67 research outputs found
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 âŒ20% 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 psĂquicos do engravidamento na adolescĂȘncia em contextos de periferia: impasses e possibilidades
Este artigo apresenta resultados parciais de uma anĂĄlise de conteĂșdo realizada a partir de sessĂ”es em grupo, envolvendo adolescentes, em um ambulatĂłrio de saĂșde pĂșblica na cidade de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Nosso objetivo foi investigar adolescentes que vivem em uma comunidade de periferia, situando seus processos psicolĂłgicos de antecipação quanto Ă s possibilidades de engravidar. A coleta de dados consistiu em âversos de rapâ escritos pelas adolescentes participantes em 10 sessĂ”es terapĂȘuticas de grupo, bem como fragmentos de um manual tĂ©cnico e educacional relativo Ă saĂșde sexual e reprodutiva, o qual constitui ferramenta de trabalho na SaĂșde PĂșblica. As categorias emergentes da anĂĄlise de conteĂșdo revelaram a inadequação e a distĂąncia entre a linguagem e a cultura das adolescentes e os conteĂșdos desses manuais, implementados como instrutivos e educacionais. Enfatizamos, ainda, os aspectos subjetivos e inconscientes que envolvem a procriação humana, sugerindo o neologismo âengravidamentoâ como um processo psĂquico na adolescĂȘncia
Det livslÄnga lÀrandet i fokus - möter förÀldrars syn pÄ lÀrande, lÀroplanens syn pÄ lÀrande?
Syftet med studien Àr att undersöka förÀldrars syn pÄ barns lÀrande. Studien belyser Àven förskolans uppdrag vad gÀller det livslÄnga lÀrandet. Den teoretiska utgÄngspunkten hÀmtas ur det sociokulturella perspektivet. Syftet Àr ocksÄ att fÄ kunskap om huruvida förskolans och förÀldrarnas syn pÄ lÀrande, sammanfaller eller skiljer sig Ät. Genom att öka medvetenheten hos pedagogerna i förskolan om förÀldrars syn pÄ barns lÀrande kan mötet mellan familj och förskola stÀrkas. Studien kan sÄledes skapa bÀttre förutsÀttningar för barns lÀrande i förskolan. Resultatet i undersökningen visar enligt förÀldraintervjuer, att förskolans roll Àr stor och viktig för barns lÀrande. LÀrande sker alltid och överallt i samspel med andra, bÄde barn och vuxna. FörÀldrars syn pÄ lÀrande sammanfaller pÄ flera plan med förskolans uppdrag kring det livslÄnga lÀrandet
Health, Working Conditions and Retirement
This chapter provides an overview of the working environment as determinant of retirement (section âWorking Conditions as Determinants of Retirementâ) and its role as mediator of the health effects of retirement (section âThe Health Effect of Retirementâ). In the first Section on âWorking Conditions as Determinants of Retirementâ, we summarize studies showing that having a good job is an important aspect of individualsâ retirement decisions. Mostly positive working conditions appear to contribute to individualsâ 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 âThe Health Effect of Retirementâ, 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
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