The Inter-American Human Rights System in the Context of Migration: US Immigration Policies

International human rights laws are critical to ensuring a minimum protection level for those migrating to other nations across the globe. Despite intense efforts by the United States to sidestep such policies while misrepresenting their repeated violations of human rights now taking place at the U.S.-Mexico border, these policies remain in full force in the global governance community. The actions of the Trump administration and others clearly indicate the need for political intervention to ensure such rights are maintained. Using qualitative content analysis and participatory observation, this article reviews the effectiveness of thematic hearings, under the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, in advocating for the abolition of U.S. immigration policies that have resulted in grave human rights violations. Overall, this study finds that the Inter-American System is still today, a tool used by the United States government to police Latin American countries. Moreover, it finds that the two main factors preventing thematic hearings from being effective at producing policy change are: (1) A socio-cultural gap between both the Inter-American System and civil society organizations, and the migrant population in the region; and (2) The United States using the principle of sovereignty to implement unfair immigration policies and justify interventionist measures in Mexico and Central America

Role for TGF-beta superfamily signaling in telencephalic GABAergic neuron development.

Signaling mechanisms mediated by the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily regulate a variety of developmental processes. Here we show that components of both bone morphogenetic protein/growth differentiation factor and TGF-beta/activin/Nodal branches of TGF-beta superfamily signaling are expressed in the developing subpallium. Furthermore, Smad proteins, transcriptional effectors of TGF-beta signaling, are co-expressed and physically interact in the basal ganglia with Dlx homeodomain transcription factors, which are critical regulators of the differentiation, migration and survival of telencephalic GABAergic neurons. We also show that Dlx and Smad proteins localize to promoters/enhancers of a number of common telencephalic genes in vivo and that Smad proteins co-activate transcription with Dlx family members, except with certain mutated human DLX proteins identified in autistic individuals. In agreement with these observations, expression of dominant-negative Smads in the developing basal ganglia phenocopies the cell migration defects observed in Dlx1/2-deficient mice. Together, these results suggest that TGF-beta superfamily signaling plays a role in telencephalic GABAergic neuron development through functional interactions with Dlx transcription factors. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11689-009-9035-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

AGE-RELATED HEARING IMPAIRMENT (ARHI): A COMMON SENSORY DEFICIT IN THE ELDERLY

This paper aims to give a broad overview of the scientific findings related to Age-related hearing impairment that is a complex disorder, with both environmental as well as genetic factors contributing to the impairment. The involvement of several environmental factors has been partially elucidated. A first step towards the identification of the genetic factors has been made, which will result in the identification of susceptibility genes, and will provide possible targets for the future treatment and/or prevention of ARHI

Language and translation practices of Spanish-language newspapers published in the U.S. borderlands between 1808 and 1930

This article examines the impact of the anglicizing language policies implemented after the annexation of the U.S. borderlands to the United States on language use by describing the language and translation practices of Spanish-language newspapers published in the U.S. borderlands across different sociohistorical periods from 1808 to 1930. Sixty Hispanic-American newspapers (374 issues) from 1808 to 1980 were selected for analysis. Despite aggressive anglicizing legislation that caused a societal shift of language use from Spanish into English in most borderland states after the annexation, the current study suggests that the newspapers resisted assimilation by adhering to the Spanish language in the creation of original content and in translation

Demonstration of early functional compromise of bone marrow derived hematopoietic progenitor cells during bovine neonatal pancytopenia through in vitro culture of bone marrow biopsies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP) is a syndrome characterised by thrombocytopenia associated with marked bone marrow destruction in calves, widely reported since 2007 in several European countries and since 2011 in New Zealand. The disease is epidemiologically associated with the use of an inactivated bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) vaccine and is currently considered to be caused by absorption of colostral antibody produced by some vaccinated cows (“BNP dams”). Alloantibodies capable of binding to the leukocyte surface have been detected in BNP dams and antibodies recognising bovine MHC class I and β-2-microglobulin have been detected in vaccinated cattle. In this study, calves were challenged with pooled colostrum collected from BNP dams or from non-BNP dams and their bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) cultured <it>in vitro</it> from sternal biopsies taken at 24 hours and 6 days post-challenge.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Clonogenic assay demonstrated that CFU-GEMM (colony forming unit-granulocyte/erythroid/macrophage/megakaryocyte; pluripotential progenitor cell) colony development was compromised from HPCs harvested as early as 24 hour post-challenge. By 6 days post challenge, HPCs harvested from challenged calves failed to develop CFU-E (erythroid) colonies and the development of both CFU-GEMM and CFU-GM (granulocyte/macrophage) was markedly reduced.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study suggests that the bone marrow pathology and clinical signs associated with BNP are related to an insult which compromises the pluripotential progenitor cell within the first 24 hours of life but that this does not initially include all cell types.</p

