Central America, Human Rights, and Displacement

While migration and displacement are not new phenomena in the region, parts of Central America are experiencing a crisis of displacement. This crisis has emerged due to the compounding effects of multiple factors: environmental degradation and climate change, economic upheavals caused by neoliberal reforms, political instability (especially in Honduras and Nicaragua), and violence stemming from corruption and organized crime. With a particular focus on factors related to violence and the deterioration of the rule of law, participants in this round table will describe and discuss the roots of displacement, the methodological and political challenges in documenting these migratory flows, and the risks and abuses faced by peoples in movement. Finally, the panelists will dialogue about strategies to support the empowerment of migrants, mobilize critical humanitarian aid, combat xenophobia and dehumanization, and compel states in the hemisphere to respect the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and asylum seekers. Participants in this panel have direct experience at the heart of this crisis, ranging from academic research and in-depth journalism to direct services, advocacy and activism

ZnO Nanowires/N719 dye with different aspect ratio as a possible photoelectrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) process was applied to fabricate zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) with a different aspect ratio (AR), morphological, and optical properties. The ZnO NWs were grown on a system that contains a quartz substrate with transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin film followed by an Al-doped ZnO (AZO) seed layer; both films were grown by magnetron sputtering at room temperature. It was found that the ZnO NWs presented high crystalline quality and vertical orientation from different structural and morphological characterizations. Also, NWs showed a good density distribution of 69 NWs/μm2 with a different AR that offers their capability to be used as possible photoelectrode (anode) in potential future device applications. The samples optical properties were studied using various techniques such as photoluminescence (PL), absorption, and transmittance before and after sensitization with N719 dye. The results demonstrated that NW with 30 nm diameter had the best characteristics as feasible photoelectrode (anode) (high absorption, minimum recombination, high crystallinity). Also, the present samples optical properties were found to be improved due to the existence of N719 dye and Au nanoparticles on the tip of NWs. NWs grown in this work can be used in different photonic and optoelectronic applications

Factors Determining Mortality of Adult Chaparral Shrubs in an Extreme Drought Year in California

We measured dieback and mortality in a chaparral shrub community at a chaparral/desert ecotone following four years of below-average rainfall. Ecotones are important systems in which to examine plant and community responses to extreme and prolonged drought conditions and the potential impact of global change on plant distributions and community composition. Following a particularly severe drought year, dieback and mortality were documented for seven co-dominant shrub species. We examined whether mortality was related to species ecology, leaf traits, or water relations. Dieback and mortality were greatest in two non-sprouting species. These species also had high xylem cavitation resistance and low specific leaf area compared to several sprouting species. Among two sprouting congeners, mortality was greater in the more shallowly rooted species, even though this species was more cavitation resistant. Across all species, those that were more resistant to cavitation had greater mortality. Evidently, high resistance to xylem cavitation does not prevent adult plant mortality at chaparral/desert ecotones. A series of extreme drought years could preferentially reduce or eliminate non-sprouting species from mixed chaparral populations, causing a shift in community structure and contributing to desertification

Low-Energy Electron Irradiation Efficiently Inactivates the Gram-Negative Pathogen Rodentibacter pneumotropicus—A New Method for the Generation of Bacterial Vaccines with Increased Efficacy

Bacterial pathogens cause severe infections worldwide in livestock and in humans, and antibiotic resistance further increases the importance of prophylactic vaccines. Inactivated bacterial vaccines (bacterins) are usually produced via incubation of the pathogen with chemicals such as formaldehyde, which is time consuming and may cause loss of immunogenicity due to the modification of structural components. We evaluated low-energy electron irradiation (LEEI) as an alternative method to generate a bacterin. Rodentibacter pneumotropicus, an invasive Gram-negative murine pathogen, was inactivated with LEEI and formaldehyde. LEEI resulted in high antigen conservation, and LPS activity was significantly better maintained when compared with formaldehyde treatment. Immunization of mice with LEEI-inactivated R. pneumotropicus elicited a strong immune response with no detectable bacterial burden upon sublethal challenge. The results of this study suggest the inactivation of bacteria with LEEI as an alternative, fast and efficient method to generate bacterial vaccines with increased efficacy

Toxoplasma gondii-Induced Activation of EGFR Prevents Autophagy Protein-Mediated Killing of the Parasite

