Introducing Elshtain, Enloe and Tickner: Looking at key feminist efforts before journeying on

En este artículo Christine Sylvester hace un recorrido por la obra de tres de las fundadoras de la teoría feminista de Relaciones Internacionales, reconociéndolas como una presencia continua en su propio viaje en la teoría feminista: Jean Bethke Elshtain, Cyntia Enloe y Ann Tickner. A través de la narración de las odiseas hacia el feminismo de cada una de ellas, Sylvester recuerda los contextos en los cuales las Relaciones Internacionales feministas/ el feminismo de las Relaciones Internacionales surgieron y echaron raíces, presentando además los escritos más importantes de la primera ola feminista acerca de las Relaciones Internacionales. Sin embargo, no hay un ensalzamiento vano de las anteriores autoras, sino que Sylvester muestra sus miopías y los desafíos para las posteriores académicas feministas. Y a pesar de estas lagunas u olvidos, deben reconocerse como actos heroicos las vías por las que Elshtain, Enloe y Tickner han introducido diferentes elementos y desafíos respecto a la comprensión tradicional de la disciplina, ubicando y visibilizando, mediante metodologías alejadas del racionalismo cientifista imperante en ese momento, a mujeres, hombres y al género en las relaciones internacionalesThroughout this article, Christine Sylvester makes a journey along the work of three of the founders of the feminist theory of International Relations, acknowledging them as a constant presence in her own trajectory through feminist theory: Jean Bethke Elshtain, Cyntia Enloe and Ann Tickner. Throughout the narration of the odysseys toward the feminism of each of them, Sylvester recall the contexts in which feminist International Relations/feminism in International Relations emerged and took roots, introducing at the same time some of the most important works from the first feminist wave in International Relations. However, we don’t have here a vane glorification of the aforementioned scholars, but to the contrary, Sylvester shows their myopias and the challenges for other feminists scholars following them. And still, in spite of their omissions, we must recognize as heroic acts the ways through which Elshtain, Enloe and Tickner have introduced and presented different elements and challenges to the traditional understandings of the discipline, citing, siting and sighting, by means of unusual methodologies away from the scientific rationalism predominant at that moment, women, men and gender in the international relation

Presentando a Elshtain, Enloe y Tickner: una mirada a los esfuerzos feministas más importantes antes de continuar el viaje

En este artículo Christine Sylvester hace un recorrido por la obra de tres de las fundadoras de la teoría feminista de Relaciones Internacionales, reconociéndolas como una presencia continua en su propio viaje en la teoría feminista: Jean Bethke Elshtain, Cyntia Enloe y Ann Tickner. A través de la narración de las odiseas hacia el feminismo de cada una de ellas, Sylvester recuerda los contextos en los cuales las Relaciones Internacionales feministas/el feminismo de las Relaciones Internacionales surgieron y echaron raíces, presentando además los escritos más importantes de la primera ola feminista acerca de las Relaciones Internacionales. Sin embargo, no hay un ensalzamiento vano de las anteriores autoras, sino que Sylvester muestra sus miopías y los desafíos para las posteriores académicas feministas. Y a pesar de estas lagunas u olvidos, deben reconocerse como actos heroicos las vías por las que  Elshtain, Enloe y Tickner han introducido diferentes elementos y desafíos respecto a la comprensión tradicional de la disciplina, ubicando y visibilizando, mediante metodologías alejadas del racionalismo cientifista imperante en ese momento, a mujeres, hombres y al género en las relaciones internacionales

Safety of cladribine tablets in the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis: An integrated analysis.

Abstract Background Treating patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) with cladribine tablets (two times 4 or 5 days of treatment each year for 2 years) results in long-lasting efficacy, with continued stability in many patients for 4 or more years. Safety and tolerability outcomes from individual clinical studies with cladribine tablets have been reported previously. Objective Report safety data from an integrated analysis of clinical trials and follow-up in patients with MS to further characterize the safety profile of cladribine tablets. Methods Data for patients treated with cladribine tablets 10 mg (MAVENCLAD®; 3.5 mg/kg cumulative dose over 2 years, referred to as cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg) as monotherapy (n = 923) or placebo (n = 641) in Phase III clinical trials (CLARITY, CLARITY Extension and ORACLE-MS) and followed up in the PREMIERE registry were aggregated (Monotherapy Oral cohort). To better characterize rare events, additional data from earlier studies which involved the use of parenteral cladribine in patients with MS, and the ONWARD study, in which patients were given cladribine tablets in addition to interferon (IFN)-β or placebo plus IFN-β were included in an All Exposed cohort (cladribine, n = 1926; placebo, n = 802). Adjusted adverse events incidences per 100 patient-years (Adj-AE per 100 PY) were calculated for the integrated analyses. Results The incidence rate of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in the Monotherapy Oral cohort was 103.29 vs. 94.26 Adj-AEs per 100 PY for placebo. TEAEs that occurred more frequently with cladribine tablets were mainly driven by the TEAEs of lymphopenia (Adj-AE per 100 PY 7.94 vs. 1.06 for placebo) and lymphocyte count decreased (Adj-AE per 100 PY 0.78 vs. 0.10 for placebo) as anticipated due to the mode of action of cladribine. An increase in TEAE incidence rate was also observed in the cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg group vs. placebo for herpes zoster (Adj-AE per 100 PY 0.83 vs. 0.20, respectively). There were no cases of systemic, serious disseminated herpes zoster attributed to treatment with cladribine tablets. In general there was no increase in the risk of infections including opportunistic infections with cladribine tablets versus placebo, except for herpes zoster. Periods of severe lymphopenia ( Conclusion The AE profile for cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg as a monotherapy has been well-characterized in a pooled population of patients from early to more advanced relapsing MS. There was no increased risk for infections in general except for a higher incidence of herpes zoster. Lymphopenia was amongst the most frequently observed TEAEs that occurred at a higher incidence with cladribine relative to placebo. There was also no increase in malignancy rates for cladribine relative to placebo

