The development of halal and kosher meat markets in the UK

Over the last decade recognisable markets have emerged for halal and kosher meat in a number of European countries, notably in the UK. Growing segments of these markets are now channeled through product ranges in supermarkets, with the halal market in particular experiencing a rapid increase in demand. A number of factors underpin these developments, including an increase in the Muslim population, changes in consumer behaviour, identity reinforcement, and a general increase in meat consumption. Although the expansion of the kosher market is perceptibly smaller, and the Jewish population is more or less stable, the market is far from being extinct. Kosher products have an increasing presence in supermarkets and there are a growing number of kosher labels

L’Amor virtual: de la pantalla a la vida real

Treballs Finals del Grau de Sociologia, Facultat d'Economia i Empresa, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2019-2020 , Tutor: José Antonio Rodríguez Díaz[cat] D’ençà d’aquests últims anys un gran nombre de persones busquen conèixer potencials parelles sexuals o sentimentals a través d’aplicacions de cites, en aquest treball parlarem de les seves motivacions, objectius, temors i valoracions a l’hora de lligar virtualment. Estudiarem les aplicacions de cites, des del seu auge fins a l’actualitat, plasmant la diversitat de plataformes que existeixen per les diferents fases d’una relació i proposant escenaris de futur. Estadístiques, dades i articles ens donaran informació sobre les aplicacions, els comportaments i vivències dels usuaris amb relació a aquestes plataformes, però també nocions sobre els perills que amaguen, principalment un preocupant percentatge d’assetjament sexual envers les dones. Per últim, aquest treball presenta una completa anàlisi de divuit aplicacions mitjançant tres qüestionaris, els quals s’han materialitzat en un marc de referència i dues anàlisis de les webs, una centrada en el seu discurs i l’altre en la imatge que donen al seu públic.[eng] Nowadays, more and more people seek to meet their next sexual or sentimental partner through online dating apps. Due to this increasing and interesting trend, this project attempts to analyse and explain people’s motivations, aims, fears and appraisals regarding the use of these tools. In order to do so, several dating apps have been studied, from their emergence until the present, highlighting some apps that may be less popular but also related to the different phases of romantic and sexual relationships. Statistics, data, experts’ opinions and articles have been the main source and basis of the literature review, as well as diverse, real dating-app behaviours and experiences of young users with these platforms. Additionally, an emphasis has been put on the perils and risks of this kind of applications, predominately the worrisome high percentage of sexual harassment, especially to women. The research of this study presents a complete analysis of eighteen dating apps, consisting of three questionnaires that have materialized in a frame of references, and two analyses of these webs: one about their speeches and the other one related to the image they give to the public. The result of these analyses have provided an explanation to better understand these types of apps, determining what is common and usual among them and what is special and characteristic of each one. Finally, three distinct proposals of future potential scenarios for dating applications are given: a possible future, a probable future and a desirable future. The thesis ends with the design of a survey including the several questions and topics that have been suggested and opened for discussion in this paper

Disseny, síntesi i avaluació biològica d'inhibidors potencials de les etapes inicials del cicle de replicació del VIH

