Priority questions for biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean biome: Heterogeneous perspectives across continents and stakeholders

International audienceThe identification of research questions with high relevance for biodiversity conservation is an important step towards designing more effective policies and management actions, and to better allocate funding among alternative conservation options. However, the identification of priority questions may be influenced by regional differences in biodiversity threats and social contexts, and to variations in the perceptions and interests of different stakeholders. Here we describe the results of a prioritization exercise involving six types of stakeholders from the Mediterranean biome, which includes several biodiversity hotspots spread across five regions of the planet (Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Australia). We found great heterogeneity across regions and stakeholder types in the priority topics identified and disagreement among the priorities of research scientists and other stakeholders. However, governance, climate change, and public participation issues were key topics in most regions. We conclude that the identification of research priorities should be targeted in a way that integrates the spectrum of stakeholder interests, potential funding sources and regional needs, and that further development of interdisciplinary studies is required. The key questions identified here provide a basis to identify priorities for research funding aligned with biodiversity conservation needs in this biome

Activity pacing for osteoarthritis symptom management: study design and methodology of a randomized trial testing a tailored clinical approach using accelerometers for veterans and non-veterans

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent chronic disease and a leading cause of disability in adults. For people with knee and hip OA, symptoms (e.g., pain and fatigue) can interfere with mobility and physical activity. Whereas symptom management is a cornerstone of treatment for knee and hip OA, limited evidence exists for behavioral interventions delivered by rehabilitation professionals within the context of clinical care that address how symptoms affect participation in daily activities. Activity pacing, a strategy in which people learn to preplan rest breaks to avoid symptom exacerbations, has been effective as part of multi-component interventions, but hasn't been tested as a stand-alone intervention in OA or as a tailored treatment using accelerometers. In a pilot study, we found that participants who underwent a tailored activity pacing intervention had reduced fatigue interference with daily activities. We are now conducting a full-scale trial.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This paper provides a description of our methods and rationale for a trial that evaluates a tailored activity pacing intervention led by occupational therapists for adults with knee and hip OA. The intervention uses a wrist accelerometer worn during the baseline home monitoring period to glean recent symptom and physical activity patterns and to tailor activity pacing instruction based on how symptoms relate to physical activity. At 10 weeks and 6 months post baseline, we will examine the effectiveness of a tailored activity pacing intervention on fatigue, pain, and physical function compared to general activity pacing and usual care groups. We will also evaluate the effect of tailored activity pacing on physical activity (PA).</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Managing OA symptoms during daily life activity performance can be challenging to people with knee and hip OA, yet few clinical interventions address this issue. The activity pacing intervention tested in this trial is designed to help people modulate their activity levels and reduce symptom flares caused by too much or too little activity. As a result of this trial, we will be able to determine if activity pacing is more effective than usual care, and among the intervention groups, if an individually tailored approach improves fatigue and pain more than a general activity pacing approach.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01192516">NCT01192516</a></p

Type 2 Diabetes Variants Disrupt Function of SLC16A11 through Two Distinct Mechanisms

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) affects Latinos at twice the rate seen in populations of European descent. We recently identified a risk haplotype spanning SLC16A11 that explains ∼20% of the increased T2D prevalence in Mexico. Here, through genetic fine-mapping, we define a set of tightly linked variants likely to contain the causal allele(s). We show that variants on the T2D-associated haplotype have two distinct effects: (1) decreasing SLC16A11 expression in liver and (2) disrupting a key interaction with basigin, thereby reducing cell-surface localization. Both independent mechanisms reduce SLC16A11 function and suggest SLC16A11 is the causal gene at this locus. To gain insight into how SLC16A11 disruption impacts T2D risk, we demonstrate that SLC16A11 is a proton-coupled monocarboxylate transporter and that genetic perturbation of SLC16A11 induces changes in fatty acid and lipid metabolism that are associated with increased T2D risk. Our findings suggest that increasing SLC16A11 function could be therapeutically beneficial for T2D. Video Abstract [Figure presented] Keywords: type 2 diabetes (T2D); genetics; disease mechanism; SLC16A11; MCT11; solute carrier (SLC); monocarboxylates; fatty acid metabolism; lipid metabolism; precision medicin

Processos psíquicos do engravidamento na adolescência em contextos de periferia: impasses e possibilidades

Este artigo apresenta resultados parciais de uma análise de conteúdo realizada a partir de sessões em grupo, envolvendo adolescentes, em um ambulatório de saúde pública na cidade de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Nosso objetivo foi investigar adolescentes que vivem em uma comunidade de periferia, situando seus processos psicológicos de antecipação quanto às possibilidades de engravidar. A coleta de dados consistiu em “versos de rap” escritos pelas adolescentes participantes em 10 sessões terapêuticas de grupo, bem como fragmentos de um manual técnico e educacional relativo à saúde sexual e reprodutiva, o qual constitui ferramenta de trabalho na Saúde Pública. As categorias emergentes da análise de conteúdo revelaram a inadequação e a distância entre a linguagem e a cultura das adolescentes e os conteúdos desses manuais, implementados como instrutivos e educacionais. Enfatizamos, ainda, os aspectos subjetivos e inconscientes que envolvem a procriação humana, sugerindo o neologismo “engravidamento” como um processo psíquico na adolescência

Det livslånga lärandet i fokus - möter föräldrars syn på lärande, läroplanens syn på lärande?

Syftet med studien är att undersöka föräldrars syn på barns lärande. Studien belyser även förskolans uppdrag vad gäller det livslånga lärandet. Den teoretiska utgångspunkten hämtas ur det sociokulturella perspektivet. Syftet är också att få kunskap om huruvida förskolans och föräldrarnas syn på lärande, sammanfaller eller skiljer sig åt. Genom att öka medvetenheten hos pedagogerna i förskolan om föräldrars syn på barns lärande kan mötet mellan familj och förskola stärkas. Studien kan således skapa bättre förutsättningar för barns lärande i förskolan. Resultatet i undersökningen visar enligt föräldraintervjuer, att förskolans roll är stor och viktig för barns lärande. Lärande sker alltid och överallt i samspel med andra, både barn och vuxna. Föräldrars syn på lärande sammanfaller på flera plan med förskolans uppdrag kring det livslånga lärandet

Health, Working Conditions and Retirement

This chapter provides an overview of the working environment as determinant of retirement (section “Working Conditions as Determinants of Retirement”) and its role as mediator of the health effects of retirement (section “The Health Effect of Retirement”). In the first Section on “Working Conditions as Determinants of Retirement”, we summarize studies showing that having a good job is an important aspect of individuals’ retirement decisions. Mostly positive working conditions appear to contribute to individuals’ later retirement, but adverse working conditions not necessarily relate to earlier retirement. Moreover, adverse conditions can be buffered when combined with high job control, job resources or social support. In the Section on “The Health Effect of Retirement”, we focus on how retirement affects health in both theoretical and applied studies, suggesting that the inconclusiveness illustrated in theories is also evident in empirical work. Previous studies, however, vary largely regarding the adopted (1) health outcomes, (2) study designs, (3) definition of retirement and (4) the type of work performed before retirement. These four factors could explain the inconsistencies of the results. We finally focus on the latter factor, showing that the effect of retirement on health tends to be positive for workers retiring from low quality or more demanding jobs. Our chapter concludes with policy advices regarding how to promote longer and healthy working lives and a discussion of relevant groups to pay attention to

Desenvolvimento de valores sócio-morais na escola

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Desenvolvimento de valores sócio-morais na escola

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