Behind Closed Doors: Autonomous Colonization in Post United Nations Era - The Case for Western Sahara

This paper\u27s central objective is to highlight, through a critical assessment of the conflict, a compelling case for the independent State of Western Sahara. Part I provides a snapshot of the conflict from the time of Spanish colonial rule, paying particular attention to the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Western Sahara, the Moroccan invasion and subsequent illegal occupation of Western Sahara, the U.N. attempted referendum under MINURSO, concluding with the most recent extension of the U.N. mandate. Part II articulates the argument for statehood by evaluating Western Sahara\u27s claims under the binding authority of the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (hereinafter Montevideo Convention ). Part III discusses the legal principle of self-determination. The normative evolution of this principle is highlighted through a historical accounting of its American origins with Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson to the current customary international law principle as defined by U.N. resolution 1514 (XV). This section will bring to light the irony that, while the U.N. supported the granting of a fully independent East Timor to its people, there is a clear attempt to adopt a completely different and contradictory approach to an identical situation in Western Sahara. Part III concludes with a discussion of the normative progression of the right to self-determination, highlighting the incorporation of a human rights component as demonstrated by Kosovo\u27s declaration as an independent state, as well as the right to natural resources. Part IV seeks to expose the role power politics has played in the thirty-plus year delay of the U.N. mandated referendum. This section will critically examine the ineffective role the U.N. Security Council has played in resolving the conflict, focusing on the actions of France and the U.S. Part V dissects the 2007 Autonomy Plan (hereinafter the Plan ) offered by Morocco and the continued failure to recognize the Saharawi\u27s people\u27s right to self-determination in a fair, free, and democratic manner. If any other solution besides this fundamental tenant of international and human rights law is utilized, it will only lead to further instability and conflict in the region, which may ignite a catastrophic spark that could potentially lead to a third world war. Finally, this paper will conclude with a policy argument for the use of Chapter 7 powers by the U.N. Security Council

Behind Closed Doors: Autonomous Colonization in Post United Nations Era - The Case for Western Sahara

This paper\u27s central objective is to highlight, through a critical assessment of the conflict, a compelling case for the independent State of Western Sahara. Part I provides a snapshot of the conflict from the time of Spanish colonial rule, paying particular attention to the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Western Sahara, the Moroccan invasion and subsequent illegal occupation of Western Sahara, the U.N. attempted referendum under MINURSO, concluding with the most recent extension of the U.N. mandate. Part II articulates the argument for statehood by evaluating Western Sahara\u27s claims under the binding authority of the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (hereinafter Montevideo Convention ). Part III discusses the legal principle of self-determination. The normative evolution of this principle is highlighted through a historical accounting of its American origins with Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson to the current customary international law principle as defined by U.N. resolution 1514 (XV). This section will bring to light the irony that, while the U.N. supported the granting of a fully independent East Timor to its people, there is a clear attempt to adopt a completely different and contradictory approach to an identical situation in Western Sahara. Part III concludes with a discussion of the normative progression of the right to self-determination, highlighting the incorporation of a human rights component as demonstrated by Kosovo\u27s declaration as an independent state, as well as the right to natural resources. Part IV seeks to expose the role power politics has played in the thirty-plus year delay of the U.N. mandated referendum. This section will critically examine the ineffective role the U.N. Security Council has played in resolving the conflict, focusing on the actions of France and the U.S. Part V dissects the 2007 Autonomy Plan (hereinafter the Plan ) offered by Morocco and the continued failure to recognize the Saharawi\u27s people\u27s right to self-determination in a fair, free, and democratic manner. If any other solution besides this fundamental tenant of international and human rights law is utilized, it will only lead to further instability and conflict in the region, which may ignite a catastrophic spark that could potentially lead to a third world war. Finally, this paper will conclude with a policy argument for the use of Chapter 7 powers by the U.N. Security Council

Phase II study of single-agent bosutinib, a Src/Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer pretreated with chemotherapy

