The measurement of budgetary operations in highly distorted economies : the case of Angola

In a highly distorted economy such as Angola's, budget accounts can be misleading - because prices in the parallel market, including the exchange rate, represent up to 100 times official prices. Parallel prices are the real opportunity costs for consumers and guide them in their decisions. The government collects its taxes and pays its expenses in two currencies: Kwanzas that have attached buying rights, such as access to hard currencies or goods, and Kwanzas which have to be used in the parallel market. This paper also discusses the impact policy adjustment would have on the budget deficit.Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Economic Stabilization,Public Sector Economics&Finance,Markets and Market Access

Education / communication in popular MST (Brasil)

En este artículo reflexionamos sobre las prácticas educativas comunitarias desarrolladas por una de las organizaciones sociales de mayor trascendencia en Latinoamérica, el “Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST)”, fundado en 1984 en Brasil. La intención de este artículo es aportar a los debates actuales sobre la vinculación de los movimientos sociales con la educación y la comunicación para la ciudadanía en la región. Entendemos la educación como instancias de comunicación, y la comunicación como escenarios donde se produce el aprendizaje colectivo, es decir, la educación. En este sentido la idea de “proceso socio-cultural” es fundamental para comprender el acto educativo como hecho comunicativo y viceversa. En una primera parte, presentamos conceptos y perspectivas teóricas sobre los movimientos y organizaciones rurales en el continente. En una segunda instancia, profundizamos sobre la propuesta de educación popular en el MST, desde la perspectiva del pedagogo brasilero Paulo Freire, enfatizando sobre las escuelas en los ámbitos rurales y la formación de intelectuales orgánicos. Por último, analizamos la función de los medios de comunicación comunitarios gestionados por el movimiento, los cuales se conforman como espacios de aprendizaje para el cambio social. Este ensayo se nutre de bibliografía específica sobre la temática y del análisis de material periodístico elaborado por el MST.Neste artigo refletimos acerca das práticas educativas comunitárias desenvolvidas por uma das organizações sociais de maior proeminência na América Latina, o “Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais sem Terra (MST)”, fundado em 1984 no Brasil. A intenção do presente artigo é contribuir para os debates atuais sobre a vinculação dos movimentos sociais com a educação e a comunicação para a cidadania na região. Entendemos a educação como instâncias de comunicação, e a comunicação como cenários nos quais se produz a aprendizagem coletiva, isto é, a educação. Neste sentido, a ideia de “processo sócio-cultural” é fundamental para compreender o ato educativo como ato comunicativo e vice-versa. Numa primeira parte, apresentamos conceitos e perspetivas teóricas sobre os movimentos e as organizações rurais no continente. Num segundo momento, consideramos em maior profundidade a proposta de educação popular no MST a partir da perspetiva do pedagogo brasileiro Paulo Freire, enfatizando o papel das escolas em âmbito rural e a formação de intelectuais orgânicos. Por último, analisamos a função dos meios de comunicação comuni-tários geridos pelo movimento, os quais se constituem como espaços de aprendizagem para a mudança social. Este ensaio apoia-se em bibliografia específica sobre a temática e na análise de material de imprensa elaborado pelo MST.In this paper we reflect on the community educational practices developed by one of the most significant social organizations in Latin America, the "Movimento dos Landless Rural Workers (MST)", founded in 1984 in Brazil. The aim of this article is to contribute to current debates on the relationship of social movements to education and communication for the citizens in the region. We understand education as instances of communication, and communication as settings where collective learning, ie, education occurs. In this sense the idea of "socio-cultural process" is crucial to understanding the educational act as a commu-nicative act, and vice versa. In the first part, we present concepts and theoretical perspec-tives on the movements and rural organizations in the continent. In a second instance, we deepen the proposal of popular education in the MST, from the perspective of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, focusing on schools in rural areas and the formation of organic intellectuals. Finally, we discuss the role of community media managed by the movement, which become learning spaces for social change. This essay draws on specific literature on the subject and the analysis of journalistic material prepared by the MST.Fil: Elbirt, Ana Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Investigaciones Socio-Históricas Regionales. Unidad de Investigación en Historia Regional - Nodo Unihr/Ishir; Argentin

