394 research outputs found

    LACK OF COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE IN BUILDING COMMUNITY DISASTER RESILIENCE

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    Many deaths and victims caused by catastrophic natural hazard occurred in Indonesia has proven the weakness of government to create a community disaster resilience among society. Under this circumstance any efforts of government are expected to be solution to stop or at least reduce the nightmare of society when the disaster occurred. This paper elaborates the discussion about building community disaster resilience through collaborative governance performed by Banyuwangi local government in Indonesia. Furthermore, the discussion about community disaster resilience and collaborative governance will be tied up by institutional and socio-ecological context. Therefore, this paper will highlight the role of actors, collaborative process and organization performance rather than any technical attributes from disaster resilience. The finding of this study reveals that there are some inhibiting factors influencing collaboration among actor to build community disaster resilience. The failure to manage these factors has resulting lack of collaboration and lead to weak community resilience in Banyuwangi

    CUERPO, ENVEJECIMIENTO Y ESPACIO. UNA GEOGRAFÍA DEL ENVEJECIMIENTO EN EL ESPACIO RURAL LATINO-AMERICANO

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    The objective of this paper is to present a theoretical proposal called the geography of aging in rural areas. The body is taken as a paradigm for the understanding of space, retaking the arguments that Lefebvre offered in his monumental The Production of Space, in relation to the body as synthesis of the perceived-conceived-lived triad. At the same time, the aging process is considered as a spatial process. In Latin American countries, the issue of the body as a producer of space and produced by space, takes relevance in the middle of an unprecedented demographic conjuncture and the advance of agribusiness and agroindustry versus traditional, agrarian or peasant populations.El objetivo del artículo es presentar una propuesta teórica llamada geografía del envejecimiento en el espacio rural. El cuerpo es tomado como un paradigma para la comprensión del espacio, retomando los argumentos que Lefebvre ofreció en su monumental La Producción del Espacio, en relación al cuerpo como síntesis de la tríada de lo percibido-concebido-vivido. Paralelamente, el proceso de envejecimiento se considera un proceso espacial. En los países latinoamericanos, la cuestión del cuerpo como productor de espacio y producido por el espacio, lleva relevancia en medio de una coyuntura demográfica sin precedentes y el avance del agronegocio y agroindustrias frente a poblaciones tradicionales, agrarias o campesinas

    Transitioning Pharmacogenomics into the Clinical Setting: Training Future Pharmacists

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    Pharmacogenomics, once hailed as a futuristic approach to pharmacotherapy, has transitioned to clinical implementation. Although logistic and economic limitations to clinical pharmacogenomics are being superseded by external measures such as preemptive genotyping, implementation by clinicians has met resistance, partly due to a lack of education. Pharmacists, with extensive training in pharmacology and pharmacotherapy and accessibility to patients, are ideally suited to champion clinical pharmacogenomics. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of an innovative pharmacogenomic teaching approach. Second-year student pharmacists enrolled in a required, 15-week pharmaceutical care lab course in 2015 completed educational activities including lectures and small group work focusing on practical pharmacogenomics. Reflecting the current landscape of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genomic testing, students were offered 23andMe genotyping. Students completed surveys regarding their attitudes and confidence on pharmacogenomics prior to and following the educational intervention. Paired pre- and post-intervention responses were analyzed with McNemar's test for binary comparisons and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for Likert items. Responses between genotyped and non-genotyped students were analyzed with Fisher's exact test for binary comparisons and the Mann-Whitney U-test for Likert items. Responses were analyzed for all student pharmacists who voluntarily completed the pre-intervention survey (N = 121, 83% response) and for student pharmacists who completed both pre- and post-intervention surveys (N = 39, 27% response). Of those who completed both pre- and post-intervention surveys, 59% obtained genotyping. Student pharmacists demonstrated a significant increase in their knowledge of pharmacogenomic resources (17.9 vs. 56.4%, p < 0.0001) and confidence in applying pharmacogenomic information to manage patients' drug therapy (28.2 vs. 48.7%, p = 0.01), particularly if the student had received genotyping. Student pharmacists understanding of the risks and benefits of using personal genome testing services significantly increased (55.3 vs. 86.8%, p = 0.001) along with agreement that personal genomics would likely play an important role in their future career (47.4 vs. 76.3%, p = 0.01), particularly among students who participated in genotyping. The educational intervention, including personal genotyping, was feasible, and positively enhanced students' reflections, and attitudes toward pharmacogenomics in a professional pharmacy program

