners of the planet where green capitalism has not yet reached. In this way, the creation of alternatives to centralized and corporate models of energy generation, distribution and consumption must go through new potentialities of inhabiting new possible futures. Science fiction is a literature genre that has inspired generations of people assembling art and techno-science as well as dystopia. Solarpunk has been consolidated as a space of counter-cultural hope to allow us to go beyond social-ecological injustices and growing epistemic and ontological violence. This genre is derived from other currents such as Cyberpunk, Steampunk and Dieselpunk, elucidating another relationship between technology, society and nature, nourished in turn by climate sci-fi, Indigenous and Afro-futurist science fiction. In this sense, a concept revision is made in three spheres: i) historical, based on its digital origins; ii) literary, based on the edited anthologies and iii) academic, of the reflections that it has raised. Finally, the Solarpunk Manifesto, revealed at the beginning of 2020, is shared in order to continue its co-creation.

Este escrito explora desde dos perspectivas el ejercicio de colaboración y las implicaciones de trabajo colectivo en redes de formación de ingeniería. Una primera mirada apunta a las reflexiones teóricas de la evolución de la disciplina y las confluencias de la colaboración y las redes, y una segunda apuesta se encuentra en el análisis de diversas redes en el continente Americano, tal es el caso de las redes ESJP con mayor actuación en Norteamérica, REPOS en Brasil y RECIDS en Colombia desde América Latina. A nivel metodológico se realizó una revisión de literatura y de entrevistas semi estructuradas a siete personas que participan de estas. Mediante diferentes canales de difusión digital fue posible vislumbrar sus inicios e ideales que dieron cabida a la formación y consolidación de estos espacios colaborativos. Ante lo cual, se gesta un símil narrativo de tensiones evidentes en el accionar colectivo como el concepto de desarrollo social y, de las potencialidades y oportunidades que se denotan en el presente y nutren un futuro cercano tal como la justicia social. Finalmente, enmarcados en una realidad agobiante y común a la humanidad se formulan algunas ideas alrededor de las posibilidades de acción en el escenario de pos-pandemia.

Este trabajo presenta un análisis descriptivo de tres proyectos de extensión universitaria en el área de STEAM, a la luz de los Objetivos del Buen Vivir. Para ello se discute el rol de la universidad en la sociedad, tanto desde la visión hegemónica como algunas propuestas alternativas en el Sur Global. Se exponen, adicionalmente, las diferentes dimensiones STEAM y cómo se pueden articular a la idea de Buen Vivir. Se describen modelos de extensión universitaria, y se enfoca en la extensión solidaria de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, bajo la cual los proyectos estudiados fueron realizados con comunidades rurales y urbanas. Si bien éstos no se realizaron basados en el Sumak Kawsay, al ser pensados, diseñados y ejecutados desde una postura crítica transformadora, el análisis es posible y compatible. Se concluye que es viable gestar y ejecutar procesos STEAM de extensión dentro una academia en contravía a la lógica del mercado imperante, generando alternativas concretas y diversas al desarrollo.

El presente libro es el resultado Beca de investigación en Arte, Tecnología y Ancestralidad 2020, de la Línea Estratégica de Arte, Ciencia y Tecnología, del Instituto Distrital de las Artes-Idartes, de la ciudad de Bogotá, Colombia. En ella se creó un espacio de reflexión e investigación-creación sobre la energía solar como punto de encuentro de ancestralidades, sentidos, deseos y la tecnociencia situadas en la región del norte de Colombia, particularmente, desde Gonawindua (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta) y la alta Guajira.