El virus de la immunodeficiència humana de tipus 1 (VIH-1) és l'agent que provoca la síndrome de la immunodeficiència adquirida (SIDA). Una malaltia, que va ser descoberta al principi del 80, que pateixen avui en dia entre 31.1 i 35.8 milions d'individus arreu del món i que causa 2.7 milions de nous infectats cada any. Per tot això, i pels gairebé tres milions de morts que provoca cada any de mitjana aquesta malaltia, es considera important intentar bloquejar el virus (VIH-1), un paràsit que utilitza la maquinària metabòlica de la cèl·lula per replicar-se. Actualment, el tractament més comú és el TARGA (tractament antiretroviral de gran activitat), que consisteix en la combinació d'inhibidors de la transcriptasa inversa i de la proteasa, dos enzims vírics necessaris perquè es produeixi la replicació del virus. La principal problemàtica que presenta un virus d'aquestes característiques és la gran quantitat de mutacions que pot patir i, en conseqüència, la resistència que adquireix front als fàrmacs administrats. Per això és de vital importància trobar noves molècules que puguin no només suplir-ne d'altres front a aquest problema sinó que puguin interaccionar sobre noves dianes terapèutiques. No va ser fins al segle XXI que van ser aprovats fàrmacs per altres dianes terapèutiques que no fossin la transcriptasa inversa o la proteasa. Destacant-ne Fuzeon® com a inhibidor de fusió entre les membranes del VIH i la cèl·lula hoste i Selzentry® com a inhibidor de CCR5, un dels dos coreceptors d'entrada que pot emprar el virus per infectar la cèl·lula. En canvi, encara a dia d'avui no hi ha cap estructura aprovada per inhibir CXCR4, un altre coreceptor d'entrada. D'entre els compostos estudiats contra aquesta diana terapèutica en destaca l'AMD3100, un compost format per dos macrocicles (ciclam) units per un espaiador p-fenilenbismetilènic. Durant les estudis en fases clíniques, es va observar un efecte cardiotòxic i falta de biodisponibilitat oral relacionats amb l'elevada càrrega positiva a pH fisiològic. En el Laboratori de Síntesi de l'IQS, s'ha desenvolupat una família de tetraamines anàlogues del AMD3100 amb les quals, conservant l'espaiador i substituint les unitats de ciclam per diamines, s'han aconseguit bones activitats inhibidores de CXCR4. En el present treball es desenvolupen variants d'aquestes tetraamines per modificació de l'espaiador i per substitució dels ciclams per altres sistemes heterocíclics, respectivament. D'altra banda, un dels primers ITINANs (Inhibidor de la Transcriptasa Inversa No Anàleg de Nucleòsid) descoberts va ser l'1-[(2-hidroxietoxi)metil]-6-(feniltio)timina (HEPT). En el Laboratori de Disseny Molecular de l'IQS es va seleccionar una quimioteca d'anàlegs d'aquesta estructura i es va proposar una ruta sintètica. Un dels objectius d'aquest treball és doncs, a més d'obtenir anàlegs d'HEPT, confirmar sintèticament la viabilitat de l'itinerari proposat, comprovant que sigui robust, de rendiments elevats i de condicions de reacció prou suaus per poder automatitzar-lo.El virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana de tipo 1 (VIH-1) es el agente que provoca el síndrome de la inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA). Una enfermedad, que fue descubierta a principios de los 80, que sufren hoy en día entre 31.1 y 35.8 millones de individuos por todo el mundo y que causa 2.7 millones de nuevos infectados cada año. Por todo esto, y por los casi tres millones de muertos que provoca cada año de media esta enfermedad, se considera importante intentar bloquear el virus (VIH-1), un parásito que utiliza la maquinaria metabólica de la célula para replicarse. Actualmente, el tratamiento más común es el TARGA (tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad), que consiste en la combinación de inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa y de la proteasa, dos enzimas víricas necesarias para que se produzca la replicación del virus. La principal problemática que presenta un virus de estas características es la gran cantidad de mutaciones que puede sufrir y, en consecuencia, la resistencia que adquiere frente a los fármacos administrados. Por eso es de vital importancia encontrar nuevas moléculas que puedan no sólo suplir a otras frente a este problema sino que puedan interaccionar sobre nuevas dianas terapéuticas. No fue hasta al siglo XXI que fueron aprobados fármacos para otras dianas terapéuticas que no fuesen la transcriptasa inversa o la proteasa. Destacan Fuzeon® como inhibidor de fusión entre membranas del VIH y la célula huésped y Selzentry® como inhibidor de CCR5, uno de los dos correceptores de entrada que puede usar el virus para infectar la célula. En cambio, aún a día de hoy no hay ninguna estructura aprobada para inhibir CXCR4, otro correceptor de entrada. De entre los compuestos estudiados contra esta diana terapéutica destaca el AMD3100, un compuesto formado por dos macrociclos (ciclam) unidos por un espaciador p-fenilenbismetilénico. Durante los estudios en fases clínicas, se observó un efecto cardiotóxico y falta de biodisponibilidad oral relacionados con la elevada carga positiva a pH fisiológico. En el Laboratorio de Síntesis del IQS, se ha desarrollado una familia de tetraaminas análogas al AMD3100 con las cuales, conservando el espaciador y sustituyendo las unidades de ciclamo por diaminas, se han conseguido buenas actividades inhibidoras de CXCR4. En el presente trabajo se desarrollan variantes de estas tetraaminas por modificación del espaciador y por sustitución de los ciclamos por otros sistemas heterocíclicos, respectivamente. Por otro lado, uno de los primeros ITINANs (Inhibidor de la Transcriptasa Inversa No Análogo de Nucleósido) descubiertos fue el 1-[(2-hidroxietoxi)metil]-6-(feniltio)timina (HEPT). En el Laboratorio de Diseño Molecular del IQS se seleccionó una quimioteca de análogos de esta estructura y se propuso una ruta sintética. Uno de los objetivos de este trabajo es pues, además de obtener análogos de HEPT, confirmar sintéticamente la viabilidad del itinerario propuesto, comprobando que sea robusto, de rendimientos elevados y de condiciones de reacción lo suficientemente suaves para poder automatizarlo.The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is the agent which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A disease that was discovered in the early 80s, that nowadays affects between 31.1 and 35.8 million individuals around the world and causes 2.7 million new infections each year. For all this, and for the nearly three million deaths caused each year on average by this disease, it is considered important to try to block the virus (HIV-1), a parasite which uses the cell's metabolic machinery to replicate. Currently, the most common treatment is HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy), which is a combination of reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors, two viral enzymes necessary for virus replication. The main issues presented by this type of virus are the large number of mutations that can occur and, therefore, the resistance it acquires to administered drugs. It is therefore of vital importance to find new molecules which can not only replace others dealing with this problem, but can interact on new therapeutic targets. It was not until the 21st century that drugs interacting with other therapeutic targets, neither reverse transcriptase nor protease, were approved. Emphasizing Fuzeon® as an inhibitor of membrane fusion between HIV and the host cell and Selzentry® as an inhibitor of CCR5, one of the two coreceptor that the virus can use to infect the cell. However, even today there is not an approved structure to inhibit CXCR4, another entry coreceptor. Among the studied compounds against this therapeutic target highlights the AMD3100, a compound formed by two macrocycles (cyclam) linked by a p-phenylenbismethylenic spacer. During clinical trials, there was a cardiotoxic effect and a lack of oral bioavailability associated with its high positive charge at physiological pH. In the Synthesis Laboratory at IQS, a family of tetraamines analogs of AMD3100 which retain the spacer and replace the cyclam units by diamines, have been developed. These compounds showed good CXCR4 inhibitory activity. In this thesis we develop variants of these tetraamines by modification of the spacer and replacement of the cyclams by other heterocyclic systems, respectively. On the other hand, one of the first NNRTIs (Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors) that was discovered was 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT). In the Laboratory of Molecular Design at IQS a chemical library of analogs of this structure was selected and a synthetic route was proposed. Therefore, one objective of this work is to obtain HEPT analogs, confirm the feasibility of the proposed synthetically pathway, checking the robustness of the reactions, that the yields are high and that the reaction conditions are mild enough to automate the process

