A time series approach on the effect of climate variability on Davao\u27s coconut production

Coconut is one of Philippines\u27 major exports and is a major source of income and livelihood for many Filipinos. However, studies on the effect of climate changes on coconut production in the Philippines are limited. The researchers used time series analysis to study the effect of climate variations, specifically of temperature and rainfall on coconut production in Davao Region from 1994-2008. A univariate AR(3) model for quarterly coconut production was obtained and compared with transfer function models that relate coconut production with rainfall, maximum temperature and minimum temperature. For each climate variable, an ARIMA model was fitted that served as pre-whitening filters in identifying transfer function models. The univariate AR(3) model and the transfer functions were compared in terms of the accuracy of their predicted values. The univariate AR(3) model and the transfer function using rainfall as an input series were the best models in terms of predicting coconut production. Using the best models, coconut production was forecasted for the next six years

L’histoire des disciplines : un champ de recherche en mutation

Trente ans après la publication par André Chervel d’un article novateur sur l’histoire des disciplines scolaires, ce dossier veut mettre en perspective les mutations et les tendances actuelles de ce champ de recherche, aujourd’hui marqué par un intérêt croissant pour les acteurs, c’est-à-dire pour ceux qui « produisent » les disciplines. Il cherche à expliciter les aspects épistémologiques et méthodologiques de cette évolution, en la resituant dans le champ, plus large de la recherche sur les contenus d’enseignement. L’introduction pose donc, sur cet objet précis, la question d’une spécificité de l’approche historique sur les phénomènes éducatifs, par rapport aux regards croisés des autres sciences humaines et sociales. Portant sur l’enseignement secondaire (puis du second degré) français au XXe siècle, le dossier articule ainsi perspectives disciplinaires et perspectives curriculaires. Il s’attache à mettre en lumière la multiplicité des acteurs impliqués dans la fabrication comme dans l’organisation des disciplines ou des champs disciplinaires, depuis les enseignants de terrain jusqu’aux cabinets ministériels, ainsi que la variété de leurs actions, individuelles ou collectives. Il met plus particulièrement l’accent sur le rôle des enseignants dans la définition des contenus d’enseignement comme dans l’affirmation de la légitimité de leurs disciplines dans le champ scolaire. Thirty years after André Chervel’s innovative article on the history of school subjects, this special issue aims to put into perspective the recent changes and trends in this field of research, which is now characterised by a growing interest in actors, i.e. those who "produce" the disciplines. It seeks to clarify the epistemological and methodological aspects of this evolution, resituating it in the broader field of research on curriculum and teaching content. The introduction thus questions the specificity of French historical scholarship in this research field, compared with the contributions of other disciplinary approaches, in France and abroad. Focusing on French post-elementary and secondary education in the 20th century, the special issue combines disciplinary and curricular perspectives. It seeks to highlight the multiplicity of actors involved in the design and organisation of school subjects or disciplinary fields - from practising teachers to minister’s advisers - as well as their different actions, both individual and collective. It places particular emphasis on the role of teachers in developing curricula and in asserting the legitimacy of their subjects in the school arena

Targeting MDM2-dependent serine metabolism as a therapeutic strategy for liposarcoma

International audienceWell-differentiated and dedifferentiated liposarcomas (LPSs) are characterized by a systematic amplification of the MDM2 oncogene, which encodes a key negative regulator of the p53 pathway. The molecular mechanisms underlying MDM2 overexpression while sparing wild-type p53 in LPS remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the p53-independent metabolic functions of chromatin-bound MDM2 are exacerbated in LPS and mediate an addiction to serine metabolism that sustains nucleotide synthesis and tumor growth. Treatment of LPS cells with Nutlin-3A, a pharmacological inhibitor of the MDM2-p53 interaction, stabilized p53 but unexpectedly enhanced MDM2-mediated control of serine metabolism by increasing its recruitment to chromatin, likely explaining the poor clinical efficacy of this class of MDM2 inhibitors. In contrast, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of chromatin-bound MDM2 by SP141, a distinct MDM2 inhibitor triggering its degradation, or interfering with de novo serine synthesis, impaired LPS growth both in vitro and in clinically relevant patient-derived xenograft models. Our data indicate that targeting MDM2 functions in serine metabolism represents a potential therapeutic strategy for LPS

Mitochondrial MDM2 regulates respiratory complex i activity independently of p53

International audienceAccumulating evidence indicates that the MDM2 oncoprotein promotes tumorigenesis beyond its canonical negative effects on the p53 tumor suppressor, but these p53-independent functions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that a fraction of endogenous MDM2 is actively imported in mitochondria to control respiration and mitochondrial dynamics independently of p53. Mitochondrial MDM2 represses the transcription of NADH-dehydrogenase 6 (MT-ND6) in vitro and in vivo, impinging on respiratory complex I activity and enhancing mitochondrial ROS production. Recruitment of MDM2 to mitochondria increases during oxidative stress and hypoxia. Accordingly, mice lacking MDM2 in skeletal muscles exhibit higher MT-ND6 levels, enhanced complex I activity, and increased muscular endurance in mild hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, increased mitochondrial MDM2 levels enhance the migratory and invasive properties of cancer cells. Collectively, these data uncover a previously unsuspected function of the MDM2 oncoprotein in mitochondria that play critical roles in skeletal muscle physiology and may contribute to tumor progression

International collaboration to assess the risk of Guillain Barre Syndrome following Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccines

<p>Background: The global spread of the 2009 novel pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus led to the accelerated production and distribution of monovalent 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) vaccines (pH1N1). This pandemic provided the opportunity to evaluate the risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), which has been an influenza vaccine safety concern since the swine flu pandemic of 1976, using a common protocol among high and middle-income countries. The primary objective of this project was to demonstrate the feasibility and utility of global collaboration in the assessment of vaccine safety, including countries both with and without an established infrastructure for vaccine active safety surveillance. A second objective, included a priori, was to assess the risk of GBS following pH1N1 vaccination.</p><p>Methods: The primary analysis used the self-controlled case series (SCCS) design to estimate the relative incidence (RI) of GBS in the 42 days following vaccination with pH1N1 vaccine in a pooled analysis across databases and in analysis using a meta-analytic approach.</p><p>Results: We found a relative incidence of GBS of 2.42(95% CI 1.58-3.72) in the 42 days following exposure to pH1N1 vaccine in analysis of pooled data and 2.09(95% CI 1.28-3.42) using the meta-analytic approach.</p><p>Conclusions: This study demonstrates that international collaboration to evaluate serious outcomes using a common protocol is feasible. The significance and consistency of our findings support a conclusion of an association between 2009 H1N1 vaccination and GBS. Given the rarity of the event the relative incidence found does not provide evidence in contradiction to international recommendations for the continued use of influenza vaccines. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</p>