This chapter proposes the concept of Community-Based Innovation Ecosystem, as a framework for analysing communal and transformative innovation processes, particularly in territories affected by armed and social conflicts. In this way, it questions the conventional notion of innovation as a transactional process to open new markets in capitalism, towards a re-signified notion, as a sociotechnical process of collective transformation linked to actions carried out by grassroots organizations and communities. Therefore, the ecology of innovation is used as a biological metaphor for the studies of management and innovation. The case of the Guajui River Community Council in Guapi—Colombia is described and analysed through the relationships between diverse, historically excluded actors through collaboration in post-conflict or post-agreement contexts. Finally, a series of conclusions are presented regarding the interdependent dynamics of the actors in Guapi, their limitations, opportunities, and future lines of action.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties of Frankfurt sausages made with pumpkin flour (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) (PF), as an extender substance and a partial replacement for wheat flour (Triticum aestivum L.) (WF). Three formulations with PF substitutions were evaluated: 10, 20 and 30%, along with a control formulation without substitution. The measured parameters included proximal composition, emulsion stability, water activity, water holding capacity, cooking loss, color and texture profile. Results showed that emulsion stability was not affected when substitution reached 20%, while the water holding capacity of the sausages increased by 3.81% when the 10% PF substitution was tested. Water activity, pH and cooking losses did not vary when the addition was 20% PF. The highest protein values were measured on the 20% substitution. Results showed that up to 20% WF replacement with PF guaranteed good quality sausages, resulting in a new possible development for the meat industry. Highlights Pumpkin flour was used as a partial substitute for wheat flour in Frankfurt-typesausages. The sausages made with the addition of pumpkin flour presented very good physicochemical, textural and color parameters. A sausage with good water holding capacity and low cooking losses was obtained. It is possible to replace up to 20% of the wheat flour with pumpkin flour without affecting the characteristics of the emulsion.

espanolEste articulo propone el enfoque de la Ingenieria para la Construccion de Paz (IcP) como una praxis alternativa del ejercicio de la ingenieria en escenarios de conflicto, posconflicto y en situaciones donde la tecnociencia afecta de manera especial a comunidades marginadas y excluidas, lo que genera aun mas inequidad. En especial, se presentan dos casos de estudio vinculados a la resiliencia de comunidades colombianas; el primero, es el Encuentro de diseno para el desarrollo internacional en San Jose del Guaviare y, el segundo, es el proyecto de emisoras comunitarias de bajo costo realizado en el Magdalena Medio. Para lograr esto, se hace una reflexion acerca de la relacion historica de la ingenieria y la guerra, para pasar a la descripcion y el analisis de diversos enfoques comprometidos a nivel sociotecnico como la Ingenieria Sin Fronteras, la Ingenieria Humanitaria y la Ingenieria Popular, y su contribucion para nutrir esta nueva praxis. EnglishThis text proposes the approach of Engineering for Peacebuilding (IfPb) as an alternative practice of engineering in conflict, postconflict and situations where techno-science affects especially marginalized and excluded communities, thus generating even more in-equality. In particular, two case studies linked to the resilience of Colombian communities are presented. The first is the international development design summit in San Jose del Guaviare, and the second is the low-cost community radio project carried out in Magdalena Medio. In order to achieve this, a reflection is made on the historical relationship between engineering and war, to move on to the description and analysis of diverse approaches committed at the socio-technical level, such as Engineering Without Borders, Humanitarian Engineering and Grassroots Engineering, and their contribution to nurture this new praxis.

Esta cartilla fue realizada por el colectivo Enraizando en conjunto con la Organización Tierra Libre, en el marco del proyecto “LABORATORIO CAMPESINO PARA LA TRANSICIÓN A LA AGROECOLOGÍA”, el cuál fue apoyado por la División de Investigación y Extensión de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Bogota y OXFAM

Engineering is considered a discipline that favors the practical application of theory at the level of technoscience through interaction with other areas of knowledge. It is expected to transform the living conditions of society by providing solutions to complex problems that affect it. However, depending on the approach, this discipline can be used to dominate social sectors by controlling resources, means of production, and knowledge or to empower communities from a critical transformative perspective. Based on a series of educational and professional practice scenarios in Colombia, this article presents a review of some alternatives for a conscious praxis that encourages the development of a culture of peace. This practice is referred to as Engaged Engineering. Subsequently, we briefly explore the existing networks and articulations at the national level, and then, through a literature review, we describe and classify various EE initiatives in Colombia by institution, region, theme, and category. Finally, we present a discussion and some conclusions aimed at developing a preliminary understanding of how EE has materialized in the country and defining its main challenges and opportunities.

