Plague Desires: A Re-Reading of HIV/AIDS Politics in Contemporary Gay Pornography

This project will study the methods by which contemporary gay pornography has confronted and attempted to radically reconfigure the narratives, politics, and erotics of AIDS/HIV. Focusing especially on the film Viral Loads by Treasure Island Media and the controversy that surrounded its release, characterized by articles on the film from VICE and Salon, this project will argue for the ability of the film to produce a re-reading of major stigma against viral bodies and the condition of sickness within eroticism through the form of pornography and erotic spectatorship. This project will argue that the hyper-exposition of the viral gay male body in sexuality offers a healing mechanism against the fear, marginalization, and pathologization that come with stigma towards AIDS/HIV

Hybrid Quantum System of a Nanofiber Mode Coupled to Two Chains of Optically Trapped Atoms

A tapered optical nanofiber simultaneously used to trap and optically interface of cold atoms through evanescent fields constitutes a new and well controllable hybrid quantum system. The atoms are trapped in two parallel 1D optical lattices generated by suitable far blue and red detuned evanescent field modes very close to opposite sides of the nanofiber surface. Collective electronic excitations (excitons) of each of the optical lattices are resonantly coupled to the second lattice forming symmetric and antisymmetric common excitons. In contrast to the inverse cube dependence of the individual atomic dipole-dipole interaction, we analytically find an exponentially decaying coupling strength with distance between the lattices. The resulting symmetric (bright) excitons strongly interact with the resonant nanofiber photons to form fiber polaritons, which can be observed through linear optical spectra. For large enough wave vectors the polariton decay rate to free space is strongly reduced, which should render this system ideal for the realization of long range quantum communication between atomic ensembles.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure

Silver coordination compounds with antimicrobial properties

Silver and its compounds have long been known to possess antimicrobial properties. We report here on our observations in this field of research, namely on silver coordination compounds, and in particular polymers, which can be used in the medical field. An overview of the structural diversity of coordination compounds with a particular class of organic ligands is given, together with their properties, with a special focus on antimicrobial activity, solubility and light stability

Plasmodium falciparum Infection Status among Children with Schistosoma in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

A clear understanding of the epidemiology of malaria during Schistosoma co-infection is essential to inform decisions on appropriate control strategies for schistosomiasis and malaria in SSA. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we synthesized evidence on the nature of relationship of S. haematobium and S. mansoni infection with the prevalence/incidence of P. falciparum infection, density of the parasite and related reduction in haemoglobin level among children in SSA. We searched all published articles available in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library and CINAHL databases before May 20, 2015 without any language restriction. We found five cross-sectional and seven prospective cohort studies eligible to be included in the systematic review, and 11 of these studies were included in the meta-analysis. A summarized analysis of the study findings showed that S. haematobium and S. mansoni infection is associated with an increased odds of asymptomatic/uncomplicated P. falciparum infection. However, density of P. falciparum infection decreased and haemoglobin level increased during S. haematobium co-infection

Effect of ABO Blood Group on Asymptomatic, Uncomplicated and Placental Plasmodium Falciparum Infection: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: Malaria clinical outcomes vary by erythrocyte characteristics, including ABO blood group, but the effect of ABO blood group on asymptomatic, uncomplicated and placental Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) infection remains unclear. We explored effects of ABO blood group on asymptomatic, uncomplicated and placental falciparum infection in the published literature. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. Articles in Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and Cochrane Library published before February 04, 2017 were searched without restriction. Studies were included if they reported P. falciparum infection incidence or prevalence, stratified by ABO blood group. RESULTS: Of 1923 articles obtained from the five databases (Embase = 728, PubMed = 620, Web of Science = 549, CINAHL = 14, Cochrane Library = 12), 42 met criteria for systematic review and 37 for meta-analysis. Most studies (n = 30) were cross-sectional, seven were prospective cohort, and five were case-control studies. Meta-analysis showed similar odds of uncomplicated P. falciparum infection among individuals with blood group A (summary odds ratio [OR] 0.96, 15 studies), B (OR 0.89, 15 studies), AB (OR 0.85, 10 studies) and non-O (OR 0.95, 17 studies) as compared to those with blood group O. Meta-analysis of four cohort studies also showed similar risk of uncomplicated P. falciparum infection among individuals with blood group non-O and those with blood group O (summary relative risk [RR] 1.03). Meta-analysis of six studies showed similar odds of asymptomatic P. falciparum infection among individuals with blood group A (OR 1.05), B (OR 1.03), AB (OR 1.23), and non-O (OR 1.07) when compared to those with blood group O. However, odds of active placental P. falciparum infection was significantly lower in primiparous women with non-O blood groups (OR 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23 - 0.69, I CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that ABO blood group may not affect susceptibility to asymptomatic and/or uncomplicated P. falciparum infection. However, blood group O primiparous women appear to be more susceptible to active placental P. falciparum infection

