Analyzing community responses to HIV and AIDS : operational framework and typology

This paper presents a framework for analyzing the community response to HIV and AIDS. On the basis of a review of the literature, six criteria are proposed for characterizing such community responses: (1) the types of organizations and structures implementing the response, (2) the types of activities or services implemented and the beneficiaries of these, (3) the actors involved in and driving community responses, (4) the contextual factors that influence community responses, (5) the extent of community involvement in the response, and (6) the extent to which community responses involve wider partnerships and collaboration.Disability,Civil Society,Community Development and Empowerment,HIV AIDS,Health Monitoring&Evaluation

Matrix deformation of marls in a foreland fold-and-thrust belt: The example of the eastern Jaca basin, southern Pyrenees

In this study, we used the Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) to investigate the matrix strain record of two calcareous shale formations, the Eocene Larrès and Pamplona Marls, along the eastern Jaca foreland fold-and-thrust belt (Southern Pyrenees). More than 1000 unoriented fragments, collected from 62 sites along 4 sub-parallel sections in the footwall of the regional Oturia thrust and through local Yebra anticline, were measured. The analysis of the degree of anisotropy (P’) and shape parameter (T) allowed to identify four types of magnetic fabrics. Type II fabrics associated with poorly deformed rocks are characterized by a relatively high anisotropy and an oblate shape. In contrast, type III fabrics, associated with strongly fractured rocks are characterized by the lowest anisotropy and a triaxial shape. Type IV and type V fabrics are characterized by increasing anisotropy and shape parameters, and are associated with the development of a weak to a slaty cleavage in rocks. The distribution of the magnetic fabric is roughly similar along the four studied sections. In the footwall of the Oturia thrust, magnetic fabrics evolve from the type V to type II over a 1000 m-long interval. By contrast, the distribution of magnetic fabric is roughly symmetric across the Yebra anticline, evolving from a dominating type II fabric in both limbs to mixed type III-type V fabrics within the 1 km-large hinge zone. The succession of the magnetic fabrics is interpreted as recording various degrees of matrix strain in response to thrusting and folding. The correlation of magnetic fabrics between the four sections highlights some along-strike variations in the extension of fabric domains that are interpreted as reflecting the local influence of 2nd-order factors, such as the syn-tectonic sedimentation. Results are integrated within the tectono-sedimentary framework of the studied area to propose a model of matrix strain related to the tectonic and sedimentary evolution of a foreland fold and thrust belt

The cadaver of a Caucasian man with a supernumerary fourth dorsal interosseous muscle in the right hand: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The human hand is a complex anatomic entity consisting of many muscles, nerves, and vessels, thus providing a special ability to perform accurate and meticulous movements. In this group of muscles are the four dorsal interosseous muscles.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A distinct supernumerary fourth dorsal interosseous muscle was found in the right hand of the cadaver of a 76-year-old Caucasian man without any other concomitant abnormality.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The presence of such an additional muscle in the hand should be considered in the management of hand deformities, whether the treatment is conservative or surgical.</p

Comparison of OMI ozone and UV irradiance data with ground-based measurements at two French sites

International audienceOzone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), launched in July 2004, is dedicated to the monitoring of the Earth's ozone, air quality and climate. OMI provides among other things the total column of ozone (TOC), the surface ultraviolet (UV) irradiance at several wavelengths, the erythemal dose rate and the erythemal daily dose. The main objective of this work is to validate OMI data with ground-based instruments in order to use OMI products (collection 2) for scientific studies. The Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique (LOA) located in Villeneuve d'Ascq in the north of France performs solar UV measurements using a spectroradiometer and a broadband radiometer. The site of Briançon in the French Southern Alps is also equipped with a spectroradiometer operated by Interaction Rayonnement Solaire Atmosphère (IRSA). The instrument belongs to the Centre Européen Médical et Bioclimatologique de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur. The comparison between the TOC retrieved with ground-based measurements and OMI TOC shows good agreement at both sites for all sky conditions. Comparisons of spectral UV on clear sky conditions are also satisfying whereas results of comparisons of the erythemal daily doses and erythemal dose rates for all sky conditions and for clear sky show that OMI overestimates significantly surface UV doses at both sites