Role of MAP Kinases in the Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 by Arsenite: Studies in Chicken Hepatoma Cells: A Dissertation

The chicken hepatoma cell line, LMH, was evaluated with respect to its usefulness for studies of the regulation of heme metabolism. Levels of δ-aminolevulinate synthase mRNA arid accumulation of porphyrins were used to evaluate the heme biosynthetic pathway. Regulation of heme oxygenase-1 by known inducers was used as a measure of heme degradation. The induction of heme oxygenase-1 by sodium arsenite was characterized. AP-1 transcription factor elements and MAP kinase signal transduction pathways that modulate expression of endogenous heme oxygenase-1 and transfected heme oxygenase-1 reporter gene constructs in response to arsenite were delineated. In initial studies, the drug glutethimide was used alone or in combination with ferric nitrilotriacetate to induce δ-aminolevulinate synthase mRNA. Levels of porphyrins, intermediates in the heme biosynthetic pathway, and levels of δ-aminolevulinate synthase mRNA were increased by these treatments in a manner similar to those previously observed in the widely used model system, primary chick embryo liver cells. The iron chelator, deferoxamine, gave a characteristic shift in the glutethimide induced porphyrin accumulation in primary hepatocytes, but was found to have no, effect on LMH cells. Heme mediated repression of δ-aminolevulinate synthase mRNA levels was similar among primary hepatocytes and LMH cells. Heme oxygenase-1 was regulated by heme, metals, heat shock, and oxidative stress-inducing chemicals in LMH cells. Heat shock induction of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA levels was observed for the first time in primary chick embryo liver cells. These data supported the further use of LMH cells to elucidate mechanisms responsible for modulating heme oxygenase-1 gene expression in response to inducers. The remainder of the studies focused on the role of heme oxygenase-1 as a stress response protein. The oxidative stress inducer, sodium arsenite was used to probe the cellular mechanisms that control the expression of heme oxygenase-1. A series of promoter-reporter constructs were used to search the heme oxygenase-1 promoter for arsenite responsive elements. Several activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor binding elements were identified by computer sequence analysis. Three of these sites, located at -1578, -3656, and -4597 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site, were mutated. The arsenite responsiveness of the reporter constructs containing mutated AP-1 elements was less than that of the same constructs containing wild type AP-1 elements. At least part of the arsenite-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 required the activity of AP-1 transcriptional elements. The MAP kinase signal transduction pathways and heme oxygenase-1 are activated by similar stimuli, including cellular stress. MAP kinases have been shown to exert control over gene expression through effects on the AP-1 family of transcription factors. The MAP kinases ERK, JNK, and p38 were activated by arsenite in LMH cells. Constitutively activated components of the ERK and p38 pathways increased expression of heme oxygenase-1 promoter-luciferase reporter constructs. Arsenite-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 was blocked by dominant negative ERK or p38 pathway components, and by specific inhibitors of MEK (upstream ERK kinase) or p38. In contrast, reporter gene expression was unchanged in the presence of constitutively activated JNK pathway components. Dominant negative JNK pathway components had no effect on arsenite induced heme oxygenase-1 gene activity. In summary, LMH cells were characterized as a new model system for the study of heme metabolism. This cell line was then used to delineate promoter elements and signaling pathways involved in the arsenite responsiveness of heme oxygenase-1 gene expression. Three AP-1 transcription factor binding sites in the heme oxygenase-1 promoter region were required for responsiveness to arsenite. The MAP kinases ERK and p38 were shown to play an integral role in arsenite-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1. These studies elucidate one facet of heme oxygenase-1 regulation, and provide tools that will be useful in delineating additional regulatory mechanisms