Biocultural approaches have consolidated as a hybrid study area and advocacy from academia and social movements. Within this conceptual framework, biocultural innovation emerges as new ways of doing things based on diverse knowledge production (including the traditional), created landscapes, cultural and spiritual values, and customary norms. These processes translate into new knowledge, resources, capacities, and practices applied in the relationship with a territory. This paper aims to explore the possibilities of Biocultural Innovation (BI) in communities living in rural coastal environments, particularly on the Colombian Pacific Coast. To this end, we propose four community opportunities related to the biocultural paradigm: (a) community biocultural protocols; (b) nature seen as the subject of rights; (c) communal innovation practices created by grassroots communities; and (d) collective repositories of local knowledge. In conclusion, BI is an emerging research topic by communities and academia as a process to safeguard and foster their knowledge and culture intrinsically related to biodiversity toward autonomous well-being.

Este libro reune los resultados de varias investigaciones enfocadas en fenomenos como la desercion y la permanencia de los estudiantes en la universidad, la reprobacion, la repitencia, la consejeria universitaria, el coaching organizacional y el papel de los docentes frente a las situaciones de riesgo de sus estudiantes. Asi mismo, en esta obra se hace una propuesta para el proceso de admision y el acompanamiento de los estudiantes durante el primer ano de su carrera, y se proporcionan herramientas para brindar apoyo de manera efectiva. Este es un aporte gestado en el marco del Programa de Desarrollo Integral Estudiantil de la Facultad de Cultura Fisica, Deporte y Recreacion de la Universidad Santo Tomas.

This paper explores how peace engineering initiatives relate to the critique of development in the Latin American context. Development is an essential condition for peace, and structural violence is closely associated with patterns of development. In engineering studies, the critique of development has increased attention, explaining the initiatives towards peace engineering engaged in social transformations. We discuss the evolution of the modern notion of development and argue why we should reject the mantra of neoliberalism. Next, we shift our look to the contributions of the Latin American critique of development, from the historical liberation movements to new concepts such as post-extractivism, solidarity economy, and political ecology. A decolonial view is proposed departing from the ‘epistemologies of the South’, followed by a review of how science, technology, and innovation relate to specific exclusion forms. Further, an empirical view on peace engineering initiatives in post-conflict Colombia and Brazil is presented, including three streams of how engineering initiatives relate to social change, from the social economy to grassroots movements. Finally, we suggest a few questions for further research in peace engineering and development.

This article introduces the concept of “communal innovation” as the collaborative process through which marginalized communities or community-based organizations transform their social and ecological environment towards collective wellbeing. Communal innovations are emerging from place-based ontologies that allow for the construction of futures beyond the promise of “development.” In these contexts, design, and particularly collaborative design (co-design), is identified as a central tool to create plural notions of science, technology and innovation. This paper draws from literature in the fields of critical development studies, de-colonial studies and innovation studies, among others, to clarify the limitations of the conventional market-oriented innovation framework and to explore the possibilities for marginalized communities to create their own transitions towards collective wellbeing through a bottom-up perspective. The reflections which emerge from this analysis open new pathways for the engagement of the academy and civil society organizations to foster autonomy, freedom and communality in partnership with marginalized communities.