Toxoplasma gondii resides in an intracellular compartment (parasitophorous vacuole) that excludes transmembrane molecules required for endosome-lysosome recruitment. Thus, the parasite survives by avoiding lysosomal degradation. However, autophagy can re-route the parasitophorous vacuole to the lysosomes and cause parasite killing. This raises the possibility that T. gondii may deploy a strategy to prevent autophagic targeting to maintain the non-fusogenic nature of the vacuole. We report that T. gondii activated EGFR in endothelial cells, retinal pigment epithelial cells and microglia. Blockade of EGFR or its downstream molecule, Akt, caused targeting of the parasite by LC3(+) structures, vacuole-lysosomal fusion, lysosomal degradation and killing of the parasite that were dependent on the autophagy proteins Atg7 and Beclin 1. Disassembly of GPCR or inhibition of metalloproteinases did not prevent EGFR-Akt activation. T. gondii micronemal proteins (MICs) containing EGF domains (EGF-MICs; MIC3 and MIC6) appeared to promote EGFR activation. Parasites defective in EGF-MICs (MIC1 ko, deficient in MIC1 and secretion of MIC6; MIC3 ko, deficient in MIC3; and MIC1-3 ko, deficient in MIC1, MIC3 and secretion of MIC6) caused impaired EGFR-Akt activation and recombinant EGF-MICs (MIC3 and MIC6) caused EGFR-Akt activation. In cells treated with autophagy stimulators (CD154, rapamycin) EGFR signaling inhibited LC3 accumulation around the parasite. Moreover, increased LC3 accumulation and parasite killing were noted in CD154-activated cells infected with MIC1-3 ko parasites. Finally, recombinant MIC3 and MIC6 inhibited parasite killing triggered by CD154 particularly against MIC1-3 ko parasites. Thus, our findings identified EGFR activation as a strategy used by T. gondii to maintain the non-fusogenic nature of the parasitophorous vacuole and suggest that EGF-MICs have a novel role in affecting signaling in host cells to promote parasite survival

Aislamiento y desarrollo micelial de cepas silvestres de Agaricus bisporus (JE Lange) Imbach en la Región del Cusco

Se realizó el aislamiento de cepas a partir de especímenes silvestres de Agaricus bisporus colectadas en 5 localidades de la región del Cusco pertenecientes a las provincias de Anta yCusco, obteniendo 6 cepas silvestres codificadas como: Ag01, Ag02, Ag03, Ag04, Ag05 y Ag06, las cuales se encuentran almacenadas en el CIPHAM y banco de cepas de la Sociedad deMicología Aplicada del Cusco - IIFAA. Posteriormente se realizó la caracterización micelial, obteniendo como moda las siguientes características: micelio de color blanco en el anverso,crema rosácea en el reverso, de forma irregular, plana, de margen filiforme lobulada, textura aterciopelada, densidad media, con pocas hifas aéreas y con regular abundancia de rizomorfos. Además, una característica sobresaliente en algunas cepas fue la presencia de conglomerados miceliales con producción de exudados de color café. Por otro lado, se realizó la evaluación comparativa de la velocidad de crecimiento de las cepas en 6 medios de cultivo: papa dextrosa agar (PDA), PDA + extracto de levadura (PDAy), PDA + peptona (PDAp), extracto de malta agar (EMA), EMA + extracto de levadura (EMAy) y EMA + peptona (EMAp). Los mejores resultados se presentaron en el medio de cultivo EMA con la cepa Ag03 (3.07 mm/día) originaria del C.P. Compone de la provincia de Anta, Región del Cusco

Análisis proximal y características fitoquímicas de Agaricus bisporus y Pleurotus djamor colectados en la región Cusco, Perú

Se realizó el análisis proximal y tamizaje fitoquímico de hongos alimenticios y medicinales procedentes de la Región Cusco, Perú. Se colectaron basidiocarpos maduros en la zona andina de la provincia de Anta (Agaricus bisporus) y en la zona amazónica de la provincia de La Convención (Pleurotus djamor). El análisis proximal bromatológico se realizó utilizando métodos AOAC, mientras que el análisis fitoquímico cualitativo se realizó por cromatografía en capa fina (TLC). La determinación de aminoácidos totales y carbohidratos se efectuó mediante cromatografía liquida de alta resolución (HPLC-DAD RID, detección de índice de refracción). Los resultados muestran que ambas especies contienen alcaloides y triterpenos esteroides. De los 17 aminoácidos evaluados, todos están presentes en ambas especies, siendo 8 de ellos esenciales. Destaca el contenido de alanina (376,74 ± 32,95 mg/100g) e isoleucina (117,16 ± 11,22 mg/100g) en el género Agaricus y el de metionina (52,05 ± 2,29 mg/100g) en Pleurotus. Entre los carbohidratos analizados, se detectó glucosa, siendo el valor para P. djamor mayor que para A. bisporus, En el análisis proximal, A. bisporus presenta un mayor porcentaje de proteínas (26,57 ± 0,34 %) y carbohidratos (60,44 ± 0,27%) que P. djamor; sin embargo, este último contiene mayor cantidad de humedad (16,94 ± 0,37%), grasa (1,78 ± 0,08%) y fibra (12,34 ± 0,08%). En conclusión, ambas especies presentan un perfil nutricional rico y equilibrado, son fuente de proteínas, aminoácidos esenciales, fibra y bajo contenido en grasas, junto con importantes metabolitos secundarios que los convierte en opciones alimenticias saludables y en potenciales agentes terapéuticos, reforzando su valor como alimentos funcionales

