Toward a Philippine-Japan Economic Cooperation in Agriculture

Agriculture is a sensitive issue for both the Philippines and Japan. Thus, promoting economic cooperation cannot be a crop for crop basis. Concessions to have a greater market access for Philippine agricultural exports may have matched by concessions in other industries/sectors, e.g., retirement, contract workers, etc. Japans tariff rates are lower than the Philippines. Freshness and safety considerations are major concerns of the Japanese consumer and are issues that will never be compromised. Existing trade must be facilitated; the direct route of distribution may be explored; and produced may be grown using Japanese seeds and technology. In addition, technical assistance to upgrade the Philippines phytosanitary standards as well as to increase the value added of the Philippine export may be sought

Knowledge Translation in Oncology. A Case Study

Knowledge translation (KT) is the ability to make knowledge accessible to different stakeholders by translating it into various contexts. Translating knowledge is particularly crucial in the healthcare sector, which is currently under significant pressure due to technological innovation, increasing demand of services by an ageing population, budget reductions, and new organisational challenges posed by the latest events like the COVID-19 pandemic. While the first definition of KT was focused on the translation of scientific research into clinical practice, other types of KT later emerged. In healthcare, while stakeholders have different skills and competencies (such as clinical scientists versus physicians or other healthcare professionals), others experience diverse emotional feelings (like the patients or their families). An effective KT allows the transfer, sharing, and creation of new knowledge, enhancing innovation and co-production dynamics. The paper employs a case study by analysing the Breast Unit of the C.R.O. National Cancer Institue of Aviano, Italy, one of the most acknowledged hospitals and research centres in Europe in the field of cancer surgery and treatments. The paper aims at studying the knowledge translation dynamics and tools by analysing the various relationships with the internal as well as the external stakeholders of the Breast Unit. Internally, knowledge translation is needed to merge the competencies of highly skilled multidisciplinary teams, which include surgeons and physicians with various specialities, researchers, psychologists, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Externally, knowledge is translated to meet the needs of patients, patients' associations, sponsors, citizens, and policymakers. Results highlight how different techniques and dynamics allow KT to happen within internal as well as external groups. Contributing to the knowledge management and knowledge translation theories, our findings open up to practical as well as research implications

Mémoire sur le Master: réflexion et analyse critique de l’unité didactique et du projet d’innovation

L’objet de ce mémoire aborde une réflexion critique de l’enseignement à partir du Máster de Profesorado de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, Bachillerato, Formación Profesional y Enseñanzas de Idiomas, Artísticas y Deportivas de l’Université de Saragosse. D'abord, nous présenterons une analyse critique concernant l'évolution du système éducatif en Espagne. Après, nous parcourrons les matières et contenus travaillés dans le cadre de nos études, ainsi qu'une analyse sur la pratique enseignante réalisée lors de notre stage. Finalement, nous présenterons en guise de conclusion une vision personnelle. De même, ce mémoire recuillera l'étude et la réflexion à partir des deux projets réalisés au sein du Master: l'unité didactique et le projet d'innovation. Pour conclure, nous tracerons des propositions pour l’avenir en ce qui concerne nos projets, ainsi que les conclusions correspondantes tirées du master réalisé. <br /

Predictors of urinary flame retardant concentration among pregnant women

Organophosphate compounds are commonly used in residential furniture, electronics, and baby products as flame retardants and are also used in other consumer products as plasticizers. Although the levels of exposure biomarkers are generally higher among children and decrease with age, relatively little is known about the individual characteristics associated with higher levels of exposure. Here, we investigate urinary metabolites of several organophosphate flame retardants (PFRs) in a cohort of pregnant women to evaluate patterns of exposure

Population and Habitat Characteristics of Tarsius fuscus in Resort Mallawa Bantimurung Bulusaraung, South Sulawesi

Tarsius fuscus is one of the conservation priority wildlife in the Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park (Babul National Park). This study aims to analyze the population and habitat characteristics of T. fuscus as one of the considerations in the conservation management of its population and habitat. This research was carried out in July 2021 in the forest around Bentenge Village and Samaenre Village, Resort Mallawa, Babul National Park. The method used was direct observation, calculation of the number of individuals for each group, and vegetation analysis at the meeting points of&nbsp; T. fuscus. Based on observations, the population size of 48 individuals from 13 groups was obtained with an overall population density of 0.109 individuals/Ha.&nbsp;&nbsp;The population density in the secondary dryland forest is higher than in the scrubland. The number of juvenile and infant in both land cover were low compared to&nbsp; the adults.&nbsp; T. fuscus was found in two types of habitat, there are secondary dryland forests (SDF) and scrubland with specific ranges of physical parameters. Based on vegetation analysis, SDF was dominated by the mana-mana tree (Blumeodendron kurzii) with an important value index (IVI) of 57.72%, while shrubland was dominated by kemiri tree (Aleurites moluccana) with an IVI of 40.75%. The two land covers are dominated by the Moraceae family and jambu air seedlings (Syzygium aqueum)

