Navigating the Currents of Coastal Narratives in Search of Sustainable Futures

Data availability: There are no original data for archiving as this is a review paper.In the face of rapid, consequential changes in coastal conditions, coastal communities and regions must make decisions to address these changes and negotiate pathways towards more sustainable futures. Making just and equitable decisions requires engaging the affected population and influential stakeholders in the process. These processes can be improved by considering and engaging with shared narratives present across both time and location. This paper reviews exemplary instances in which narratives have been employed in facilitating decisions in coastal regions, in particular, future-facing-narratives that reflect the social landscape and dynamics operating in parallel with environmental and geographical conditions. Recognizing and learning from these narratives deepens and facilitates making informed, meaningful decisions on complex, contested, value-laden issues facing coastal communities. This paper argues that decisions at scales from local-to-national can be improved by considering shared narratives of sustainability and social identity as central pillars of the negotiation around both governance processes and desirable outcomes.SKP was supported by the Global Lives Research Centre, CBASS-BUL and BUL Impact Funding

Photoelastically induced light modulation in gradient index lenses

A new photoelastic light modulator is demonstrated based on the modulation of the birefringence and of the index profile in graded index lenses. Using the birefringence modulation we obtained 35% modulation depth in a quarter-pitch lens and 65% using a half pitch lens at acoustic frequencies up to the MHz range. Using the index profile modulation in a half-pitch lens as a fibre-to-fibre connector we obtained 15% modulation without the incorporation of any polarizer

Bridging Physics and Biology Teaching through Modeling

As the frontiers of biology become increasingly interdisciplinary, the physics education community has engaged in ongoing efforts to make physics classes more relevant to life sciences majors. These efforts are complicated by the many apparent differences between these fields, including the types of systems that each studies, the behavior of those systems, the kinds of measurements that each makes, and the role of mathematics in each field. Nonetheless, physics and biology are both sciences that rely on observations and measurements to construct models of the natural world. In the present theoretical article, we propose that efforts to bridge the teaching of these two disciplines must emphasize shared scientific practices, particularly scientific modeling. We define modeling using language common to both disciplines and highlight how an understanding of the modeling process can help reconcile apparent differences between the teaching of physics and biology. We elaborate how models can be used for explanatory, predictive, and functional purposes and present common models from each discipline demonstrating key modeling principles. By framing interdisciplinary teaching in the context of modeling, we aim to bridge physics and biology teaching and to equip students with modeling competencies applicable across any scientific discipline.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, 3 table

Relationship Between Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Blood Levels of Epstein-Barr Virus in Children in North-Western Tanzania: A Case Control Study.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas (NHL) are common in African children, with endemic Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) being the most common subtype. While the role of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in endemic BL is known, no data are available about clinical presentations of NHL subtypes and their relationship to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) load in peripheral blood of children in north-western, Tanzania. A matched case control study of NHL subtypes was performed in children under 15 years of age and their respective controls admitted to Bugando Medical Centre, Sengerema and Shirati district designated hospitals in north-western, Tanzania, between September 2010 and April 2011. Peripheral blood samples were collected on Whatman 903 filter papers and EBV DNA levels were estimated by multiplex real-time PCR. Clinical and laboratory data were collected using a structured data collection tool and analysed using chi-square, Fisher and Wilcoxon rank sum tests where appropriate. The association between NHL and detection of EBV in peripheral blood was assessed using conditional logistic regression model and presented as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 35 NHL cases and 70 controls matched for age and sex were enrolled. Of NHLs, 32 had BL with equal distribution between jaw and abdominal tumour, 2 had large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and 1 had NHL-not otherwise specified (NHL-NOS). Central nervous system (CNS) presentation occurred only in 1 BL patient; 19 NHLs had stage I and II of disease. Only 1 NHL was found to be HIV-seropositive. Twenty-one of 35 (60%) NHL and 21 of 70 (30%) controls had detectable EBV in peripheral blood (OR = 4.77, 95% CI 1.71 - 13.33, p = 0.003). In addition, levels of EBV in blood were significantly higher in NHL cases than in controls (p = 0.024). BL is the most common childhood NHL subtype in north-western Tanzania. NHLs are not associated with HIV infection, but are strongly associated with EBV load in peripheral blood. The findings suggest that high levels of EBV in blood might have diagnostic and prognostic relevance in African children

Características de la infección por EBV y análisis de poblaciones NK en amígdalas comparados con pacientes sanos