La calidad de las plántulas es uno de los aspectos más importantes en el establecimiento del material vegetal proveniente del vivero, dentro de las problemáticas fitosanitarias que se presentan se encuentra el volcamiento, mal de talluelo o damping off causada por diferentes hongos. El biochar o biocarbón es considerado como alternativa para mejorar las condiciones físicas, químicas y biológicas del suelo, mostrando potencial como sustrato de crecimiento. Este trabajo fue realizado bajo un diseño completamente al azar evaluando el crecimiento y desarrollo en vivero de tomate (Solanum lycopersicum), papaya (Carica papaya L.) y maracuyá (Passiflora edulis). Los tratamientos fueron cinco sustratos de siembra: suelo, turba y tres mezclas de suelo con biocarbón al 10%, el cual fue obtenido a 450 °C utilizando como materia prima cáscaras de maracuyá (Passiflora edulis), plátano (Musa paradisiaca L.) y naranja (Citrus sinensis). Los diferentes sustratos de crecimiento no presentaron hongos patógenos asociados a enfermedades de interés como el mal de talluelo, que afecta las plántulas en vivero; esto se puede explicar por el aumento de la actividad biológica de los sustratos producida por la adición de biocarbón, que puede generar condiciones similares a las de los suelos supresivos. De acuerdo a los resultados el biocarbón de maracuyá y plátano tuvieron un efecto mortífero, las plantas sembradas en la mezcla de suelo con biocarbón de naranja presentaron un comportamiento estadísticamente similar (P>0.05) con respecto al tratamiento control (turba). El comportamiento de la papaya y el maracuyá fue similar (P>0.05), a pesar de esto, la germinación en los tres experimentos fue inferior a la de la prueba realizada en laboratorio. Se concluye que la materia prima usada como sustrato influye en el contenido de nutrientes que tiene el biocarbón, es así que la mezcla suelo con biocarbón de naranja al 10% es un óptimo sustrato para la producción de plántulas de tomate. The quality of the seedlings is one of the most important aspects in the establishment of the vegetal material coming from the nursery, within the phytosanitary problems that are presented is the overturning, badly damaged or damping off caused by different fungi. Biochar is considered as an alternative to improve physical conditions, chemical and biological of soil, showing potential as a growth substrate. This work was carried out under a completely randomized design evaluating the growth and development in nursery of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), papaya (Carica papaya L.) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis). The treatments were five substrates of sowing: soil, peat and three mixtures of soil with biochar to the 10%, which was obtained at 450 °C using as raw material husks of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) and orange (Citrus sinensis). The different growth substrates did not present pathogenic fungi associated with diseases of interest such as the short-leaf disease, that affects the nursery seedlings; this can be explained by the increase in the biological activity of the substrates produced by the addition of biochar, which can generate conditions similar to those of suppressive soils. According to the results, the passionfruit and banana biochar had a deadly effect, the plants sown in the soil mixture with orange biochar presented a statistically similar behavior (P>0.05) with respect to the control treatment (peat). The behavior of papaya and passion fruit was similar (P>0.05), despite this, the germination in the three experiments was lower than that of the laboratory test. It is concluded that the raw material used as a substrate influences the nutrient content of the biochar, thus, the soil mix with 10% orange biochar is an optimal substrate for the production of tomato seedlings.

Engineering education can address the analysis of disputes related to the effects generated by the techno-scientific activities over social relationships and nature. Education processes conceived from this approach allow debates and train professionals who may be involved in processes of design, implementation and monitoring scientific and technological practices and policies towards a more contextualized education in Humanitarian Engineering.In this direction, the course Ingenuity, Science, Technology and Society was created. Offered since 2014 by the School of Engineering as an elective course for all undergraduate programs in Bogota Campus at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. This course is intended as a space for reflection and action, complementary to the formal curriculum. It allows the interaction of students from different disciplines with the aim of formulate proposals for solutions to socio-technical problems with marginalized communities through co-design. As for the characterization of students, in nine semesters 600 have signed the course, of which 403 have filled out an initial survey, and 557 have filled a second one. Some of the findings are: 40 academic programs from 10 schools have participated, involving 77% of men and 22% of women and 1% that define themselves as other. About the evaluation of the course, the students said that the 90% of them consider the course relevant for their professional life and the 95% consider that the course have to continue in the University.

The Colombian conflict between the government and the FARC-EP guerrilla affected during 52 years diverse social sectors. In 2016 a peace agreement was signed after 4 years of talks. In 2017, a group of academics, activists, makers, and designers got together to plan a co¬design summit at a Territorial Space of Capacitation and Reconciliation (TSCR), in Guaviare, Colombia. The International Development Design Summit (IDDS) is a co-design event created by MIT D-Lab since 2007. The main objective is to design in a collaborative way low cost prototypes that face the priorities (needs, aspirations or dreams) of local communities in the territory. The authors were invited as part of the organization team, and stayed in the camp for three weeks in January 2018. This IDDS allowed to include social sectors that were marginalized and excluded of peace negotiation and their own pathway of life. In this sense, co-design in a peace-building process created a new space for start reconciliation and rebuild the social fabric. In this paper we present some of the challenges and results of the IDDS where 61 participants were trained with the co-design methodology, 9 prototypes were created and a reconciliation community was built. The above elements can be insight to the emergence of a possible peace engineering framework.