    CD4 T cells but not Th17 cells are Required for Mouse Lung Transplant Obliterative Bronchiolitis

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    Lung transplant survival is limited by obliterative bronchiolitis (OB), but the mechanisms of OB development are unknown. Previous studies in a mouse model of orthotopic lung transplantation suggested a requirement for IL-17. We have used this orthotopic mouse model to investigate the source of IL-17A and the requirement for T cells producing IL-17A. The major sources of IL-17A were CD4+ T cells and γδ T cells. Depletion of CD4+ T cells led to a significantly decreased frequency and number of IL-17A+ lymphocytes and was sufficient to prevent acute rejection and OB. However, mice with STAT3-deficient T cells, which are unable to differentiate into Th17 cells, rejected lung allografts and developed OB similar to control mice. The frequency of IL-17A+ cells was not decreased in mice with STAT3-deficient T cells due mainly to the presence of IL-17A+ γδ T cells. Deficiency of γδ T cells also did not affect the development of airway fibrosis. Our data suggest that CD4+ T cells are required for OB development and expansion of IL-17A responses in the lung, while Th17 and γδ T cells are not absolutely required and may compensate for each other

    Novel pathogenic mutations and skin biopsy analysis in Knobloch syndrome

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    Purpose: To facilitate future diagnosis of Knobloch syndrome (KS) and better understand its etiology, we sought to identify not yet described COL18A1 mutations in KS patients. In addition, we tested whether mutations in this gene lead to absence of the COL18A1 gene product and attempted to better characterize the functional effect of a previously reported missense mutation. Methods: Direct sequencing of COL18A1 exons was performed in KS patients from four unrelated pedigrees. We used immunofluorescent histochemistry in skin biopsies to evaluate the presence of type XVIII collagen in four KS patients carrying two already described mutations: c. 3277C>T, a nonsense mutation, and c. 3601G>A, a missense mutation. Furthermore, we determined the binding properties of the mutated endostatin domain p.A1381T (c.3601G>A) to extracellular matrix proteins using ELISA and surface plasmon resonance assays. Results: We identified four novel mutations in COL18A1, including a large deletion involving exon 41. Skin biopsies from KS patients revealed lack of type XVIII collagen in epithelial basement membranes and blood vessels. We also found a reduced affinity of p.A1381T endostatin to some extracellular matrix components. Conclusions: COL18A1 mutations involved in Knobloch syndrome have a distribution bias toward the coding exons of the C-terminal end. Large deletions must also be considered when point mutations are not identified in patients with characteristic KS phenotype. We report, for the first time, lack of type XVIII collagen in KS patients by immunofluorescent histochemistry in skin biopsy samples. As a final point, we suggest the employment of this technique as a preliminary and complementary test for diagnosis of KS in cases when mutation screening either does not detect mutations or reveals mutations of uncertain effect, such as the p.A1381T change.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) - CEPIDConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq

    Local perspectives on Ebola during its tenth outbreak in DR Congo: A nationwide qualitative study

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    Background The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) struggled to end the tenth outbreak of Ebola virus disease (Ebola), which appeared in North Kivu in 2018. It was reported that rumors were hampering the response effort. We sought to identify any rumors that could have influenced outbreak containment and affected prevention in unaffected areas of DR Congo. Methods We conducted a qualitative study in DR Congo over a period of 2 months (from August 1 to September 30, 2019) using in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). The participants were recruited from five regional blocks using purposeful sampling. Both areas currently undergoing outbreaks and presently unaffected areas were included. We collected participants’ opinions, views, and beliefs about the Ebola virus. The IDIs (n = 60) were performed with key influencers (schoolteachers, religious and political leaders/analysts, and Ebola-frontline workers), following a semi-structured interview guide. FGDs (n = 10) were conducted with community members. Interviews were recorded with a digital voice recorder and simultaneous note-taking. Participant responses were categorized in terms of their themes and subthemes. Results We identified 3 high-level themes and 15 subthemes (given here in parentheses): (1) inadequate knowledge of the origin or cause of Ebola (belief in a metaphysical origin, insufficient awareness of Ebola transmission via an infected corpse, interpretation of disease as God’s punishment, belief in nosocomial Ebola, poor hygiene, and bathing in the Congo River). Ebola was interpreted as (2) a plot by multinational corporations (fears of genocide, Ebola understood as a biological weapon, concerns over organ trafficking, and Ebola was taken to be the result of business actions). Finally Ebola was rumored to be subject to (3) politicization (political authorities seen as ambivalent, exclusion of some community leaders from response efforts, distrust of political authorities, and distrust in the healthcare system). Conclusions Due to the skepticism against Ebola countermeasures, it is critical to understand widespread beliefs about the disease to implement actions that will be effective, including integrating response with the unmet needs of the population