Bericht vom Fachgespräch zur Rolle von Schild- und Schmierläusen als Virusvektoren im Weinbau am Oberrhein – Management und Beratungsempfehlung

Am 07.04.2022 fand am Institut für Pflanzenschutz in Obst- und Weinbau in Siebeldingen ein Fachgespräch zur Rolle von Schild- und Schmierläusen als Virusvektoren im Weinbau am Oberrhein statt, in deme in Situationsbericht der Weinbaugebiete am Oberrhein sowie Management- und Beratungsempfehlungen erarbeitet warden sollten. Hierzu wir hier berichtet.On April 7, 2022, an expert meeting on the role of scale and mealybugs as virus vectors in viticulture in Siebeldingen in the Upper Rhine region was held at the Institute for Plant Protection in Fruit Crops and Viticulture. The aim of the meeting was to develop a situation report for the viticulture areas in the Upper Rhine region as well as management and advisory recommendations. We report on this here

Massive stars in the giant molecular cloud G23.3−0.3 and W41

Context. Young massive stars and stellar clusters continuously form in the Galactic disk, generating new Hii regions within their natal giant molecular clouds and subsequently enriching the interstellar medium via their winds and supernovae.Aims. Massive stars are among the brightest infrared stars in such regions; their identification permits the characterisation of the star formation history of the associated cloud as well as constraining the location of stellar aggregates and hence their occurrence as a function of global environment.Methods. We present a stellar spectroscopic survey in the direction of the giant molecular cloud G23.3−0.3. This complex is located at a distance of ~4–5 kpc, and consists of several Hii regions and supernova remnants.Results. We discovered 11 OfK+ stars, one candidate luminous blue variable, several OB stars, and candidate red supergiants. Stars with K-band extinction from ~1.3–1.9 mag appear to be associated with the GMC G23.3−0.3; O and B-types satisfying this criterion have spectrophotometric distances consistent with that of the giant molecular cloud. Combining near-IR spectroscopic and photometric data allowed us to characterize the multiple sites of star formation within it. The O-type stars have masses from ~25–45 M⊙, and ages of 5–8 Myr. Two new red supergiants were detected with interstellar extinction typical of the cloud; along with the two RSGs within the cluster GLIMPSE9, they trace an older burst with an age of 20–30 Myr. Massive stars were also detected in the core of three supernova remnants – W41, G22.7−0.2, and G22.7583−0.4917.Conclusions. A large population of massive stars appears associated with the GMC G23.3−0.3, with the properties inferred for them indicative of an extended history of stars formation

Antioxidant activity and antimicrobial properties of <i>Entada leptostachya</i> and <i>Prosopis juliflora</i> extracts

Background: Natural phytoconstituents produced by plants for their sustenance have been reported to reduce disease. Objectives: This study determined the phytoconstituents, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of crude methanolic extracts of Entada leptostachya and Prosopis juliflora extracts. Methodology: Antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and β-carotene assays; the total phenolic and flavonoid were estimated using Folin–Ciocalteau and aluminium chloride, whereas antimicrobial activity was determined using the zone of inhibition method. Results: Screening of the extracts revealed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins and phenols. Fourier transform infrared spectra of the extracts revealed presence of hydrogen bonded –OH functional group. E. leptostachya barks had the highest antioxidant activity followed by P. juliflora roots, E. leptostachya roots and P. juliflora leaves [μg/mL]. Prosopis juliflora (roots) had the highest bleaching effect, whereas E. leptostachya (barks) had the lowest bleaching effect. The total flavonoids were determined to be 0.15 ± 0.02 mg/g, 1.18 ± 0.18 mg/g, 0.39 ± 0.05 mg/g and 0.64 ± 0.03 mg/g for E. leptostachya roots, E. leptostachya barks, P. juliflora leaves and P. juliflora roots extracts, respectively. The total phenols were determined to be 0.93 ± 0.18 mg/g, 2.69 ± 0.41 mg/g, 0.62 ± 0.08 mg/g and 0.62 ± 0.08 mg/g for E. leptostachya roots, E. leptostachya barks, P. juliflora roots and P. juliflora leaves extracts. All plant extracts exhibited moderate activity against the growth of selected microorganisms. Conclusion: Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the two plants was as a result of secondary metabolites found in the crude extracts