Background: This phase II study evaluated single-agent bosutinib in pretreated patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Patients and methods: Patients received oral bosutinib 400 mg/day. The primary end point was the progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 16 weeks. Secondary end points included objective response rate, clinical benefit rate, 2-year overall survival rate, safety, and changes in levels of bone resorption/formation biomarkers. Results: Seventy-three patients were enrolled and treated. Median time from diagnosis of metastatic disease to initiation of bosutinib treatment was 24.5 months. For the intent-to-treat population, the PFS rate at 16 weeks was 39.6%. Unexpectedly, all responding patients (n = 4) were hormone receptor positive. The clinical benefit rate was 27.4%. The 2-year overall survival rate was 26.4%. The main toxic effects were diarrhea (66%), nausea (55%), and vomiting (47%). Grade 3-4 laboratory aminotransferase elevations occurred in 14 (19%) patients. Myelosuppression was minimal. No consistent changes in the levels of bone resorption/formation biomarkers were seen. Conclusions: Bosutinib showed promising efficacy in prolonging time to progression in chemotherapy-pretreated patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Bosutinib was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile different from that of the Src/Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib in a similar patient population.peer-reviewe

Analysis of Heavy Rainfall in Sub-Saharan Africa and HIV Transmission Risk, HIV Prevalence, and Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2005-2017

Importance Extreme precipitation, including heavy rains and flooding, is associated with poor health outcomes mediated in part by decreases in income and food production. However, the association between heavy rains and HIV burden is unknown. Objective To investigate the association between heavy rainfall, HIV prevalence, and HIV transmission risk over a 12-year span in sub-Saharan Africa. Design, Setting, and Participants A cross-sectional population-based study, using data collected from the 2005-2017 Demographic and Health Surveys, was conducted in 21 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and analyzed from July 29, 2021, to June 14, 2022. Exposures Heavy rainfall was defined based on the extent to which annual rainfall deviated from the historical average (standardized precipitation index ≥1.5) at the enumeration area level. Main Outcomes and Measures HIV, self-reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and number of sexual partners. Results The study included 288 333 participants aged 15 to 59 years; 172 344 were women (59.8%), and 183 378 were married (63.6%). Mean (SD) age was 31.9 (10.0) years. Overall, 42.4% of participants were exposed to at least 1 year of heavy rainfall in the past 10 years. Each year of heavy rainfall was associated with 1.14 (95% CI, 1.11-1.18) times the odds of HIV infection and 1.11 (95% CI, 1.07-1.15) times the odds of an STI in the past 12 months. There was also an association between heavy rainfall and the reported number of sexual partners (incident rate ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.10-1.15). The odds were greater for the association between heavy rainfall and HIV prevalence and STIs among participants aged older than 20 years and participants in rural areas. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this study suggest that heavy rainfall was associated with a higher HIV burden in sub-Saharan Africa. The association between heavy rainfall and STIs and number of sexual partners suggests that an increase in the risk of sexual transmission is a plausible mechanism for the observed findings around HIV prevalence. Heavy rainfall could also worsen food insecurity, increasing the risk of transactional sex, or cause damage to public health infrastructure, reducing access to STI education, HIV testing, and treatment

Landscape Diversity Related to Buruli Ulcer Disease in Côte d'Ivoire

Buruli ulcer (BU) is one of the most neglected but treatable tropical diseases. The causative organism, Mycobacterium ulcerans, is from the family of bacteria that causes tuberculosis and leprosy. This severe skin disease leads to long-term functional disability if not treated. BU has been reported in over 30 countries mainly with tropical and subtropical climates, but Côte d'Ivoire is one of the most affected countries. M. ulcerans is an environmental bacterium and its mode of transmission to humans is still unclear, such that the disease is often referred to as the “mysterious disease” or the “new leprosy”. Here, we explored the relationship between environmental and socioeconomic factors and BU cases on a nationwide scale. We found that irrigated rice field cultures areas, and, to a lesser extent, banana fields as well as areas in the vicinity of dams used for irrigation and aquaculture purposes, represent high risk zones for the human population to contract BU in Côte d'Ivoire. This work identifies high-risk areas for BU in Côte d'Ivoire and deserves to be extended to different countries. We need now to obtain a global vision and understanding of the route of transmission of M. ulcerans to humans in order to better implement control strategies