Desplazamientos en la imaginación nacional. Figuras y narrativas del ensayo Salta: de Lucrecia Martel a un bohemio provinciano

En Los confines de Occidente, publicado originalmente en 1954, Bernardo Canal Feijóo discutió con la tradición ensayística inaugurada por la Generación del 37: el ensayo argentino contribuyó definitivamente al centralismo, al crecimiento del Litoral y al empequeñecimiento de la Argentina "mediterránea", fundamentalmente de sus ciudades más antiguas ubicadas hacia el Norte, en la antigua ruta que se encontraba con el Alto Perú en tiempos coloniales. El ensayo, para Canal Feijóo, configuró una "imaginación nacional" afincada en el paisaje de la pampa.La potencia del ensayo se encuentra en su capacidad de producir representaciones sociales. En este sentido, el ensayo, como afirma Adrián Gorelik, más que una clave de interpretación, es una fuente de creación de imágenes que son constituyentes de fragmentos completos de la realidad. En esta investigación partimos de un gran interrogante: ¿Cómo imagina la nación el ensayismo de los interiores argentinos? En esta pregunta subyacen, al menos, dos supuestos:I. El ensayo es una narrativa extraordinaria para comprender las distintas miradas sobre lo social, miradas que inciden en la reproducción o transformación de la realidad.II. Existen una suerte de ensayos producidos desde un espacio extracéntrico en una configuración nacional marcada a fuego por el binomio capital/interior, con sus respectivas representaciones dominantes. De esta manera, otras preguntas se unen al interrogante planteado: ¿Con qué figuras imagina la cultura y la tradición nacional el "ensayo extracéntrico"? ¿Qué territorios e identidades pueden trazarse en estos textos? Para responder estas preguntas proponemos un abordaje teórico-metodológico: iniciamos la investigación en Salta, como una de las entradas posibles al ensayo. Sin embargo, el análisis sobre un conjunto heterogéneo de objetos culturales nos permite movernos por distintas coordinadas espacio-temporales: iremos de Lucrecia Martel a las monografías costumbristas de Francisco Centeno, un "provinciano" funcionario en la Casa Rosada durante los gobiernos conservadores de comienzos del siglo XX; en el medio haremos algunas paradas en los peruanos Ricardo Palma y José Carlos Mariátegui, en Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, Juan Bautista Alberdi, Bernardo Canal Feijóo, Ezequiel Martínez Estrada, la poesía de Manuel J. Castilla, los estudios sociales contemporáneos en Bolivia y los enfoques poscoloniales y decoloniales. Notarán que comenzamos en Lucrecia Martel, puesto que este ensayo está construido como un montaje cinematográfico, donde los primeros fotogramas están narrados desde un plano de actualidad, para luego realizar un juego de temporalidades en el que alternamos el presente con el pasado. No nos basamos en la linealidad cronológica que suele caracterizar la narración histórica clásica: proponemos ir y volver en el tiempo.Fil: Elbirt, Ana Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Investigaciones Socio-Históricas Regionales. Unidad de Investigación en Historia Regional - Nodo Unihr/Ishir; Argentin

The Argentina-Bolivia Border: A View from the Historical Records of the Diplomatic Service