Epigenetic alteration of microRNAs in DNMT3B-mutated patients of ICF syndrome

Immunodeficiency, Centromeric region instability, Facial anomalies (ICF; OMIM #242860) syndrome, due to mutations in the DNMT3B gene, is characterized by inheritance of aberrant patterns of DNA methylation and heterochromatin defects. Patients show variable agammaglobulinemia and a reduced number of T cells, making them prone to infections and death before adulthood. Other variable symptoms include facial dysmorphism, growth and mental retardation. Despite the recent advances in identifying the dysregulated genes, the molecular mechanisms, which underlie the altered gene expression causing ICF phenotype complexity, are not well understood. Held the recently-shown tight correlation between epigenetics and microRNAs (miRNAs), we searched for miRNAs regulated by DNMT3B activity, comparing cell lines from ICF patients with those from healthy individuals. We observe that eighty-nine miRNAs, some of which involved in immune function, development and neurogenesis, are dysregulated in ICF (LCLs) compared to wild-type cells. Significant DNA hypomethylation of miRNA CpG islands was not observed in cases of miRNA up-regulation in ICF cells, suggesting a more subtle effect of DNMT3B deficiency on their regulation; however, a modification of histone marks, especially H3K27 and H3K4 trimethylation, and H4 acetylation, was observed concomitantly with changes in microRNA expression. Functional correlation between miRNA and mRNA expression of their targets allow us to suppose a regulation either at mRNA level or at protein level. These results provide a better understanding of how DNA methylation and histone code interact to regulate the class of microRNA genes and enable us to predict molecular events possibly contributing to ICF condition

considerazioni su un caso di actinomicosi cervicale

Actinomycosis is a bacterial infection due to Gram positive bacteria of Actinomyces genus. Actinomyces israelii is the most common in human infection.The authors described a case occurred in a 43 aged woman with a clinical presentation of a right submandibular indurative mass.After surgery, histological examination showed a granulomatous tissue with many actinomycetes. Patient was submitted to treatment with i.v penicillin. On the 11th day antibiotic therapy was replaced with ceftriaxone and teicoplanina. Patient did not present intercurrence during this period and presented improvement of the lesion.Actinomycosis is an uncommon disease. Establishment of the definite diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion in all cases of relapsing cervical lesions. Penicillin is effective and it can be replaced by third-generation cephalosporins

Multicenter evaluation of use of dried blood spot compared to conventional plasma in measurements of globotriaosylsphingosine (LysoGb3) concentration in 104 Fabry patients.

Abstract Objectives Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, resulting from a deficiency of the enzyme α-galactosidase A, responsible for breaking down glycolipids such as globotriaosylceramide and its deacylated derivative, globotriaosylsphingosine (LysoGb3). Here, we compare the levels of LysoGb3 in dried blood spots (DBS) and plasma in patients with classic and late-onset phenotypes. Methods LysoGb3 measurements were performed in 104 FD patients, 39 males and 65 females. Venous blood was collected. A portion was spotted onto filter paper and another portion separated to obtain plasma. The LysoGb3 concentrations in DBS and plasma were determined by highly sensitive electrospray ionization liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Agreement between different matrices was assessed using linear regression and Bland Altman analysis. Results The method on DBS was validated by evaluating its precision, accuracy, matrix effect, recovery, and stability. The analytical performances were verified by comparison of a total of 104 paired DBS and plasma samples from as many FD patients (representing 46 GLA variants). There was a strong correlation between plasma and the corresponding DBS LysoGb3 concentrations, with few exceptions. Discrepancies were observed in anemic patients with typically low hematocrit levels compared to the normal range. Conclusions The method proved to be efficient for the rapid analysis of LysoGb3. DBS provides a convenient, sensitive, and reproducible method for measuring LysoGb3 levels for diagnosis, initial phenotypic assignment, and therapeutic monitoring in patients with FD

Non-parametric Heat Map Representation of Flow Cytometry Data: Identifying Cellular Changes Associated With Genetic Immunodeficiency Disorders

Genetic primary immunodeficiency diseases are increasingly recognized, with pathogenic mutations changing the composition of circulating leukocyte subsets measured by flow cytometry (FCM). Discerning changes in multiple subpopulations is challenging, and subtle trends might be missed if traditional reference ranges derived from a control population are applied. We developed an algorithm where centiles were allocated using non-parametric comparison to controls, generating multiparameter heat maps to simultaneously represent all leukocyte subpopulations for inspection of trends within a cohort or segregation with a putative genetic mutation. To illustrate this method, we analyzed patients with Primary Antibody Deficiency (PAD) and kindreds harboring mutations in TNFRSF13B (encoding TACI), CTLA4, and CARD11. In PAD, loss of switched memory B cells (B-SM) was readily demonstrated, but as a continuous, not dichotomous, variable. Expansion of CXCR5+/CD45RA- CD4+ T cells (X5-Th cells) was a prominent feature in PAD, particularly in TACI mutants, and patients with expansion in CD21-lo B cells or transitional B cells were readily apparent. We observed differences between unaffected and affected TACI mutants (increased B cells and CD8+ T-effector memory cells, loss of B-SM cells and non-classical monocytes), cellular signatures that distinguished CTLA4 haploinsufficiency itself (expansion of plasmablasts, activated CD4+ T cells, regulatory T cells, and X5-Th cells) from its clinical expression (B-cell depletion), and those that were associated with CARD11 gain-of-function mutation (decreased CD8+ T effector memory cells, B cells, CD21-lo B cells, B-SM cells, and NK cells). Co-efficients of variation exceeded 30% for 36/54 FCM parameters, but by comparing inter-assay variation with disease-related variation, we ranked each parameter in terms of laboratory precision vs. disease variability, identifying X5-Th cells (and derivatives), naïve, activated, and central memory CD8+ T cells, transitional B cells, memory and SM-B cells, plasmablasts, activated CD4 cells, and total T cells as the 10 most useful cellular parameters. Applying these to cluster analysis of our PAD cohort, we could detect subgroups with the potential to reflect underlying genotypes. Heat mapping of normalized FCM data reveals cellular trends missed by standard reference ranges, identifies changes associating with a phenotype or genotype, and could inform hypotheses regarding pathogenesis of genetic immunodeficiency.This study was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia Centre of Research Excellence (APP1079648)