Consumption Growth and Agricultural Shocks in Rural Madagascar

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of rainfall and agricultural shocks on consumption growth in Madagascar. We are also interested in the impact of local endowments in infrastructures and social services on consumption growth. To achieve this goal, a micro model of household consumption growth is estimated thanks to household panel data collected by the Reseau des Observatoires Ruraux (ROR) between 1999 and 2004. Additional data sources include the 2001 communes census organized by the Ilo program of Cornell University. Altogether these different data sources make an unusually rich data set, at least when considered with developing country standards. We use panel data fixed effect estimation technique to remove unobserved household and community level time invariant heterogeneity. We find that production shocks have a substantial impact on consumption growth and we find sign of persistence of rainfall shocks. Roads and education seems to improve household’s consumption growth and remotness decreases it.risks, growth, poverty, Food Security and Poverty,

A EFICÁCIA DAS REDES DE COOPERAÇÃO JURÍDICA DIRETA NO COMBATE À CORRUPÇÃO TRANSNACIONAL E SUA CONCRETIZAÇÃO PELO SISTEMA PROCESSUAL BRASILEIRO: NOTAS SOBRE A OPERAÇÃO LAVA-JATO.

Inseridos na área de concentração Justiça, Processo e Constituição, na linha de pesquisa Processo, Constitucionalidade e Tutela de Direitos Existenciais e Patrimoniais do Mestrado em Direito Processual da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, os estudos foram desenvolvidos a partir de contribuições dos Grupos de Pesquisa intitulados O Direito Internacional e o Labirinto da Codificação e Limites e Extensão da Jurisdição Internacional Brasileira. A partir da premissa da problemática da corrupção, compreendida como fenômeno de mercadejo da função pública visando à obtenção de vantagens indevidas, busca-se combater a expansão de suas práticas na comunidade globalizada, sob a ótica procedimental da realização da cooperação jurídica internacional. Por meio do método indutivo de investigação, adota-se como referencial particular o recorte fático extraído da Ação Penal nº 5036528-23.2015.4.04.7000, em trâmite perante a 13ª Vara da Seção Judiciária Federal do Paraná, com o objetivo de verificar a aplicação das redes transnacionais para sustentar o intercâmbio de dados, informações e elementos de prova, in casu. A partir da análise do caso concreto, propõe-se a construção de um conhecimento geral sobre a eficácia da aplicação de instrumentos de cooperação penal para o enfrentamento da corrupção em dimensão transnacional e sua concretização pelo sistema processual brasileiro, com especial enfoque nas redes de cooperação direta. Assentada na linha de pensamento do Pluralismo Jurídico Transnacional, adota-se a concepção do Direito Global fundada na formação de discursos e redes de comunicação, enquanto o reflexo de arranjos nos quais se associam multifaces jurídicas e se agregam feixes normativos emitidos a partir de diversificados corpos comunicantes, integrando um espectro de transnacionalidade. O estudo se baseia na ação coletiva de redes transnacionais e de arranjos cooperativos entre autoridades reguladoras nacionais. Outrossim, são lançadas as bases especificamente no necessário respeito aos direitos fundamentais da pessoa humana e sua assunção como limite e paradigma democrático da atuação das redes de cooperação para combater práticas delituosas na comunidade global hodierna. Por fim, serão realizados apontamentos acerca da confirmação ou não da hipótese da pesquisa, para o fim de determinar se tais redes são eficazes no combate à corrupção e se são concretizadas no sistema processual brasileiro, traçando as respectivas notas sobre a aplicação das redes de cooperação direta na Operação Lava Jato. Palavras-chave: Corrupção. Transnacionalidade. Cooperação Jurídica Internacional. Redes de Cooperação Direta. Processo Penal Internacional

Facilitation of Serotonin-Induced Signaling by the Migraine Mediator CGRP in Rat Trigeminal Neurons

© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.The monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) and the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) play an important role in migraine pathophysiology. To study potential interplay between 5-HT and CGRP in peripheral trigeminal nociception, we performed calcium imagining and patch clamp studies in rat trigeminal ganglia cells. We found that 5-HT activated Ca2+ transients in 18 % of trigeminal ganglia neurons. Exposure of trigeminal cells to CGRP significantly increased the number of 5-HT positive cells to 35 % and increased the amplitude of 5-HT-induced Ca2+ transients. Using patch clamp technique, we show that 37 % percent of trigeminal cells generated desensitizing membrane currents suggesting functional expression of 5-HT3 receptors. These responses were partially co-localized either with ATP-gated or capsaicin-sensitive neurons. Exposure to CGRP for 2 h increased the current density in the ATP-sensitive fraction of trigeminal neurons. Taken together, these data suggest that 5-HT receptor sensitization contributes to the pro-nociceptive effect of CGRP in trigeminal neurons