Consumers and Producers

In the last few decades, advances in information and communication technology have dramatically changed the way consumers and producers interact in the marketplace. The Internet and social media have torn down the information barrier between producers and consumers, leading to increased transparency. Moreover, while in the past there was a clear distinction between production and consumption of goods, nowadays this distinction is more blurred. Consumers are often involved in the production process of firms, or even create and sell products by themselves. In this dissertation, I examine some consequences of these changes for both consumers and producers. _First_, I focus on consumers. Given the enormous availability of information on the Internet, consumers are exposed to information about company strategy that is not immediately relevant for consumption decisions. Here, I investigate how consumer behavior is influenced by exposure to information about company acquisitions. _Second_, I focus on consumer-producers, consumers who engage in production and online commercialization of goods. I investigate the psychology of consumer-producers, and especially the factors that keep them motivated in spite of scarce economic returns. _Finally_, I turn to individual producers (e.g., workers in factories). I investigate whether providing personal information about the consumer is a viable intervention for reducing the distance between producers and consumers that characterizes post-industrialized production settings. By taking the different perspectives of consumers, consumer-producers, and producers, this dissertation uncovers some of the opportunities and challenges introduced by recent advances in information and communication technology

Cavernous haemangioma of the external auditory canal: clinical case and review of the literature

Although benign vascular lesions are frequent in the head and the neck region, clinical evidence of cavernous haemangioma of the external auditory canal is extremely rare; when present, the lesion invades the middle ear space. Herein, a rare case of a soft mass filling the external auditory canal, not involving the tympanic membrane, in a symptomatic 59-year-old male is described. Clinical and audiological characteristics, imaging studies and surgical treatment with histological evaluation are reported, which led to a diagnosis of a cavernous haemangioma. This is only the seventh case described in the literature, to date, not involving the tympanic membrane and the middle ear space. In addition, a review has been made of the relevant literature with respect to epidemiology, presentation, evaluation, pathology, and management options for haemangiomas arising in the external auditory canal

Functional and Biological Potential of Bioactive Compounds in Foods for the Dietary Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is a complex disease characterized by the alteration of oxidoreductive and proinflammatory mechanisms, which leads to disorders in the insulin receptor and consequent chronic hyperglycemia. The hypoglycemic, insulinomimetic, and lipid-lowering potential of food is a reality given the advances in understanding of the role of food in nutrition. Besides its nutritional content, food exerts a biological function in the organism, and this demonstrates the importance of redirecting therapeutic strategies as well as related prevention policies of T2DM. The present review evaluates the effect of food on T2DM treatment. Particular attention is paid to the consumption of nopal, soy, and oats for their hypoglycemic functions, as well as the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, which are associated with the control of metabolic alterations of this disease

Leg ulcer and osteomyelitis due to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection after fracture repair treatment: a case highlighting the potential role of prostaglandin E₁ vasodilator

Prostaglandins appear to reduce biofilm formation and chronicization of infections, and stimulate a rapid and effective clearance of infecting micro-organisms. We report a case of recovery from methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) osteomyelitis after multidisciplinary management with antibiotics, anti-thrombotics and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) vasodilator, in a patient with tibial plateau fracture repaired with internal fixation devices. A 47-year-old HIV-negative male with chronic ulcer on the proximal third of the left leg was admitted to the Orthopaedic Unit of the Orestano Clinic in Palermo, Italy, for suspected osteomyelitis. A biopsy of the skin ulcer and blood cultures were performed and resulted positive for MSSA. Labelled leukocyte scintigraphy confirmed osteomyelitis. No clinical improvement was observed after combined antibiotic treatment with rifampicin plus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The patient underwent a 4-day therapeutic cycle: PGE1 (alprostadil 60 mg/day IV) combined with nadroparin calcium plus gentamicin, followed by treatment with aminaftone plus sulodexide plus levofloxacin. At discharge, the patient's painful symptoms had completely resolved and the ulcer had cicatrized; recovery from osteomyelitis was confirmed by scintigraphy. This treatment protocol including PGE1 may result in a significant improvement in quality of life and functional status of patients with a reduction in direct and indirect costs and economic benefit for the National Health Service