Defining the cognitive phenotype of autism

Although much progress has been made in determining the cognitive profile of strengths and weaknesses that characterise individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), there remain a number of outstanding questions. These include how universal strengths and deficits are; whether cognitive subgroups exist; and how cognition is associated with core autistic behaviours, as well as associated psychopathology. Several methodological factors have contributed to these limitations in our knowledge, including: small sample sizes, a focus on single domains of cognition, and an absence of comprehensive behavioural phenotypic information. To attempt to overcome some of these limitations, we assessed a wide range of cognitive domains in a large sample (N = 100) of 14- to 16-year-old adolescents with ASDs who had been rigorously behaviourally characterised. In this review, we will use examples of some initial findings in the domains of perceptual processing, emotion processing and memory, both to outline different approaches we have taken to data analysis and to highlight the considerable challenges to better defining the cognitive phenotype(s) of ASDs. Enhanced knowledge of the cognitive phenotype may contribute to our understanding of the complex links between genes, brain and behaviour, as well as inform approaches to remediation

Differential wedging of vertebral body and intervertebral disc in thoracic and lumbar spine in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis – A cross sectional study in 150 patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hueter-Volkmann's law regarding growth modulation suggests that increased pressure on the end plate of bone retards the growth (Hueter) and conversely, reduced pressure accelerates the growth (Volkmann). Literature described the same principle in Rat-tail model. Human spine and its deformity i.e. scoliosis has also same kind of pattern during the growth period which causes wedging in disc or vertebral body.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This cross sectional study in 150 patients of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was done to evaluate vertebral body and disc wedging in scoliosis and to compare the extent of differential wedging of body and disc, in thoracic and lumbar area. We measured wedging of vertebral bodies and discs, along with two adjacent vertebrae and disc, above and below the apex and evaluated them according to severity of curve (curve < 30° and curve > 30°) to find the relationship of vertebral body or disc wedging with scoliosis in thoracic and lumbar spine. We also compared the wedging and rotations of vertebrae.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In both thoracic and lumbar curves, we found that greater the degree of scoliosis, greater the wedging in both disc and body and the degree of wedging was more at apex supporting the theory of growth retardation in stress concentration area. However, the degree of wedging in vertebral body is more than the disc in thoracic spine while the wedging was more in disc than body in lumbar spine. On comparing the wedging with the rotation, we did not find any significant relationship suggesting that it has no relation with rotation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>From our study, we can conclude that wedging in disc and body are increasing with progression on scoliosis and maximum at apex; however there is differential wedging of body and disc, in thoracic and lumbar area, that is vertebral body wedging is more profound in thoracic area while disc wedging is more profound in lumbar area which possibly form 'vicious cycle' by asymmetric loading to spine for the progression of curve.</p

Multivariate analyses for biomarkers hunting and validation through on-tissue bottom-up or in-source decay in MALDI-MSI: application to prostate cancer.

peer reviewe

Structural Integration in Language and Music: Evidence for a Shared System.

In this study, we investigate whether language and music share cognitive resources for structural processing. We report an experiment that used sung materials and manipulated linguistic complexity (subject-extracted relative clauses, object-extracted relative clauses) and musical complexity (in-key critical note, out-of-key critical note, auditory anomaly on the critical note involving a loudness increase). The auditory-anomaly manipulation was included in order to test whether the difference between in-key and out-of-key conditions might be due to any salient, unexpected acoustic event. The critical dependent measure involved comprehension accuracies to questions about the propositional content of the sentences asked at the end of each trial. The results revealed an interaction between linguistic and musical complexity such that the difference between the subject- and object-extracted relative clause conditions was larger in the out-of-key condition than in the in-key and auditory-anomaly conditions. These results provide evidence for an overlap in structural processing between language and music

Motion and pattern cortical potentials in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder

Purpose: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition in which visual perception to both static and moving stimuli is altered. The aim of this study was to investigate the early cortical responses of subjects with ASD to simple patterns and moving radial rings using visual evoked potentials (VEPs). Methods: Male ASD participants (n = 9) and typically developing (TD) individuals (n = 7) were matched for full, performance and verbal IQ (p > 0.263). VEPs were recorded to the pattern reversing checks of 50′ side length presented with Michelson contrasts of 98 and 10 % and to the onset of motion—either expansion or contraction of low-contrast concentric rings (33.3 % duty cycle at 10 % contrast). Results: There were no significant differences between groups in the VEPs elicited by pattern reversal checkerboards of high (98 %) or low (10 %) contrast. The ASD group had a significantly larger N160 peak (1.85 x) amplitude to motion onset VEPs elicited by the expansion of radial rings (p = 0.001). No differences were evident in contraction VEP peak amplitudes nor in the latencies of the motion onset N160 peaks. There was no evidence of a response that could be associated with adaptation to the motion stimulus in the interstimulus interval following an expansion or contraction phase of the rings. Conclusion: These data support a difference in processing of motion onset stimuli in this adult high-functioning ASD group compared to the TD group