Gender and Land Release: The Responsibility of the Mine-action Community

In many countries, men are considered the sole landowners, leaving women with few property rights. Yet women are disproportionately affected when men are killed or injured by landmines, as they can be left with few resources after such tragedies

Biodeterioration of cementeous matrix by fungi // Biodeterioration d'une matrice cimentaire par les champignons

International audienceBiodeterioration mechanisms are complex and not yet absolutely understood. To control and to act efficiently against deterioration by fungi, it is necessary to have a better understanding of those mechanisms. The aim of this paper is to present different stages taken into account for the setting up of a laboratory accelerated test of biodeterioration of cementeous matrix by fungi. Indeed in natural environment, biodeterioration takes place after several years. Incubation tests performed on non weathered and weathered specimens underline the importance of pH surface on fungi development. Best solution for the moment appears to be carbonation and leaching of specimens for matrix weathering and inoculation with spores suspension of specimen covered by a thin agar-agar film. Les mécanismes de la biodeterioration sont complexes et pas encore totalement compris. Afin de contrôler et d'agir efficacement contre la biodétérioration par les champignons, il est nécessaire d'avoir une meilleure compréhension de ces mécanismes. Le but de cet article est de présenter les différents étapes intervenant dans la mise au point d'un test accéléré de laboratoire sur la biodétérioration d'une matrice cimentaire par les champignons. En effet, en environnement naturel, la biodétérioration s'établie après plusieurs années. Les tests d'incubations réalisés sur des éprouvettes non vieillies et vieillies soulignent l'importance du pH de surface sur le développement fongique. Actuellement la meilleure solution semble être pour le vieillissement de la matrice : la carbonatation et lixiviation des éprouvettes, et l'inoculation par une suspension de spore d'éprouvettes recouvertes d'un fin film de gélose

Policies Affecting New York City's Low-Income Families

Since the mid-1990s, policy and program changes at federal, state, and local levels have had a profound impact on the well-being of low-income families in New York City. In 2000, at the request of the New York Community Trust, the National Center for Children in Poverty—a research center affiliated with the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University—undertook a review of these changes and their implementation in New York City. This report describes some of the most important policy and program changes affecting New York's low-income families, discusses a number of issues that have arisen in connection with those changes, and suggests several ways in which city, state, and federal governments might enhance the well-being of low-income families. In the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the challenges facing New York City's low-income families are even more urgent

Biodétérioration d'une matrice cimentaire par les champignons : influence du vieillissement accéléré sur le développement fongique // Biodeterioration of cementeous matrix by fungi: Influence of accelerated weathering on fungal development.

National audienceLes micro-organismes ont la capacité de se développer sur les matériaux de construction et sont susceptibles de dégrader les fonctions des matériaux, d'abréger leur durée de vie et d'en modifier l'aspect esthétique. La biodétérioration est associée aux mécanismes physique, chimique et esthétique. Elle est amplifiée par les facteurs environnementaux tels que la pollution atmosphérique ou les cycles gel-dégel, par exemple. Pour contrôler et lutter efficacement contre la biodétérioration des matériaux de construction, il est nécessaire d'avoir une meilleure compréhension de ces mécanismes. L'objectif de cette étude est de mettre au point un essai accéléré de laboratoire pour étudier la biodétérioration d'une pâte de ciment par deux souches de champignons "Alternaria alternata" et "Aspergillus niger". L'influence du mode de conservation et le vieillissement des éprouvettes sont étudiés : certains échantillons sont carbonatés afin de réduire le pH de la matrice. Les premiers résultats obtenus montrent que la carbonatation n'est pas suffisante pour permettre un développement fongique. En revanche, la carbonatation couplée à une lixiviation permet d'obtenir de meilleurs résultats. En parallèle, des essais sont réalisés afin d'optimiser l'étape d'inoculation des échantillons. // Micro-organisms can grow on building materials. They are liable to degrade materials properties: from an alteration of aesthetic aspect to a reduction of its service life. Biodeterioration is associated to chemical, physical and aesthetic mechanisms. Biodeterioration is enhanced by environmental factors such as air pollution or freeze/thaw cycles. To control and to act efficiently against biodeterioration of buildings materials it is necessary to have a better understanding of those mechanisms. The aim of this study is to set up an accelerated laboratory test in order to study biodeterioration of a cement paste by two fungal strains: "Alternaria alternata" et "Aspergillus niger" Influence of conservation and weathering of specimens is studied: some samples are carbonated in order to reduce matrix pH. First results show that carbonation isn't sufficient to trigger fungal development. Carbonation associated to leaching give better results. Tests are performed too, in order to optimize inoculation stage

Accelerated weathering of cementitious matrix for the development of an accelerated laboratory test of biodeterioration

International audienceCement based materials are porous, may contain organic adjuvants, and thus possesses an important primary bioreceptivity. To preserve constructions from fungal colonization and to act efficiently against fungal biodeterioration, it is necessary to have a better understanding of biodeterioration mechanisms and its effects on materials properties. An accelerated laboratory test which allows us to compare the growth of three fungal strains and the aesthetic biodeterioration of a cementitious matrix was developed. As the surface pH of the fresh cement specimen is too high to allow fungal growth (pH ~12), accelerating weathering of the matrix, consisting of the combination of carbonation and leaching, was performed to reduce the matrix alkalinity. XRD analyses and SEM observations pointed out that the matrix surface is progressively covered by a calcium carbonate layer as the weathering increases. Results point out that the microbial growth occurs on matrix with a surface composition more like a limestone than a cementitious one