El artículo procura aportar al conocimiento de la historia de la región de frontera argentino-boliviana en un momento clave de su desarrollo, cuando se fundan las ciudades de La Quiaca (Argentina) y Villazón (Bolivia), en la primera década del siglo XX. Se inicia con un análisis del concepto de frontera, entendido como espacio singular y como región susceptible de historiarse, para luego presentar un panorama general de la misma entre 1880 y 1930. Se pone especial énfasis en la incidencia estatal en la frontera y en la actuación y testimonios de sus representantes (diplomáticos y agentes consulares). Las fuentes utilizadas provienen, principalmente, del Archivo del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto de Argentina y del Archivo y Biblioteca Nacionales de Bolivia.This article seeks to contribute to the historical knowledge of the ArgentinianBolivian border region during a key moment on their development, during the foundation of the cities of La Quiaca (Argentina) and Villazón (Bolivia) on the first decade of the 20th century. This begins with an analysis of the concept of border, understood as a singular space and susceptible region to go down into history, and it presents a general panorama of the region between 1880 and 1930. It places a special emphasis on the impact of the Bolivian and Argentinian states and on the performances and testimonies of their representatives (diplomats and consular officials). The sources mainly used come from the archives of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Culture and from the Bolivian National Archive and Library.Fil: Teruel, Ana Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Unidad Ejecutora en Ciencias Sociales Regionales y Humanidades. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Unidad Ejecutora en Ciencias Sociales Regionales y Humanidades; ArgentinaFil: Elbirt, Ana Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Unidad Ejecutora en Ciencias Sociales Regionales y Humanidades. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Unidad Ejecutora en Ciencias Sociales Regionales y Humanidades; Argentin

The promoter activity of human Mfn2 depends on Sp1 in vascular smooth muscle cells

AIMS: Mitofusin-2 (Mfn2) expression is dysregulated in vascular proliferative disorders and its overexpression attenuates the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and neointimal lesion development after balloon angioplasty. We sought to gain insight into the mechanisms that control Mfn2 expression in VSMCs. METHODS AND RESULTS: We cloned and characterized 2 kb of the 5'-flanking region of the human Mfn2 gene. Its TATA-less promoter contains a CpG island. In keeping with this, 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends revealed six transcriptional start sites (TSSs), of which TSS2 and TSS5 were the most frequently used. The strong CpG island was found to be non-methylated under conditions characterized by large differences in Mfn2 gene expression. The proximal Mfn2 promoter contains six putative Sp1 motifs. Sp1 binds to the Mfn2 promoter and its overexpression activates the Mfn2 promoter in VSMCs. Chemical inhibition of Sp1 reduced Mfn2 expression, and Sp1 silencing reduced transcriptional activity of the Mfn2 promoter. In keeping with this view, Sp1 and Mfn2 mRNA levels were down-regulated in the aorta early after an atherogenic diet in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice or in VSMCs cultured in the presence of low serum. CONCLUSION: Sp1 is a key factor in maintaining basal Mfn2 transcription in VSMCs. Given the anti-proliferative actions of Mfn2, Sp1-induced Mfn2 transcription may represent a mechanism for prevention of VSMC proliferation and neointimal lesion and development

Observational cohort study of rilpivirine (RPV) utilization in Europe

INTRODUCTION: Data on safety and effectiveness of RPV from the real-world setting as well as comparisons with other NNRTIs such as efavirenz (EFV) remain scarce. METHODS: Participants of EuroSIDA were included if they had started a RPV- or an EFV-containing regimen over November 2011-December 2017. Statistical testing was conducted using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test. A logistic regression model was used to compare participants' characteristics by treatment group. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate the cumulative risk of virological failure (VF, two consecutive values > 50 copies/mL). RESULTS: 1,355 PLWH who started a RPV-based regimen (11% ART-naïve), as well as 333 initiating an EFV-containing regimen were included. Participants who started RPV differed from those starting EFV for demographics (age, geographical region) and immune-virological profiles (CD4 count, HIV RNA). The cumulative risk of VF for the RPV-based group was 4.5% (95% CI 3.3-5.7%) by 2 years from starting treatment (71 total VF events). Five out of 15 (33%) with resistance data available in the RPV group showed resistance-associated mutations vs. 3/13 (23%) among those in the EFV group. Discontinuations due to intolerance/toxicity were reported for 73 (15%) of RPV- vs. 45 (30%) of EFV-treated participants (p = 0.0001). The main difference was for toxicity of central nervous system (CNS, 3% vs. 22%, p  50 copies/mL and resistance in participants treated with RPV were similar to those reported by other studies. RPV safety profile was favourable with less frequent discontinuation due to toxicity than EFV (especially for CNS)