Borna disease virus infects human neural progenitor cells and impairs neurogenesis.

Understanding the complex mechanisms by which infectious agents can disrupt behavior represents a major challenge. The Borna disease virus (BDV), a potential human pathogen, provides a unique model to study such mechanisms. Because BDV induces neurodegeneration in brain areas that are still undergoing maturation at the time of infection, we tested the hypothesis that BDV interferes with neurogenesis. We showed that human neural stem/progenitor cells are highly permissive to BDV, although infection does not alter their survival or undifferentiated phenotype. In contrast, upon the induction of differentiation, BDV is capable of severely impairing neurogenesis by interfering with the survival of newly generated neurons. Such impairment was specific to neurogenesis, since astrogliogenesis was unaltered. In conclusion, we demonstrate a new mechanism by which BDV might impair neural function and brain plasticity in infected individuals. These results may contribute to a better understanding of behavioral disorders associated with BDV infection

The impact of user fee removal policies on household out-of-pocket spending: evidence against the inverse equity hypothesis from a population based study in Burkina Faso. Eur J Health Econ. doi

Abstract Background User fee removal policies have been extensively evaluated in relation to their impact on access to care, but rarely, and mostly poorly, in relation to their impact on household out-of-pocket (OOP) spending. This paucity of evidence is surprising given that reduction in household economic burden is an explicit aim for such policies. Our study assessed the equity impact on household OOP spending for facility-based delivery of the user fee reduction policy implemented in Burkina Faso since 2007 (i.e. subsidised price set at 900 Communauté Financière Africaine francs (CFA) for all, but free for the poorest). Taking into account the challengeslinked to implementing exemption policies, we aimed to test the hypothesis that the user fee reductionpolicy had favoured the least poor more than the poor. Methods We used data from six consecutive rounds (2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011) of a household survey conducted in the Nouna Health District. Primary outcomes are the proportion of households being fully exempted (the poorest 20 % according to the policy) and the actual level of household OOP spending on facility-based delivery. The estimation of the effects relied on a Heckman selection model. This allowed us to estimate changes in OOP spending across socio-economic strata given changes in service utilisation produced by the policy

The impact of user fee removal policies on household out-of-pocket spending: evidence against the inverse equity hypothesis from a population based study in Burkina Faso. Eur J Health Econ. doi

Abstract Background User fee removal policies have been extensively evaluated in relation to their impact on access to care, but rarely, and mostly poorly, in relation to their impact on household out-of-pocket (OOP) spending. This paucity of evidence is surprising given that reduction in household economic burden is an explicit aim for such policies. Our study assessed the equity impact on household OOP spending for facility-based delivery of the user fee reduction policy implemented in Burkina Faso since 2007 (i.e. subsidised price set at 900 Communauté Financière Africaine francs (CFA) for all, but free for the poorest). Taking into account the challengeslinked to implementing exemption policies, we aimed to test the hypothesis that the user fee reductionpolicy had favoured the least poor more than the poor. Methods We used data from six consecutive rounds (2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011) of a household survey conducted in the Nouna Health District. Primary outcomes are the proportion of households being fully exempted (the poorest 20 % according to the policy) and the actual level of household OOP spending on facility-based delivery. The estimation of the effects relied on a Heckman selection model. This allowed us to estimate changes in OOP spending across socio-economic strata given changes in service utilisation produced by the policy

Usos da “Luz” e da “cracolândia”: etnografia de práticas espaciais

Introdução: ão há quem, no Brasil, não tenho ouvido falar da “cracolândia” paulistana. Ela é fonte inesgotável de notícias, de histórias e de pânico. A mais famosa territorialidade de uso de crack do país é considerada lugar que se deve evitar, lugar de perigo, lugar degradado. Também de degredo. E, por isso mesmo e em vários aspectos, lugar de grande atração. Pensar sobre ela exige criatividade e rigor. Objetivos: Numa direção contrária às visões alarmistas, esta territorialidade será descrita a partir da sua relação com o entorno, notadamente o bairro da Luz, afastando-se de abordagens que tomam tais espaços como fronteiras impenetráveis, isoladas fisicamente e, pior, moralmente. Procedimentos Metodológicos: Serão destacadas etnograficamente a grande quantidade de pessoas que por ali circula, bem como os distintos usos e práticas espaciais observados. Resultados: com esta etnografia, pretende-se conferir visibilidade às disputas, interações e conexões que fazem uma cidade e contribuir para uma visão acurada desta territorialidade

dispersal and reception in northern italy comparing systems along the brenner route

In the last decades, policy restrictions and practices at national and local levels have curtailed the rights of seekers and holders of international protection, thus impacting on their lives and on the territories they transit through. This is particularly evident in border contexts. Various border areas have gradually transformed into internal hotspots, with increasing border enforcement. This includes Brenner, situated at the border between Italy and Austria. In the wider Brenner route area, particularly in the nearby Italian cities of Verona, Trento and Bolzano, "spaces of transit" have emerged and both public and humanitarian actors have been "forced" to deal with it. This chapter draws upon the work of the multilevel governance of migration (Caponio and Borkert 2010), and on the proliferation of borders (Mezzadra and Neilson 2016), to present a comparative analysis of the reception scenario in these three cities. By building on qualitative data analysis (legal analysis of policy documents, content analysis of interviews and newspaper articles), it discusses to what extent and how the respective local systems of reception have managed to cater for migrants that transit through them. Similarities and differences are pointed out, as well as the relevance of factors such as geographical proximity in influencing the respective approaches