Academic Success and Stability in High School and Beyond for Youth Experiencing Homelessness

This session will discuss best practices for working with high school students experiencing homelessness. Strategies will include programming to achieve both high school and post-secondary success

Zyklusabhängige Veränderungen corticaler Exzitabilität bei gesunden Frauen und Patientinnen mit katamenialer Epilepsie: eine TMS Studie

Bei Epilepsiepatientinnen kann es zu zyklusabhängigen Schwankungen der Anfallsfrequenz kommen. Da deren Pathophysiologie noch nicht hinreichend erklärt ist, war es Ziel dieser Studie, zyklusabhängige Veränderungen corticaler Exzitabilität bei erkrankten und gesunden Frauen mittels transkranieller Magnetstimulation (TMS) zu untersuchen. Es wurden acht gesunde Probandinnen mit anovulatorischen Zyklen, 12 gesunde Probandinnen mit ovulatorischen Zyklen und sechs ovulatorische Patientinnen mit katamenialer Epilepsie in die Studie aufgenommen. Katameniale Epilepsie wurde definiert als Verdopplung der Anfallsfrequenz in einer oder zwei von vier Zyklusphasen (follikuläre Phase, Ovulation, Lutealphase und Menstruation). Mit Hilfe von Einzel- und Doppelimpulsparadigmen der TMS wurden während der vier Zyklusphasen (Tag 8, –14, –7 und 2) die corticale Exzitabilität über Bestimmung der motorischen Ruheschwelle (RMT), corticalen Silent Period (CSP), intracorticalen Inhibition (ICI) und intracorticalen Fazilitation (ICF) charakterisiert. Eine Varianzanalyse für Messwiederholungen mit Zyklusphase als intraindividuellem Faktor und Zugehörigkeit zu Frauen mit anovulatorischen oder ovulatorischen Zyklen beziehungsweise zu Patientinnen oder gesunden Kontrollpersonen als Gruppenfaktor wurde zur statistischen Auswertung verwendet. Dadurch aufgedeckte signifikante Veränderungen der TMS-Parameter (p<0,05) wurden explorativ mit nicht-parametrischen Testverfahren (Friedman-Test für multiple Messzeitpunkte, Wilcoxon-Test für verbundene Stichproben und Mann-Whitney U-Test für unabhängige Stichproben) weiter analysiert. Bei gesunden Frauen zeigte sich ein signifikanter Unterschied der ICI zwischen ovulatorischen und anovulatorischen Frauen (F=7,4, P=0,016) mit einer verminderten Inhibition während ovulatorischer Zyklen an den Zyklustagen –14 (Z= -2,3, P=0,021), –7 (Z=-2,0, P=0,048) und 2 (Z=-2,4, P=0,018). Innerhalb anovulatorischer Zyklen kam es zu einer signifikanten Veränderung der ICI (c²=8,3, P=0,040), die durch eine verstärkte Inhibition am Zyklustag 2 hervorgerufen wurde (Z=-2,2, P=0,028 gegenüber den Zyklustagen 8 und -7). Die übrigen Parameter zeigten innerhalb der gesunden Frauen keine signifikante Unterschiede (P>0,05). Fünf der untersuchten Patientinnen litten unter einer fokalen Epilepsie (drei rechtshemisphärisch, eine bitemporal und eine mit unklarer Lokalisation); eine Patientin hatte eine generalisierte Epilepsie. Alle Patientinnen wurden während eines ovulatorischen Zyklus untersucht und zeigten eine perimenstruelle Anfallshäufung, zwei zeigten außerdem eine Anfallshäufung in der Lutealphase. Hinsichtlich der CSP ergab sich in den rechten Hemisphären der Patientinnen ein signifikanter Einfluss der Zyklusphase (F=7,5, P=0,0020) mit Verkürzung der CSP während der Menstruation (Z=-2,2, P=0,028) sowie in der Lutealphase (Z=-2,0, P=0,043) gegenüber der follikulären Phase. Hinsichtlich der ICI fand sich in der linken Hemisphäre ein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen Patientinnen und ovulatorischer Kontrollgruppe (F=5,3, P=0,037), der auf einer verstärkten ICI bei den Patientinnen an den Zyklustagen –14 (Z=-0,56, P=0,048) und –7 (Z=-0,21, P=0,037) beruhte. Die übrigen Parameter zeigten keine Unterschiede (p>0,05) zwischen Patientinnen und Kontrollen. Die Ergebnisse bei gesunden Frauen belegen, dass es auch während anovulatorischer Zyklen zu Schwankungen der corticalen Exzitabilität kommt. Zur Menstruation hin nahm die ICI, die GABAA-erge Inhibition widerspiegelt, in anovulatorischen Zyklen stark zu, was auf abfallende Serumspiegel der prokonvulsiv eingestuften Östrogene zurückgeführt werden kann, die in anovulatorischen Zyklen die Menstruation auslösen. Die verminderte Inhibition in ovulatorischen versus anovulatorischen Zyklen an Tag –14 und –7 könnte mit erhöhten Östrogenspiegeln in diesen Phasen zusammenhängen und belegt ebenfalls deren fazilitierende Wirkung. Bei den ovulatorischen Patientinnen mit katamenialer Epilepsie zeigte sich eine bei gesunden Kontrollen nicht nachgewiesene verkürzte CSP während Lutealphase und Menstruation, die gut mit den Anfallshäufungen der untersuchten Patientinnen korrelierte. Die CSP-Veränderungen, die am ehesten GABAB-erge Inhibition reflektieren, fanden sich nur in den rechten Hemisphären, die bei einem Großteil der Patientinnen die epileptogene Zone enthielten, und nicht in den kontralateralen linken Hemisphären. Dies belegt frühere Beobachtungen von Veränderungen im GABAB-ergen Transmittersystem in epilepsietragenden Hemisphären und könnte, wie hier gezeigt, eine pathophysiologische Grundlage für katameniale Anfallshäufungen bilden. Darüber hinaus lassen unsere Ergebnisse ähnlich früheren Arbeiten den Schluss zu, dass kompensatorisch in den kontralateralen Hemisphären eine verstärkte Inhibition zu finden ist. Zukünftige Studien könnten getrennt verschiedene Epilepsiesyndrome und Patientinnen mit anovulatorischen Zyklen, sowie eine katameniale Einnahme GABA-erger Antikonvulsiva evaluieren