Factsheet: The development of halal and kosher meat markets in the UK

Over the last decade recognisable markets have emerged for halal and kosher meat in a number of European countries, notably in the UK. Growing segments of these markets are now channeled through product ranges in supermarkets, with the halal market in particular experiencing a rapid increase in demand. A number of factors underpin these developments, including an increase in the Muslim population, changes in consumer behaviour, identity reinforcement, and a general increase in meat consumption. Although the expansion of the kosher market is perceptibly smaller, and the Jewish population is more or less stable, the market is far from being extinct. Kosher products have an increasing presence in supermarkets and there are a growing number of kosher labels

Crafting ecologies of existence : more than human community making in Colombian textile craftivism

Based on ethnographic work with several women’s textile making collectives in Colombia, this article approaches their crafting practices as everyday doings of socio-ecological reparation, in the midst of social and environmental devastation caused by the armed conflict. Rather than focusing on the relevance of their activities for political activism and historical memory, an ecological perspective allows us to emphasise their work as a mundane, more than social process of communal regeneration. We discuss how women in these collectives, after painful and violent displacements, craft new ecologies of existence: relations and interdependencies within more than human worlds that cultivate new modes of care and attention, values and sensibilities in precarious living spaces. Ecological reparation is an everyday, vital, ongoing practice essential for community resurgence and for re-establishing collectivities that sustain liveable worlds

Community-acquired polymicrobial pneumonia in the intensive care unit: aetiology and prognosis