    Telethonin protein expression in neuromuscular disorders

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    Telethonin is a 19-kDa sarcomeric protein, localized to the Z-disc of skeletal and cardiac muscles. Mutations in the telethonin gene cause limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2G (LGMD2G). We investigated the sarcomeric integrity of muscle fibers in LGMD2G patients, through double immunofluorescence analysis for telethonin with three sarcomeric proteins: titin, alpha-actinin-2, and myotilin and observed the typical cross striation pattern, suggesting that the Z-line of the sarcomere is apparently preserved, despite the absence of telethonin. Ultrastructural analysis confirmed the integrity of the sarcomeric architecture. the possible interaction of telethonin with other proteins responsible for several forms of neuromuscular disorders was also analyzed. Telethonin was clearly present in the rods in nemaline myopathy (NM) muscle fibers, confirming its localization to the Z-line of the sarcomere. Muscle from patients with absent telethonin showed normal expression for the proteins dystrophin, sarcoglycans, dysferlin, and calpain-3. Additionally, telethonin showed normal localization in muscle biopsies from patients with LGMD2A, LGMD2B, sarcoglycanopathies, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Therefore, the primary deficiency of calpain-3, dysferlin, sarcoglycans, and dystrophin do not seem to alter telethonin expression. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.Univ São Paulo, Ctr Study Human Genome, Dept Biol, IBUSP, BR-05508900 São Paulo, BrazilInt Ctr Genet Engn & Biotechnol, Tieste, ItalyUniv Padua, CRIBI Biotechnol Ctr, I-35121 Padua, ItalyHarvard Univ, Childrens Hosp, Sch Med, Div Genet, Boston, MA 02115 USAUniv Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandUNIFESP, Dept Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilFMUSP, Dept Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilFMUSP, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, Dept Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

    Stochastic estimation of seroprevalence against <i>Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale</i> and avian pneumovirus among chickens in Argentina

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    The objective of this study was to estimate the true prevalence of seropositive individual chicken against Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and avian pneumovirus in Argentina, using the Rogan-Gladen estimator in combination with Bayesian inference. Chicken runs existed in 21 and 20 different towns in Buenos Aires and Entre Rios Provinces in Argentina for Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and avian pneumovirus seroprevalence, respectively, were studied. lndividual-chicken sera were analyzed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The 719 (for testing Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale) and 933 (for testing avian pneumovirus) chickens were investigated. The overall true seroprevalence was 62.6% [95% Bayesian Credible lntelval (BCI): 37.6-84.5%] and 8.0% (95% BCI: 14.185%) against Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and avian pneumovirus, respectively.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

    The yeast P5 type ATPase, Spf1, regulates manganese transport into the endoplasmic reticulum

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    The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a large, multifunctional and essential organelle. Despite intense research, the function of more than a third of ER proteins remains unknown even in the well-studied model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One such protein is Spf1, which is a highly conserved, ER localized, putative P-type ATPase. Deletion of SPF1 causes a wide variety of phenotypes including severe ER stress suggesting that this protein is essential for the normal function of the ER. The closest homologue of Spf1 is the vacuolar P-type ATPase Ypk9 that influences Mn2+ homeostasis. However in vitro reconstitution assays with Spf1 have not yielded insight into its transport specificity. Here we took an in vivo approach to detect the direct and indirect effects of deleting SPF1. We found a specific reduction in the luminal concentration of Mn2+ in ∆spf1 cells and an increase following it’s overexpression. In agreement with the observed loss of luminal Mn2+ we could observe concurrent reduction in many Mn2+-related process in the ER lumen. Conversely, cytosolic Mn2+-dependent processes were increased. Together, these data support a role for Spf1p in Mn2+ transport in the cell. We also demonstrate that the human sequence homologue, ATP13A1, is a functionally conserved orthologue. Since ATP13A1 is highly expressed in developing neuronal tissues and in the brain, this should help in the study of Mn2+-dependent neurological disorders
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