The Combinatorial PP1-Binding Consensus Motif (R/K)x (0,1)V/IxFxx(R/K)x(R/K) Is a New Apoptotic Signature

BACKGROUND: Previous studies established that PP1 is a target for Bcl-2 proteins and an important regulator of apoptosis. The two distinct functional PP1 consensus docking motifs, R/Kx((0,1))V/IxF and FxxR/KxR/K, involved in PP1 binding and cell death were previously characterized in the BH1 and BH3 domains of some Bcl-2 proteins. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, we demonstrate that DPT-AIF(1), a peptide containing the AIF(562-571) sequence located in a c-terminal domain of AIF, is a new PP1 interacting and cell penetrating molecule. We also showed that DPT-AIF(1) provoked apoptosis in several human cell lines. Furthermore, DPT-APAF(1) a bi-partite cell penetrating peptide containing APAF-1(122-131), a non penetrating sequence from APAF-1 protein, linked to our previously described DPT-sh1 peptide shuttle, is also a PP1-interacting death molecule. Both AIF(562-571) and APAF-1(122-131) sequences contain a common R/Kx((0,1))V/IxFxxR/KxR/K motif, shared by several proteins involved in control of cell survival pathways. This motif combines the two distinct PP1c consensus docking motifs initially identified in some Bcl-2 proteins. Interestingly DPT-AIF(2) and DPT-APAF(2) that carry a F to A mutation within this combinatorial motif, no longer exhibited any PP1c binding or apoptotic effects. Moreover the F to A mutation in DPT-AIF(2) also suppressed cell penetration. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the combinatorial PP1c docking motif R/Kx((0,1))V/IxFxxR/KxR/K, deduced from AIF(562-571) and APAF-1(122-131) sequences, is a new PP1c-dependent Apoptotic Signature. This motif is also a new tool for drug design that could be used to characterize potential anti-tumour molecules

Accelerated laboratory test to study fungal biodeterioration of cementitious matrix

International audienc

Harcèlement moral et sexuel. Stratégies d’adaptation et conséquences sur la santé des travailleurs et des travailleuses

Ces dernières années, une attention toute particulière a été portée au phénomène de la violence au travail, comme en témoignent les récents travaux sur le harcèlement moral. En Belgique, les résultats de l’enquête nationale « Violences au travail, harcèlement moral et sexuel, conséquences pour les travailleurs masculins et féminins », ont démontré que le harcèlement moral et sexuel est un véritable phénomène de société, tant par son ampleur, que par ses effets dévastateurs sur la santé physique et mentale des travailleurs féminins et masculins. Le présent article résume les principales conséquences que les victimes ont subies dans leur vie quotidienne et les souffrances qu’elles ont eu à endurer. Il met particulièrement en avant les stratégies individuelles adoptées par les femmes et les hommes victimes de la violence au travail, et souligne l’importance de la compréhension du phénomène au regard d’une perspective de genre.Over the last few years, attention has been focused on the issue of workplace violence, as witnessed by the recently published work on moral harassment. In Belgium, the results of a national survey "Violence in the Workplace. Moral and Sexual Harassment : Consequences for Female and Male Workers" showed that moral and sexual harassment is a veritable societal problem, not only due to its extent, but also its devastating negative impact on the physical and mental health of male and female workers. The aim of this article is to summarize the main negative consequences and suffering endured by victims in their daily lives. The article also highlights the individual strategies adopted by female and male victims of violence in the workplace and underscores the importance of understanding the phenomenon from a gender standpoint.En estos últimos años, los trabajos sobre el acoso moral testimonian de la particular atención acordada al fenónemo de la violencia en el trabajo. En Bélgica, los resultados de la encuesta nacional « Violencias en el trabajo, acoso moral y sexual, consecuencias para los trabajadores masculinos y femininos », mostraron que el acoso moral y sexual es un verdadero fenómeno de sociedad, tanto por su amplitud como por sus efectos devastadores sobre la salud de los trabajadores masculinos y femininos. El presente artículo resume las principales consecuencias negativas sobre la vida cotidiana de las víctimas y los sufrimientos que tuvieron que soportar. Pone una atención particular sobre las estrategias individuales adoptadas por las víctimas de la violencia en el trabajo y subraya la importancia de la comprensión del fenómeno en el contexto de una perspectiva de género

IL-6 Deficiency Attenuates Murine Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND:The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a common cause of liver disease, is still poorly understood. This study aimed at assessing the involvement of a major inflammatory cytokine, IL-6, in NASH. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Steatohepatitis was induced by feeding wild-type or IL-6(-/-) mice for 5 weeks with a methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diet. RESULTS:Whereas MCD diet-induced weight loss and decreases in serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels were similar in both genotypes, serum alanine aminotransferase was less elevated in IL-6(-/-) mice than in wild-type animals. Despite having a comparable liver steatosis score, IL-6-deficient mice exhibited less lobular inflammation than their wild-type littermates. Liver gene expression of TGF-beta and MCP-1 was also strongly attenuated in mutant mice; a more modest reduction was observed for PPAR-gamma and F4/80 transcripts as well as proteins. Chromatographic analysis of liver lipids demonstrated that MCD diet induced in normal and mutant mice a similar decrease in the ratio of phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylethanolamine. However, the diet-induced increase in the levels of sphingomyelin and ceramide was less important in IL-6(-/-) mice. CONCLUSION:Altogether, these results indicate that IL-6 deficiency does not block the development of NASH; yet, IL-6 plays a critical role in the accompanying liver inflammation