Optical Properties of Collective Excitations for Finite Chains of Trapped Atoms

Resonant dipole-dipole interaction modifies the energy and decay rate of electronic excitations for finite one dimensional chains of ultracold atoms in an optical lattice. We show that collective excited states of the atomic chain can be divided into dark and bright modes, where a superradiant mode with an enhanced collective effective dipole dominates the optical scattering. Studying the generic case of two chain segments of different length and position exhibits an interaction blockade and spatially structured light emission. Ultimately, an extended system of several interfering segments models a long chain with randomly distributed defects of vacant sites. The corresponding emission pattern provides a sensitive tool to study structural and dynamical properties of the system.Comment: 8 pages, 12 figure

El re-verso de las normalidades: transversalización de la perspectiva de género en la Facultad de Psicología UNR

Desde la asunción del gobierno de la Facultad de Psicología UNR en mayo de 2019, nos hemos propuesto llevar adelante diversas políticas públicas en torno a repensar las marcas heteronormativas que habitan en nuestra institución, en nuestra formación, en nuestras prácticas docentes. Llevamos adelante diversas políticas, desde la creación de la Secretaría de DDHH y Género, el uso de lenguaje inclusivo, el reconocimiento del género autopercibido en los registros institucionales sin tener que realizar el cambio registral en el DNI, baños sin género, los cursos de actualización de las prácticas docentes en perspectiva de género, el convenio con la UNGS para la transversalización de la perspectiva de género en los programas de las currículas de grado en las carreras de nuestra Facultad, los ejes centrales de los cursillos para ingresantes a la carrera, entre otras políticas públicas que más allá de sus particularidades en tanto ampliación de derechos, cobran sentido y relevancia en un eje central que implica repensarlo todo; tenemos la responsabilidad de formar futurxs trabajadorxs de la salud que serán quienes abordarán las demandas y necesidades de su comunidad, pero también es el presente: cómo abrir interrogantes, cómo transformar nuestras prácticas y discursos desde cada lugar que transitamos -como docentes, como estudiantes, cómo ciudadanxs que queremos, necesitamos, nos urge construir otra humanidad posible que no reproduzca pasivamente la segregación -muchas veces en nombre de la ciencia- que tanto malestar y sufrimiento conllevó y conlleva en nuestra historia y actualidad.Universidad Nacional de La Plat

National Tuberculosis Genotyping and Surveillance Network: Design and Methods

The National Tuberculosis Genotyping and Surveillance Network was established in 1996 to perform a 5-year, prospective study of the usefulness of genotyping Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates to tuberculosis control programs. Seven sentinel sites identified all new cases of tuberculosis, collected information on patients and contacts, and obtained patient isolates. Seven genotyping laboratories performed DNA fingerprinting analysis by the international standard IS6110 method. BioImage Whole Band Analyzer software was used to analyze patterns, and distinct patterns were assigned unique designations. Isolates with six or fewer bands on IS6110 patterns were also spoligotyped. Patient data and genotyping designations were entered in a relational database and merged with selected variables from the national surveillance database. In two related databases, we compiled the results of routine contact investigations and the results of investigations of the relationships of patients who had isolates with matching genotypes. We describe the methods used in the study

The Effect of Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 Receptor Agonists on Colonic Anastomotic Wound Healing

Background. Glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) is an intestinal specific trophic hormone, with therapeutic potential; the effects on intestinal healing are unknown. We used a rat model of colonic healing, under normoxic, and stress (hypoxic) conditions to examine the effect of GLP-2 on intestinal healing. Methods. Following colonic transection and reanastomosis, animals were randomized to one of six groups (n = 8/group): controls, native GLP-2, long-acting GLP-2 (GLP-2- MIMETIBODY, GLP-2-MMB), animals were housed under normoxic or hypoxic (11%  O2) conditions. Animals were studied five days post-operation for anastomotic strength and wound characteristics. Results. Anastomotic bursting pressure was unchanged by GLP-2 or GLP-2-MMB in normoxic or hypoxic animals; both treatments increased crypt cell proliferation. Wound IL-1β increased with GLP-2; IFNγ with GLP-2 and GLP-2-MMB. IL-10 and TGF-β were decreased; Type I collagen mRNA expression increased in hypoxic animals while Type III collagen was reduced with both GLP-2 agonists. GLP-2 MMB, but not native GLP-2 increased TIMP 1-3 mRNA levels in hypoxia. Conclusions. The effects on CCP, cytokines and wound healing were similar for both GLP-2 agonists under normoxic and hypoxic conditions; anastomotic strength was not affected. This suggests that GLP-2 (or agonists) could be safely used peri-operatively; direct studies will be required