Dendritic and T Cell Response to Influenza is Normal in the Patients with X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia

Introduction Influenza virus is a potential cause of severe disease in the immunocompromised. X-linked agammaglobu-linemia (XLA) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by the lack of immunoglobulin, B cells, and plasma cells, secondary to mutation in Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk) gene

A case of autism with an interstitial deletion on 4q leading to hemizygosity for genes encoding for glutamine and glycine neurotransmitter receptor sub-units (AMPA 2, GLRA3, GLRB) and neuropeptide receptors NPY1R, NPY5R

BACKGROUND: Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by a triad of deficits: qualitative impairments in social interactions, communication deficits, and repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Although autism is etiologically heterogeneous, family and twin studies have established a definite genetic basis. The inheritance of idiopathic autism is presumed to be complex, with many genes involved; environmental factors are also possibly contributory. The analysis of chromosome abnormalities associated with autism contributes greatly to the identification of autism candidate genes. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a child with autistic disorder and an interstitial deletion on chromosome 4q. This child first presented at 12 months of age with developmental delay and minor dysmorphic features. At 4 years of age a diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder was made. At 11 years of age he met diagnostic criteria for autism. Cytogenetic studies revealed a chromosome 4q deletion. The karyotype was 46, XY del 4 (q31.3-q33). Here we report the clinical phenotype of the child and the molecular characterization of the deletion using molecular cytogenetic techniques and analysis of polymorphic markers. These studies revealed a 19 megabase deletion spanning 4q32 to 4q34. Analysis of existing polymorphic markers and new markers developed in this study revealed that the deletion arose on a paternally derived chromosome. To date 33 genes of known or inferred function are deleted as a consequence of the deletion. Among these are the AMPA 2 gene that encodes the glutamate receptor GluR2 sub-unit, GLRA3 and GLRB genes that encode glycine receptor subunits and neuropeptide Y receptor genes NPY1R and NPY5R. CONCLUSIONS: The deletion in this autistic subject serves to highlight specific autism candidate genes. He is hemizygous for AMPA 2, GLRA3, GLRB, NPY1R and NPY5R. GluR2 is the major determinant of AMPA receptor structure. Glutamate receptors maintain structural and functional plasticity of synapses. Neuropeptide Y and its receptors NPY1R and NPY5R play a role in hippocampal learning and memory. Glycine receptors are expressed in very early cortical development. Molecular cytogenetic studies and DNA sequence analysis in other patients with autism will be necessary to confirm that these genes are involved in autism

Aliskiren affects fatty-acid uptake and lipid-related genes in rodent and human cardiomyocytes

International audienceWe investigated whether the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren can affect metabolism in cardiomyocytes from rat, mouse and human sources. METHODS AND RESULTS: At 10-50μmol/L, aliskiren significantly increased medium-chain-fatty-acid uptake in primary-cultured neonatal-rat and HL-1 adult-mouse-derived cardiomyocytes (BODIPY-induced fluorescence intensity). The fatty-acid transporter CD-36 was correspondingly translocated to, but the glucose transporter Glut-4 away from, the sarcoplasmic reticulum/plasma membrane, in primary-cultured neonatal-rat (CD-36, Glut-4) and adult-human (CD-36) cardiomyocytes (confocal immunocytochemistry). Immunoblotting showed that aliskiren induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in cardiomyocytes from all three sources; responses were dose- and time-dependent, unaffected by renin treatment, and did not cause alterations in expression of (P)R or Igf2/M6P receptors. Microarray analysis of the complete genome of aliskiren-treated neonatal-rat cardiomyocytes, with RT-qPCR and immunoblot confirmation assays in rat and human primary cardiomyocytes, showed that aliskiren up-regulated mRNA and increased protein expression of several enzymes important in lipid and glucose metabolism and in cholesterol biosynthesis. Cardiomyocyte cell-cycle and viability were unaffected by aliskiren