Rural territorial development

In searching new solutions for combating rural poverty in Latin America, the authors discuss the challenges and conditioning factors facing modern rural development on the basis of critical analysis of traditional approaches and new on-going experiences in countries throughout and beyond the region. Proposals offered by international organizations working in rural development in Latin America are also examined in order to provide new theoretical inputs that may be useful for shaping Rural Territorial Development (RTD) with a greater level of consistency. Definitions of RTD as well as eight required criteria to help establish a road map for the design and implementation of RTD programs are presented in this document aiming at designing strategies and policies to reduce rural poverty. Bibliographic references are included for conducting further research and analysis

Desigualdad y la pobreza como desafíos para el desarrollo territorial rural

Resulta evidente, que las políticas implementadas durante las últimas 3 o 4 décadas para disminuir la pobreza rural, han sido poco efectivas, aún habiendo países que han logrado tasas importantes de crecimiento económico. Por eso cada vez se hace más fuerte la opinión de que resulta necesario comenzar a implementar nuevos planes, que sea completamente diferentes a los ya probados, para enfrentar la pobreza rural. El presente documento, presenta la información más reciente para las zonas rurales de América Latina sobre la evolución de la pobreza y de la desigualdad de la distribución del ingreso. Además se discuten algunos enfoques que pueden ser útiles para explicar la distribución espacial de la pobreza y de la desigualdad de la distribución del ingreso. Finalmente, se analizan tres posibles ámbitos de acción para las políticas y programas de desarrollo territorial rural, siempre desde el enfoque en pobreza y desigualdad

El Catatumbo: estrategia militar por encima de desarrollo rural. Estudio de caso: Víctor Ramón Navarro Serrano, alias Megateo

The Catatumbo region is linked to the history of military conflict and coca plant cultivation in Colombia. This reflection paper carries out a case study on the socio-economic influence of Víctor Ramón Navarro Serrano, alias Megateo, a commander of the Ejército Popular de Liberación, EPL, (Popular Liberation Army) in the region. His persecution and death were tied to a militaristic strategy, consistent with the distinguishing type of State’s presence, this demonstrates that the warlike approach has greater relevance than the territorial rural development. Governments’ actions have focused on major deployment of public force, by unknown the complex realities and basic needs of the population. Dynamics in Catatumbo region has been a barrier to develop territorial rural development policies, on account of this requires presence of state institutions which support the initiatives of local stakeholders. It can be observed that the militarization of the region has had as a result the stigmatization of actors and social organizations as well as ruptures between them and the State, which prevents the generation of real alternatives for replacement of coca cultivation.La región del Catatumbo está ligada a la historia del conflicto militar y el cultivo de coca en Colombia. El artículo de reflexión realiza un estudio de caso sobre la influencia socio-económica de Víctor Ramón Navarro Serrano, alias Megateo, mando del Ejército Popular de Liberación (EPL) en la región. Su persecución y muerte estuvieron atadas a una estrategia militarista, acorde con la presencia de tipo diferencial del Estado; esto demuestra que elenfoque bélico presenta mayor relevancia que el desarrollo rural territorial. Las acciones de los gobiernos se han centrado en un mayor despliegue de la fuerza pública y han desconocido las realidades complejas y las necesidades básicas de la población. Las dinámicas del Catatumbo han sido una barrera para desarrollar políticas de desarrollo rural territorial, debido a que estas requieren presencia de las instituciones estatales que apoyen las iniciativas de los actores sociales locales. Se puede observar que la militarización de la región ha tenido como consecuencia la estigmatización de actores y organizaciones sociales, así como rupturas entreestos y el Estado, lo que impide la generación de alternativas reales para la sustitución del cultivo de la coca

Crystallization-Driven Supramolecular Gelation of Poly(vinyl alcohol) by a Small Catechol Derivative