Taller de formación interdisciplinario: «Las tardes de jóvenes investigadores del IFEA». Balance del primer año, y perspectivas para 2015

En 2014, un grupo de jóvenes investigadores ha formado un espacio de intercambio científico, interdisciplinario dentro del IFEA intitulado: «Las tardes de jóvenes investigadores del IFEA». Consiste en un encuentro mensual abierto a todos los estudiantes en ciencias humanas (o humanidades) que desean compartir e intercambiar conocimientos sobre las sociedades y los países «andinos». Diez reuniones permitieron durante el año 2014 intercambiar, en un ambiente amistoso, resultados de investigació..

Sextas Jornadas de Jóvenes Americanistas: «Ciudades y conflictos: ayer, hoy, mañana»

Las Jornadas de Jóvenes Americanistas (JJA) son un encuentro anual que permite abrir un espacio de trabajo y formación destinados a investigadores desde la licenciatura hasta doctores recién diplomados en ciencias sociales. Las JJA son también un espacio de interacción y discusión que tiene por ambición crear lazos entre varias instituciones y generar una red científica de personas que serán dentro de algunos años investigadores confirmados. Para cada reunión, se selecciona un tema de investi..

Distribution of HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 Genes and Haplotypes in the Tujia Population Living in the Wufeng Region of Hubei Province, China