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the suprasellar region: diagnosis based on thyroid cytology.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) may present as unifocal disease of the suprasellar region, with symptoms and signs of hypopituitarism, arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVP-D), and weight gain. Transcranial biopsy is necessary to define diagnosis and guide treatment decisions, but it is associated with significant morbidity. We describe a patient with Hashimoto thyroiditis and a single hypothalamic mass in whom LCH diagnosis was made by thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) performed despite nonspecific findings in thyroid imaging, on the basis of a slightly elevated [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avidity on PET/CT and volume increase during follow-up

Lymphatic vessels in human adipose tissue

Despite being considered present in most vascularised tissues, lymphatic vessels have not been properly shown in human adipose tissue (AT). Our goal in this study is to investigate an unanswered question in AT biology, regarding lymphatic network presence in tissue parenchyma. Using human subcutaneous (S-) and visceral (V-) AT samples with whole mount staining for lymphatic specific markers and three-dimensional imaging, we showed lymphatic capillaries and larger lymphatic vessels in the human VAT. Conversely, in the human SAT, microcirculatory lymphatic vascular structures were rarely detected and no initial lymphatics were found

A digital self-management intervention for adults with type 2 diabetes: Combining theory, data and participatory design to develop HeLP-Diabetes

Background Digital health interventions have potential to contribute to better health outcomes, better healthcare and lower costs. However, evidence for their effectiveness is variable. The development and content of digital health interventions are often not described in enough detail to enable others to replicate the research or improve on previous interventions. This has led to a call for transparent reporting of intervention content and development. Purpose To describe the development process and content of a digital self-management intervention for people with type 2 diabetes (HeLP-Diabetes) that has been found to achieve its target clinical outcome, the reduction of HbA1c, a measure of glycaemic control. Method We synthesised theory, data from existing research evidence and international guidelines, and new qualitative data from target users to identify the determinants of self-management and the content to be included in HeLP-Diabetes. Using an ongoing iterative participatory design approach the content of the intervention was written, produced, reviewed and changed. Conclusion It is possible to develop and transparently report self-management programmes for long-term conditions, which reflect current best evidence, theoretical underpinning and user involvement. We intend that reporting the development process and content will inform future digital intervention development

R534C mutation in hERG causes a trafficking defect in iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes from patients with type 2 long QT syndrome

Patient-specific cardiomyocytes obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells (CM-iPSC) offer unprecedented mechanistic insights in the study of inherited cardiac diseases. The objective of this work was to study a type 2 long QT syndrome (LQTS2)-associated mutation (c.1600C > T in KCNH2, p.R534C in hERG) in CM-iPSC. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from two patients with the R534C mutation and iPSCs were generated. In addition, the same mutation was inserted in a control iPSC line by genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9. Cells expressed pluripotency markers and showed spontaneous differentiation into the three embryonic germ layers. Electrophysiology demonstrated that action potential duration (APD) of LQTS2 CM-iPSC was significantly longer than that of the control line, as well as the triangulation of the action potentials (AP), implying a longer duration of phase 3. Treatment with the IKr inhibitor E4031 only caused APD prolongation in the control line. Patch clamp showed a reduction of IKr on LQTS2 CM-iPSC compared to control, but channel activation was not significantly affected. Immunofluorescence for hERG demonstrated perinuclear staining in LQTS2 CM-iPSC. In conclusion, CM-iPSC recapitulated the LQTS2 phenotype and our findings suggest that the R534C mutation in KCNH2 leads to a channel trafficking defect to the plasma membrane.Fil: Mesquita, Fernanda C. P.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Arantes, Paulo C.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Kasai Brunswick, Tais H.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Araujo, Dayana S.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Gubert, Fernanda. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Monnerat, Gustavo. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Silva dos Santos, Danúbia. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Neiman, Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Leitão, Isabela C.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Barbosa, Raiana A. Q.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Coutinho, Jorge L.. National Institute Of Cardiology; BrasilFil: Vaz, Isadora M.. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Parana; BrasilFil: dos Santos, Marcus N.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Borgonovo, Tamara. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Parana; BrasilFil: Cruz, Fernando E. S.. National Institute of Cardiology; BrasilFil: Miriuka, Santiago Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Medei, Emiliano H.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Campos de Carvalho, Antonio C.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil. National Institute of Cardiology; Brasil. National Institute for Science and Technology in Regenerative Medicine; BrasilFil: Carvalho, Adriana B.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil. National Institute for Science and Technology in Regenerative Medicine; Brasi