Catechol-containing molecules have been recognized as versatile building blocks for polymer structures with tailor-made functional properties. While catechol chemistry via metal-ligand coordination, boronate complexation, and oxidation-driven covalent bonds has been well examined in the past, the hydrogen bonding ability of these intriguing molecules has been dismissed. In this research, we investigated the gelation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) triggered by the crystallization of a 3,4-dihydroxy-catechol in water. Strong hydrogen bond interactions between PVA and catechol groups afforded supramolecular hydrogels with near-covalent elastic moduli, yet dynamic, exhibiting reversible gel-to-sol phase transitions around 50-60 °C. We studied the impact of the catechol derivative concentration on the gelation kinetics and physicochemical properties of these dynamic materials. Isothermal experiments revealed that heterogeneous crystallization governs the gelation kinetics. Moreover, because of the quasi-permanent cross-links within the supramolecular polymer network, these hydrogels benefit from ultrastretchability (∼600%) and high toughness (900 kJ·m-3). Our gelation approach is expected to expand the toolbox of catechol chemistry, opening up new avenues in designing dynamic soft materials with facile control over the phase transition, mechanics, and viscoelastic properties.Fil: Bonafe Allende, Juan Cruz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos y Química Aplicada. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos y Química Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Schmarsow, Ruth Noemí. Universidad del País Vasco; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Matxinandiarena, Eider. Universidad del País Vasco; EspañaFil: García Schejtman, Sergio David. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Coronado, Eduardo A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Alvarezigarzabal, Cecilia I.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos y Química Aplicada. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos y Química Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Picchio, Matías Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentina. Universidad del País Vasco; EspañaFil: Müller, Alejandro J.. Universidad del País Vasco; Españ

Preclinical Optimization and Safety Studies of a New Lentiviral Gene Therapy for p47phox-Deficient Chronic Granulomatous Disease

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited blood disorder that renders patients susceptible to infections and inflammation. A recent clinical trial of lentiviral gene therapy for the most frequent form of CGD, X-linked, has demonstrated stable correction over time, with no adverse events related to the gene therapy procedure. We have recently developed a parallel lentiviral vector for p47-deficient CGD (p47phoxCGD), the second most common form of this disease. Using this vector, we have observed biochemical correction of CGD in a mouse model of the disease. In preparation for clinical trial approval, we have performed standardised pre-clinical studies following Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) principles, to assess the safety of the gene therapy procedure. We report no evidence of adverse events, including mutagenesis and tumourigenesis, in human haematopoietic stem cells transduced with the lentiviral vector. Biodistribution studies of transduced human CD34+ cells indicate that the homing properties or engraftment ability of the stem cells is not negatively affected. CD34+ cells derived from a p47phoxCGD patient were subjected to an optimised transduction protocol and transplanted into immunocompromised mice. After the procedure, patient-derived neutrophils resumed NADPH oxidase production in vivo, suggesting that gene correction was successful. These studies pave the way to a first-in-man clinical trial of lentiviral gene therapy for the treatment of p47phoxCGD

EROS is a selective chaperone regulating the phagocyte NADPH oxidase and purinergic signalling

EROS (essential for reactive oxygen species) protein is indispensable for expression of gp91phox, the catalytic core of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase. EROS deficiency in humans is a novel cause of the severe immunodeficiency, chronic granulomatous disease, but its mechanism of action was unknown until now. We elucidate the role of EROS, showing it acts at the earliest stages of gp91phox maturation. It binds the immature 58 kDa gp91phox directly, preventing gp91phox degradation and allowing glycosylation via the oligosaccharyltransferase machinery and the incorporation of the heme prosthetic groups essential for catalysis. EROS also regulates the purine receptors P2X7 and P2X1 through direct interactions, and P2X7 is almost absent in EROS-deficient mouse and human primary cells. Accordingly, lack of murine EROS results in markedly abnormal P2X7 signalling, inflammasome activation, and T cell responses. The loss of both ROS and P2X7 signalling leads to resistance to influenza infection in mice. Our work identifies EROS as a highly selective chaperone for key proteins in innate and adaptive immunity and a rheostat for immunity to infection. It has profound implications for our understanding of immune physiology, ROS dysregulation, and possibly gene therapy.</jats:p

An agriculture and health inter-sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the Andes

Authors are also recipients of the Teasdale-Corti grant (103460-068)Work with multiple actors is needed to shift agriculture away from pesticide use, and towards greater sustainability and human health, particularly for vulnerable smallholder farmers. This research in potato and vegetable farming communities in the Andean highlands worked with partners from various sectors over several projects. Increased involvement in organic agriculture was associated with greater household food security and food sovereignty. More diversified, moderately developed agricultural systems had lower pesticide use and better child nutrition. The Ecuadorian Ministry of Health has rolled out pesticide poisoning surveillance modeled on this research