BACKGROUND: The distribution of HLA alleles and haplotypes varies widely between different ethnic populations and geographic areas. Before any genetic marker can be used in a disease-associated study it is therefore essential to investigate allelic frequencies and establish a genetic database. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: This is the first report of HLA typing in the Tujia group using the Luminex HLA-SSO method HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 allelic distributions were determined in 124 unrelated healthy Tujia individuals, and haplotypic frequencies and linkage disequilibrium parameters were estimated using the maximum-likelihood method. In total 10 alleles were detected at the HLA-A locus, 21 alleles at the HLA-B locus and 14 alleles at the HLA-DRB1 locus. The most frequently observed alleles in the HLA-I group were HLA-A*02 (35.48%), A*11 (28.23%), A*24 (15.73%); HLA-B*40 (25.00%), B*46 (16.13%), and B*15 (15.73%). Among HLA-DRB1 alleles, high frequencies of HLA-DRB1*09 (25.81%) were observed, followed by HLA-DRB1*15 (12.9%), and DRB1*12 (10.89%). The two-locus haplotypes at the highest frequency were A*02-B*46A (8.47%), followed by A*11-B*40 (7.66%), A*02-B*40 (8.87%), A*11-B*15 (6.45%), A*02-B*15 (6.05%), B*40-DRB1*09 (9.27%) and B*46-DRB1*09 (6.45%). The most common three-locus haplotypes found in the Tujia population were A*02-B*46-DRB1*09 (4.84%) and A*02-B*40-DRB1*09 (4.03%). Fourteen two-loci haplotypes had significant linkage disequilibrium. Construction of a neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree and principal component analysis using the allelic frequencies at HLA-A was performed to compare the Tujia group and twelve other previously reported populations. The Tujia population in the Wufeng of Hubei Province had the closest genetic relationship with the central Han population, and then to the Shui, the Miao, the southern Han and the northern Han ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results will become a valuable source of data for tracing population migration, planning clinical organ transplantation, carrying out HLA-linked disease-associated studies and forensic identification

Understanding fungal functional biodiversity during the mitigation of environmentally dispersed pentachlorophenol in cork oak forest soils

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is globally dispersed and contamination of soil with this biocide adversely affects its functional biodiversity, particularly of fungi - key colonizers. Their functional role as a community is poorly understood, although a few pathways have been already elucidated in pure cultures. This constitutes here our main challenge - elucidate how fungi influence the pollutant mitigation processes in forest soils. Circumstantial evidence exists that cork oak forests in N. W. Tunisia - economically critical managed forests are likely to be contaminated with PCP, but the scientific evidence has previously been lacking. Our data illustrate significant forest contamination through the detection of undefined active sources of PCP. By solving the taxonomic diversity and the PCP-derived metabolomes of both the cultivable fungi and the fungal community, we demonstrate here that most strains (predominantly penicillia) participate in the pollutant biotic degradation. They form an array of degradation intermediates and by-products, including several hydroquinone, resorcinol and catechol derivatives, either chlorinated or not. The degradation pathway of the fungal community includes uncharacterized derivatives, e.g. tetrachloroguaiacol isomers. Our study highlights fungi key role in the mineralization and short lifetime of PCP in forest soils and provide novel tools to monitor its degradation in other fungi dominated food webs. © 2015 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd

A Common Carcinogen Benzo[a]pyrene Causes Neuronal Death in Mouse via Microglial Activation

BACKGROUND: Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) belongs to a class of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that serve as micropollutants in the environment. B[a]P has been reported as a probable carcinogen in humans. Exposure to B[a]P can take place by ingestion of contaminated (especially grilled, roasted or smoked) food or water, or inhalation of polluted air. There are reports available that also suggests neurotoxicity as a result of B[a]P exposure, but the exact mechanism of action is unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using neuroblastoma cell line and primary cortical neuron culture, we demonstrated that B[a]P has no direct neurotoxic effect. We utilized both in vivo and in vitro systems to demonstrate that B[a]P causes microglial activation. Using microglial cell line and primary microglial culture, we showed for the first time that B[a]P administration results in elevation of reactive oxygen species within the microglia thereby causing depression of antioxidant protein levels; enhanced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, that results in increased production of NO from the cells. Synthesis and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines were also elevated within the microglia, possibly via the p38MAP kinase pathway. All these factors contributed to bystander death of neurons, in vitro. When administered to animals, B[a]P was found to cause microglial activation and astrogliosis in the brain with subsequent increase in proinflammatory cytokine levels. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Contrary to earlier published reports we found that B[a]P has no direct neurotoxic activity. However, it kills neurons in a bystander mechanism by activating the immune cells of the brain viz the microglia. For the first time, we have provided conclusive evidence regarding the mechanism by which the micropollutant B[a]P may actually cause damage to the central nervous system. In today's perspective, where rising pollution levels globally are a matter of grave concern, our study throws light on other health hazards that such pollutants may exert