Molecular Diagnostics for Lassa Fever at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria: Lessons Learnt from Two Years of Laboratory Operation

Background: Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa. However, none of the hospitals in the endemic areas of Nigeria has the capacity to perform Lassa virus diagnostics. Case identification and management solely relies on non-specific clinical criteria. The Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) in the central senatorial district of Edo State struggled with this challenge for many years. Methodology/Principal Findings A laboratory for molecular diagnosis of Lassa fever, complying with basic standards of diagnostic PCR facilities, was established at ISTH in 2008. During 2009 through 2010, samples of 1,650 suspected cases were processed, of which 198 (12%) tested positive by Lassa virus RT-PCR. No remarkable demographic differences were observed between PCR-positive and negative patients. The case fatality rate for Lassa fever was 31%. Nearly two thirds of confirmed cases attended the emergency departments of ISTH. The time window for therapeutic intervention was extremely short, as 50% of the fatal cases died within 2 days of hospitalization—often before ribavirin treatment could be commenced. Fatal Lassa fever cases were older (p = 0.005), had lower body temperature (p<0.0001), and had higher creatinine (p<0.0001) and blood urea levels (p<0.0001) than survivors. Lassa fever incidence in the hospital followed a seasonal pattern with a peak between November and March. Lassa virus sequences obtained from the patients originating from Edo State formed—within lineage II—a separate clade that could be further subdivided into three clusters. Conclusions/Significance: Lassa fever case management was improved at a tertiary health institution in Nigeria through establishment of a laboratory for routine diagnostics of Lassa virus. Data collected in two years of operation demonstrate that Lassa fever is a serious public health problem in Edo State and reveal new insights into the disease in hospitalized patients.Organismic and Evolutionary Biolog

The DACCIWA project: dynamics-aerosol-chemistry-cloud interactions in West Africa

Massive economic and population growth, and urbanization are expected to lead to a tripling of anthropogenic emissions in southern West Africa (SWA) between 2000 and 2030. However, the impacts of this on human health, ecosystems, food security, and the regional climate are largely unknown. An integrated assessment is challenging due to (a) a superposition of regional effects with global climate change, (b) a strong dependence on the variable West African monsoon, (c) incomplete scientific understanding of interactions between emissions, clouds, radiation, precipitation, and regional circulations, and (d) a lack of observations. This article provides an overview of the DACCIWA (Dynamics-Aerosol-Chemistry-Cloud Interactions in West Africa) project. DACCIWA will conduct extensive fieldwork in SWA to collect high-quality observations, spanning the entire process chain from surface-based natural and anthropogenic emissions to impacts on health, ecosystems, and climate. Combining the resulting benchmark dataset with a wide range of modeling activities will allow (a) assessment of relevant physical, chemical, and biological processes, (b) improvement of the monitoring of climate and atmospheric composition from space, and (c) development of the next generation of weather and climate models capable of representing coupled cloud-aerosol interactions. The latter will ultimately contribute to reduce uncertainties in climate predictions. DACCIWA collaborates closely with operational centers, international programs, policy-makers, and users to actively guide sustainable future planning for West Africa. It is hoped that some of DACCIWA’s scientific findings and technical developments will be applicable to other monsoon regions

Dual-Task Treadmill Training for the Prevention of Falls in Parkinson's Disease: Rationale and Study Design

Various factors, such as fear of falling, postural instability, and altered executive function, contribute to the high risk of falling in Parkinson's disease (PD). Dual-task training is an established method to reduce this risk. Motor-perceptual task combinations typically require a patient to walk while simultaneously engaging in a perceptual task. Motor-executive dual-tasking (DT) combines locomotion with executive function tasks. One augmented reality treadmill training (AR-TT) study revealed promising results of a perceptual dual-task training with a markedly reduced frequency of falls especially in patients with PD. We here propose to compare the effects of two types of concurrent tasks, perceptual and executive, on high-intensity TT). Patients will be trained with TT alone, in combination with an augmented reality perceptual DT (AR-TT) or with an executive DT (Random Number Generation; RNG-TT). The results are expected to inform research on therapeutic strategies for the training of balance in PD