Introduction: The frequency and clinical significance of polymicrobial aetiology in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients admitted to the ICU have been poorly studied. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of severe CAP of polymicrobial aetiology in patients admitted to the ICU. Methods: The prospective observational study included 362 consecutive adult patients with CAP admitted to the ICU within 24 hours of presentation; 196 (54%) patients had an established aetiology. Results: Polymicrobial infection was present in 39 (11%) cases (20% of those with defined aetiology): 33 cases with two pathogens, and six cases with three pathogens. The most frequently identified pathogens in polymicrobial infections were Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 28, 72%), respiratory viruses (n = 15, 39%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 8, 21%). Chronic respiratory disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome criteria were independent predictors of polymicrobial aetiology. Inappropriate initial antimicrobial treatment was more frequent in the polymicrobial aetiology group compared with the monomicrobial aetiology group (39% vs. 10%, P < 0.001), and was an independent predictor of hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio = 10.79, 95% confidence interval = 3.97 to 29.30; P < 0.001). The trend for higher hospital mortality of the polymicrobial aetiology group compared with the monomicrobial aetiology group (n = 8, 21% versus n = 17, 11%), however, was not significantly different (P = 0.10). Conclusions: Polymicrobial pneumonia occurs frequently in patients admitted to the ICU. This is a risk factor for inappropriate initial antimicrobial treatment, which in turn independently predicts hospital mortality

Virtual human hand: wrist movements

Hand model with 25 Degrees of Freedom (DOF) was developed and implemented considering forward and inverse kinematics. However, the model, after some experience and use need to add new DOF. The proposed model is with 29 DOF, these new DOF serve to simulate the arc of the palm in the part of the wrist. Once we locate a new coordinates system in the end of the radius close to scaphoid we apply Denavit-Hartenberg for all the joints. Forward and inverse kinematics will be applied. Ligaments to apply restrictions in wrist movement are included. This affect to the fingertip position. New model of virtual human hand with more accuracy in presented and validated with a Cyberglove™ and Leap Motion.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

O pensamento disruptivo do cuidado

Cuidado, cuidando, cuidadora. Palavras carregadas, contestadas. Ainda assim, tão comuns na vida cotidiana, é como se o cuidado fosse natural, para além de alguma expertise ou conhecimento particular. A maioria de nós precisa do cuidado, sente o cuidado, é cuidada ou encontra o cuidado em uma ou outra forma. O cuidado é onipresente, inclusive através dos efeitos da sua ausência. Como um sentimento de falta que emana dos efeitos da negligência, ele passa dentro, através, por todas as coisas. Su..

Childhood publics in search of an audience: reflections on the children’s environmental movement

The essay reflects on the children's environmental movement from the perspective of cultural theory, as well as the authors' own and others’ research on children’s encounters, experiences and engagement in public life. The concepts of political knowingness, childhood publics, and listening publics are evoked to think through the surprise that the children's environmental movement generated in the public sphere. The idiom is positioned as an audience ‘hearing aid’ for turning babbling into political messages. In so doing we find that the messages from the children’s environmental movement are not out of place in the current humanities and social sciences literatures on the Anthropocene

Community-Acquired Pneumonia Due to Multidrug- and Non–Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not a frequent pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, in patients with severe CAP, P aeruginosa can be the etiology in 1.8% to 8.3% of patients, with a case-fatality rate of 50% to 100%. We describe the prevalence, clinical characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors associated with CAP resulting from multidrug-resistant (MDR) and non-MDR P aeruginosa. Methods: Prospective observational study of 2,023 consecutive adult patients with CAP with definitive etiology. Results: P aeruginosa was found in 77 (4%) of the 2,023 cases with microbial etiology. In 22 (32%) of the 68 cases of P aeruginosa with antibiogram data, the isolates were MDR. Inappropriate therapy was present in 49 (64%) cases of P aeruginosa CAP, including 17/22 (77%) cases of MDR P aeruginosa CAP. Male sex, chronic respiratory disease, C-reactive protein <12.35 mg/dL, and pneumonia severity index risk class IV to V were independently associated with P aeruginosa CAP. Prior antibiotic treatment was more frequent in MDR P aeruginosa CAP compared with non-MDR P aeruginosa (58% vs 29%, P = .029), and was the only risk factor associated with CAP resulting from MDR P aeruginosa. In the multivariate analysis, age ≥65 years, CAP resulting from P aeruginosa, chronic liver disease, neurologic disease, nursing home, criteria of ARDS, acute renal failure, ICU admission, and inappropriate empiric treatment were the factors associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions: P aeruginosa is an individual risk factor associated with mortality in CAP. The risk factors described can help clinicians to suspect P aeruginosa and MDR P aeruginosa