Dissociation of Motor Task-Induced Cortical Excitability and Pain Perception Changes in Healthy Volunteers

Background: There is evidence that interventions aiming at modulation of the motor cortex activity lead to pain reduction. In order to understand further the role of the motor cortex on pain modulation, we aimed to compare the behavioral (pressure pain threshold) and neurophysiological effects (transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) induced cortical excitability) across three different motor tasks. Methodology/Principal Findings Fifteen healthy male subjects were enrolled in this randomized, controlled, blinded, cross-over designed study. Three different tasks were tested including motor learning with and without visual feedback, and simple hand movements. Cortical excitability was assessed using single and paired-pulse TMS measures such as resting motor threshold (RMT), motor-evoked potential (MEP), intracortical facilitation (ICF), short intracortical inhibition (SICI), and cortical silent period (CSP). All tasks showed significant reduction in pain perception represented by an increase in pressure pain threshold compared to the control condition (untrained hand). ANOVA indicated a difference among the three tasks regarding motor cortex excitability change. There was a significant increase in motor cortex excitability (as indexed by MEP increase and CSP shortening) for the simple hand movements. Conclusions/Significance: Although different motor tasks involving motor learning with and without visual feedback and simple hand movements appear to change pain perception similarly, it is likely that the neural mechanisms might not be the same as evidenced by differential effects in motor cortex excitability induced by these tasks. In addition, TMS-indexed motor excitability measures are not likely good markers to index the effects of motor-based tasks on pain perception in healthy subjects as other neural networks besides primary motor cortex might be involved with pain modulation during motor training

Allele Polymorphism and Haplotype Diversity of HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 Loci in Sequence-Based Typing for Chinese Uyghur Ethnic Group

Previous studies indicate that the frequency distributions of HLA alleles and haplotypes vary from one ethnic group to another or between the members of the same ethnic group living in different geographic areas. It is necessary and meaningful to study the high-resolution allelic and haplotypic distributions of HLA loci in different groups.High-resolution HLA typing for the Uyghur ethnic minority group using polymerase chain reaction-sequence-based-typing method was first reported. HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 allelic distributions were determined in 104 unrelated healthy Uyghur individuals and haplotypic frequencies and linkage disequilibrium parameters for HLA loci were estimated using the maximum-likelihood method. A total of 35 HLA-A, 51 HLA-B and 33 HLA-DRB1 alleles were identified at the four-digit level in the population. High frequency alleles were HLA-A*1101 (13.46%), A*0201 (12.50%), A*0301 (10.10%); HLA-B*5101(8.17%), B*3501(6.73%), B*5001 (6.25%); HLA-DRB1*0701 (16.35%), DRB1*1501 (8.65%) and DRB1*0301 (7.69%). The two-locus haplotypes at the highest frequency were HLA-A*3001-B*1302 (2.88%), A*2402-B*5101 (2.86%); HLA-B*5001-DRB1*0701 (4.14%) and B*0702-DRB1*1501 (3.37%). The three-locus haplotype at the highest frequency was HLA-A*3001-B*1302-DRB1*0701(2.40%). Significantly high linkage disequilibrium was observed in six two-locus haplotypes, with their corresponding relative linkage disequilibrium parameters equal to 1. Neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree between the Uyghur group and other previously reported populations was constructed on the basis of standard genetic distances among the populations calculated using the four-digit sequence-level allelic frequencies at HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DRB1 loci. The phylogenetic analyses reveal that the Uyghur group belongs to the northwestern Chinese populations and is most closely related to the Xibe group, and then to Kirgiz, Hui, Mongolian and Northern Han.The present findings could be useful to elucidate the genetic background of the population and to provide valuable data for HLA matching in clinical bone marrow transplantation, HLA-linked disease-association studies, population genetics, human identification and paternity tests in forensic sciences