What do you think? ::: ¿Tú qué piensas?

Una organización defensora de los animales esta, a mi punto de vista, cometiendo un grave error al ofrecer un millón de dólares a quien sea capaz de "fabricar" carne artificial. El reto fue lanzado debido a que según la PETA (por sus siglas en inglés, Personas por un trato ético a los animales) cada año se están sacrificando más de 40,000 millones de animales de manera horrible por lo que según la organización estadounidense la idea de consumir carne fabricada in vitro no es una idea descabellada. Así pues tu tienes la mejor opinión. Para más información visita http://www.losandes.com.ar/notas/2008/4/21/un-355170.asp

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An organization of animals is, according to my point of view, doing a serious mistake by offering one million dollars whom be able to "manufacture" artificial meat. The challenge was given due to, according to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) each year are sacrified more than 40,000 million in animals in horrible conditions for what the American organization is saying that the idea of consuming manufactured meat in vitro is not a preposterous idea. Thus you have the best opinion. For more information visit http://www.losandes.com.ar/notas/2008/4/21/un-355170.asp

WORKSHOP

hello everybody

I traveled to Charleston, West Virginia during the first week of April to participate in a workshop on "Microarrays".

Microarrays help us to study the interaction between genes and the control cell using a software, which can identify the hibridization with the cDNA which have a fluorescent marker that indicate which genes are turned on or turn off. The applications of microarrays are: gene expression studies, microorganisms identification, DNA firgerprint barcoding.

In the workshop i learnt this technique. Lot of advances continue to take place every day on this technology and help us to use it in differents areas like genomics, biomedicals, biotechnology and others.

Friends, it is so important that we continue taking these oportunities and face it. In my case, it was complete a new experience and i have good memories about it. I met new people and learned much about each one.

Thanks to Ciencias Biologicas UA de C and West Virginia State University for giving me this opportunity and Dr Nagamani for trust in me...

Lucy Tello

TIES Symposium

A one day symposium on "Energy & Environmenal Technologies for Sustainable Devlopment" is to be held at Driftmier Auditorium, Driftmier Engineering Centre, University of Georgia, Athens, USA on 17th April, 2008. It is organized by Dr. K. C. Das and Dr. Nagamani Balagurusamy under the TIES project funded by USAID-HED.

Is CO2 good for something? ::: Es el CO2 bueno para algo?

Recently Toshiyasu Sakakura and his collegues of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Tsukuba in Japan developed a catalyst reaction to convert CO2 into a plastic precursor, synthesis of which currently requires phosgene. This fact is important due to two aspects: first, human consumption of plastic products is huge and excess release of CO2 and methane result in global warming. Maybe the best part of the production of plastics through CO2 and methane is that the wastes produced by the processes are simply water, which is the cleanest refuse, but never imagined.


Recientemente Toshiyasu Sakakura y sus colegas del Instituto Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología Industrial Avanzada de Tsukuba, Japón desarrollaron una reacción catalitica para convertir CO2 en un precursor de plástico para cuya sintesis actualmente se requiere "phosgene". Este hecho es importante debido a dos aspectos: primeramente, el consumo de plásticos por humanos es enorme y la producción de CO2 y metano permite que el calentamiento global crezca y crezca. Tal vez lo mejor de la producción de plásticos a tráves de CO2 y metano es que los desechos producidos por los procesos son simplemente agua que es el desperdicio más limpio jamás pensado.

International Workshop on Microarrays

Best wishes to Ms. Lucia for a happy journey and a useful stay at Charleston, WV, USA. Hope she will bring us new ideas on the application of Microarray technology in our research area after attending the "International Workshop on Microarrays", to be held at West Virginia State University, Institute, WV from 2nd to 5th April, 2008. Dr. Umesh Reddy is organizing this Workshop and our thanks to him for extending the invitation to us for participation.

Rumen Fluid

Hello Every Body!

We would like to tell you about a out campus visit we had, at a beef farm 30 miles from Athens.

We met Dr. Mark A. Froetschel a Senior professor at Dairy Science school, who needed to take some samples of rumen liquid and manure.

Here are some photos and videos.   

Nutrient Management

What is a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan?

A CNMP is a strategy for making wise use of plant nutrients to enhance farm profits while protecting water resources, looking at how nutrients are used and managed throughout the farm.

Nutrients inputs are brought to the farm through feeds, fertilizers, animal manures and other off-farm inputs, some of these are used, and some are recycled by plants and animals on the farm.

Nutrient outputs are the ones that leave the farm in harvested crops and animal products.

When nutrients outputs greatly exceed outputs from the farm, the risk of nutrient losses to ground water and surface water is greater.

When comparing nutrient inputs against nutrient outputs, you are creating a mass balance (important part of a CNMP). Ideally, nutrient inputs and outputs should be roughly the same.

Basic steps

1. Evaluation of nutrient needs.

2. Inventory of nutrient supply.

3. Determination of nutrient balance.

4. Mortality management.

5. Preventative maintenance and inspection.

6. Emergency response plan.

The Microbe blog

Hi all

I believe that a regular visit to this higly resourceful blog on microbiology will benefit anyone interested on microbes and their wonders. Other web sites on microbial world are linked and can be accessed from this blog. Let us appreciate the efforts of Moselio Schaechter, a retired microbiologist and American Society for Microbiology for supporting his efforts.

http://schaechter.asmblog.org/

Agricultural & Applied Economics

Well, we hope ya'll have a nice weekend!

We met on 27th of February, Dr Forrest E. Steglin and Dr. Jack E. Houston, Jr. From the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences.

They talked about other TIES Programs with Mexican participants, although they are not related with engineering, but with education; These Drs. are some of our TIES Program Partners, giving us a view of how to apply economics in our reaserch.

Engineering kind of view:

"I Can Do That!"

Economist kind of view:

"Yes, You Can Do It, but How Much Is Going To Cost?"

One thing that they told us, to get started is:

Flow Charts

There the Economist can apply economics easily. So one advice is to keep our work organized from the beginning.

Another good thing about knowing the economic analysis is:

"Knowing the economics, then you will know where to spend in new research".

Take care ya'll !!

Hi Bioremediation mates

Hi Bioremediation Friends !!
How are u all doing? I hope that with a lot of work :)
Here we have a lot of things to do too, we are trying to get the GC started, we have already ordered the Porapak Q column for the mesurement of Methane, CO2, Nitrogen and other gases that can be found in the biogas. We are testing the HayeSep C column that can be used for the CO2 measurement only to find out whether GC is working well. I hope that tomorrow we can get that done. I'm waiting for some strains for the biological pretreatment of the poultry litter, to remove the Nitrogen that acumulates on a dry condition (total solids from 10% to 30%).
Well that was just a little bit of what im doing right now. Let us know what are you all doing too...and if there's anything that we could help you...just let us know!!

Lets keep on going, this is only the beginning!!
Greetings
Hugs and Kisses
Natalia