We investigated seasonal changes in the energetics of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas (L., 1758)) (9.8–23.8 kg) from a resident population on the southern Great Barrier Reef. Doubly labeled water was used to determine water flux and field metabolic rate (FMR) of green turtles during summer (mean water temperature (TW) = 25.8 °C) and winter (mean TW = 21.4 °C), and muscle tissue was collected for analysis of thermal sensitivity of metabolic enzyme activity. There was no significant seasonal difference in total body water (TBW) content (73.7% and 75.1% of body mass in summer and winter, respectively) or water flux (7.5% and 6.1% of TBW per day in summer and winter, respectively). The mean FMR during winter (81 ± 15 kJ·kg–1·d–1) was 43% lower than that during summer (142 ± 33 kJ·kg–1·d–1), but the seasonal difference in FMR marginally failed to reach statistical significance (P = 0.17). Thermal dependence of citrate synthase, lactate dehydrogenase, and pyruvate kinase activity was relatively low (Q10 = 1.20–1.68) over the range of temperatures experienced by turtles during summer and winter, and there were no significant seasonal differences in enzyme activity. In summary, juvenile green turtles experience only moderate changes in metabolism within the temperature range and environmental conditions experienced seasonally at this subtropical site.

This study compared diving patterns of juvenile green turtles, Chelonia mydas, in a coral reef habitat during summer and winter. Dataloggers were deployed on green turtles at Heron Island, Australia, during December 2000 and August 2001 so that dive variables and ambient water temperature (TW) could be monitored. Cloacal temperatures (TB) were recorded from green turtles upon capture to assess their ability to maintain a thermal gradient between TBand TW. Data show that green turtles altered diving behaviour seasonally. Green turtles spent significantly more time in shallow water (Band TWduring summer or winter.

We studied the control of salt gland secretion in hatchling Chelonia mydas. The threshold salt load to activate salt secretion was between 400 mumol NaCl 100 g bodymass (BM)-1 and 600 mumol NaCl 100 g BM-1, which caused an increase in plasma sodium concentration of 13% to 19%. Following a salt load of 2700 mumol NaCl 100 g BM-1, salt gland secretion commenced in 12 +/- 1.3 min and reached maximal secretory concentration within 2-7 min. Maximal secretory rate of a single gland averaged 415 mumol Na 100 g BM-1 h-1. Plasma sodium concentration and total osmotic concentration after salt loading were significantly higher than pretreatment values within 2 min. Adrenalin (25 micrograms kg BM-1) and the cholinergic agonist methacholine (1 mg kg BM-1) inhibited salt gland activity. Atropine (10 mg kg BM-1) reversed methacholine inhibition and stimulated salt gland secretion when administered with a subthreshold salt load. Arginine vasotocin produced a transient reduction in sodium secretion by the active gland, while atrial natriuretic factor, vasoactive intestinal peptide and neuropeptide Y had no measurable effect on any aspect of salt gland secretion. Our results demonstrated that secretion of the salt gland in C. mydas can be modified by neural and hormonal chemicals in vivo and that the cholinergic and adrenergic stimulation of an exocrine gland do not appear to have the typical, antagonist actions on the chelonian salt gland.

The design of a ball grid array metalized particle interconnect (BGA MPI) socket is presented. A novel design using static force system using less force and components instead of a dynamic one is shown. The performance of MPI socket has been characterized mechanically as deformation value and electrically as S parameters for different compression force. The MPI has been validated at laboratory using continuity, resistance and validation test. All of tests successfully passed which probed the socket design.

In the context of the MAgAdI environment, this paper presents SIgMa, a teacher oriented tool, and SIgBLE, its general framework basis. SIgMa's general aims are to automatically detect visible signs of failure or success among data coming from interactions happened on blended learning environments, and to provide relevant feedback adapted to teachers. First, we introduce SIgBLE and the interface of the SIgMa prototype. A usability test of the current prototype is also presented.

This paper presents an investigation in the design of signal vias in multilayered printed circuit boards (PCB) technology, from a signal integrity point of view, for high-speed applications such as processors' validation platforms. Vias have been designed according with technological design capabilities. Different physical aspect ratios have been considered in the analysis, and then numerical results are compared with S-parameter. Also, time-domain reflectometry (TDR) simulations on representative test structures are analyzed in order to minimize the via discontinuity effect.