La respuesta de NK juega un rol importante en el control de la infección y la transformación mediada por virus de Epstein Barr (EBV) en niños de países desarrollados. Se desconoce la respuesta de NK en el marco de la infección asintomática en niños de países subdesarrollados. Nuestro objetivo fue caracterizar la infección por virus de Epstein-Barr (EBV) y su relación con las células NK presentes en el sitio de entrada y reactivación viral, las amígdalas.Analizamos 61 pacientes (rango etario 1-15 años, mediana 5 años), que fueron amigdalectomizados en el servicio de otorrinolaringología del HNRG. El estatus de infección viral fue determinado por serología, identificando pacientes no infectados (NI), primoinfectados (PI), portadores (HC) y cursando reactivación viral (R). La carga viral se determinó por PCR en tiempo real. La expresión de antígenos virales se evaluó por Inmunohistoquímica (IHQ) para LMP1, LMP2A, EBNA2 y BMRF1 y por hibridación in situ (HIS) para EBERS. Para identificar las subpoblaciones de NK presentes en el tejido y su funcionalidad se realizó IHQ para CD56, CD16, IFNg y GrzB. Los resultados se expresaron como células positivas/mm2. Además, en un subgrupo de 34 pacientes se realizó citometría de flujo para CD3, CD56, CD16, CD94 y NKG2D con el objetivo de analizar los subgrupos de NK.A partir del suero de 61 pacientes se identificaron 21 PI, 28 HC, 8 R y 4 NI. Si bien la CV resultó ser baja en todos los grupos, fue mayor en PI ( p=0.0306, Kruskal-Wallis test).Respecto del perfil de latencia, la latencia III se observó casi exclusivamente en HC (p= 0.0429, test de X2), mientras que los PI sólo presentaron Latencias I y II, no se observaron diferencias en la expresión de BMRF1 entre grupos de pacientes, sin embargo se hallaron diferencias significativas solamente en el recuento de células CD16+ en presencia o ausencia de este antígeno lítico (p=0.0370. test de Mann-Whitney). Las células CD56+ e IFNg+ analizadas por IHC presentaron correlación positiva entre ellas en el conjunto de pacientes (r=0.4012, p=0,0047) y específicamente en PI (r=0.7, p=0.002). El análisis por CF demostró correlación negativa entre CD56+ y la CV en todos los pacientes (r=-0,5469, p=0.039). En PI observamos correlación entre la edad y las células CD94+NKG2D+ (r=0,6685, p=0.0245) , mientras que en HC se demostró correlación positiva entre la edad y las células CD94-NKG2D- ( r= 0,5903, p= 0,0099)En PI encontramos baja carga viral, expresión restringida de antígenos virales de latencia y/o de ciclo lítico -que gatilla la respuesta inmune mediada por NK-, factores que pueden estar relacionados a la ausencia de síntomas. La menor carga viral asociada a un mayor recuento de células CD56+ puede estar reflejando un reclutamiento de células NK para controlar la infección por EBV, particularmente en pacientes mayores, en los que predomina la población CD94+NKG2D+. A su vez, el control por parte de las NK podría estar mediado por la producción de IFNg.Fil: Ferressini Gerpe, Natalia Marina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas; ArgentinaFil: Vistarop, Aldana Georgina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas; ArgentinaFil: Caldirola, Maria Soledad. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas; ArgentinaFil: Gaillard, M. I.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; ArgentinaFil: de Matteo, Elena Noemí. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Preciado, Maria Victoria. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas; ArgentinaFil: Chabay, Paola Andrea. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas; ArgentinaXXXVIII Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de VirologíaArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Virologí

Scanning Angle Plasmon Waveguide Resonance Raman Spectroscopy for the Analysis of Thin Polystyrene Films

Scanning angle (SA) Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize thin polymer films at a sapphire/50 nm gold film/polystyrene/air interface. When the polymer thickness is greater than ∼260 nm, this interface behaves as a plasmon waveguide; Raman scatter is greatly enhanced with both p- and s-polarized excitation compared to an interface without the gold film. In this study, the reflected light intensities from the interface and Raman spectra were collected as a function of incident angle for three samples with different polystyrene thicknesses. The Raman peak areas were well modeled with the calculated mean-square electric field (MSEF) integrated over the polymer film at varying incident angles. A 412 nm polystyrene plasmon waveguide generated 3.34× the Raman signal at 40.52° (the plasmon waveguide resonance angle) compared to the signal measured at 70.4° (the surface plasmon resonance angle). None of the studied polystyrene plasmon waveguides produced detectable Raman scatter using a 180° backscatter collection geometry, demonstrating the sensitivity of the SA Raman technique. The data highlight the ability to measure polymer thickness, chemical content, and, when combined with calculations of MSEF as a function of distance from the interface, details of polymer structure and order. The SA Raman spectroscopy thickness measurements agreed with those obtained from optical interferometery with an average difference of 2.6%. This technique has the potential to impact the rapidly developing technologies utilizing metal/polymer films for energy storage and electronic devices