Landscape transformations at the dawn of agriculture in southern Syria (10.7–9.9 ka cal. BP): plant-specific responses to the impact of human activities and climate change

In southwest Asia, the accelerated impact of human activities on the landscape has often been linked to the development of fully agricultural societies during the middle and late Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) period (around 10.2–7.9 ka cal. BP). This work contributes to the debate on the environmental impact of the so-called Neolitisation process by identifying the climatic and anthropogenic factors that contributed to change local and regional vegetation at the time when domesticated plants appeared and developed in southern Syria (around 10.7–9.9 ka cal. BP). In this work a multidisciplinary analysis of plant microremains (pollen and phytoliths) and macroremains (wood charcoal) is carried out along with stable carbon isotope discrimination of wood charcoals in an early PPNB site (Tell Qarassa North, west of the Jabal al-Arab area). Prior to 10.5 ka cal. BP, the results indicate a dynamic equilibrium in the local and regional vegetation, which comprised woodland-steppe, Mediterranean evergreen oak-woodlands, wetland vegetation and coniferous forests. Around 10.5–9.9 ka cal. BP, the elements that regulated the vegetation system changed, resulting in reduced proportions of arboreal cover and the spread of cold-tolerant and wetlands species. Our data show that reinforcing interaction between the elements of the anthropogenic (e.g. herding, fire-related activities) and climatic systems (e.g. temperature, rainfall) contributed to the transformation of early Holocene vegetation during the emergence of fully agricultural societies in southern Syria

The Role of the st313-td Gene in Virulence of Salmonella Typhimurium ST313

Multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ST313 has emerged in sub-Saharan Africa causing severe infections in humans. Therefore, it has been speculated that this specific sequence type, ST313, carries factors associated with increased pathogenicity. We assessed the role in virulence of a gene with a yet unknown function, st313-td, detected in ST313 through comparative genomics. Additionally, the structure of the genomic island ST313-GI, harbouring the gene was determined. The gene st313-td was cloned into wild type S. Typhimurium 4/74 (4/74-C) as well as knocked out in S. Typhimurium ST313 02-03/002 (Δst313-td) followed by complementation (02-03/002-C). Δst313-td was less virulent in mice following i.p. challenge than the wild type and this phenotype could be partly complemented in trans, indicating that st313-td plays a role during systemic infection. The gene st313-td was shown not to affect invasion of cultured epithelial cells, while the absence of the gene significantly affects uptake and intracellular survival within macrophages. The gene st313-td was proven to be strongly associated to invasiveness, harboured by 92.5% of S. Typhimurium blood isolates (n = 82) and 100% of S. Dublin strains (n = 50) analysed. On the contrary, S. Typhimurium isolates of animal and food origin (n = 82) did not carry st313-td. Six human, non-blood isolates of S. Typhimurium from Belarus, China and Nepal harboured the gene and belonged to sequence types ST398 and ST19. Our data showed a global presence of the st313-td gene and in other sequence types than ST313. The gene st313-td was shown to be expressed during logarithmic phase of growth in 14 selected Salmonella strains carrying the gene. This study reveals that st313-td plays a role in S. Typhimurium ST313 pathogenesis and adds another chapter to understanding of the virulence of S. Typhimurium and in particular of the emerging sequence type ST313

The management of acute venous thromboembolism in clinical practice. Results from the European PREFER in VTE Registry

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Europe. Data from real-world registries are necessary, as clinical trials do not represent the full spectrum of VTE patients seen in clinical practice. We aimed to document the epidemiology, management and outcomes of VTE using data from a large, observational database. PREFER in VTE was an international, non-interventional disease registry conducted between January 2013 and July 2015 in primary and secondary care across seven European countries. Consecutive patients with acute VTE were documented and followed up over 12 months. PREFER in VTE included 3,455 patients with a mean age of 60.8 ± 17.0 years. Overall, 53.0 % were male. The majority of patients were assessed in the hospital setting as inpatients or outpatients (78.5 %). The diagnosis was deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in 59.5 % and pulmonary embolism (PE) in 40.5 %. The most common comorbidities were the various types of cardiovascular disease (excluding hypertension; 45.5 %), hypertension (42.3 %) and dyslipidaemia (21.1 %). Following the index VTE, a large proportion of patients received initial therapy with heparin (73.2 %), almost half received a vitamin K antagonist (48.7 %) and nearly a quarter received a DOAC (24.5 %). Almost a quarter of all presentations were for recurrent VTE, with >80 % of previous episodes having occurred more than 12 months prior to baseline. In conclusion, PREFER in VTE has provided contemporary insights into VTE patients and their real-world management, including their baseline characteristics, risk factors, disease history, symptoms and signs, initial therapy and outcomes