Learning from the Extreme Poor: Participatory Approaches to Fostering Child Health in Madagascar

Very poor people are often considered ignorant and even incapable of thinking, because they have had no opportunity to gain skill in expression through education. The experience of contempt and exclusion is deep among the poorest, whether they live in rich or poor countries, and it often prevents them from participating in social programs. This note provides a summary of a study on access to health care conducted by the International Movement ATD Fourth World in Madagascar, with the aim to outline the organization's approach to reaching the very poor and building projects in close partnership with them.Extreme Poverty, Health Care, Community Development, Madagascar

Brain Tumor Vascular Network Segmentation from Micro-Tomography

Micro-tomography produces high resolution images of bio- logical structures such as vascular networks. In this paper, we present a new approach for segmenting vascular network into pathological and normal regions from considering their micro-vessel 3D structure only. We define and use a condi- tional random field for segmenting the output of a watershed algorithm. The tumoral and normal classes are thus character- ized by their respective distribution of watershed region size interpreted as local vascular territories

Vascular network segmentation: an unsupervised approach

Micro-tomography produces high resolution images of biological structures such as vascular networks. In this paper, we present a new approach for segmenting vascular network into pathological and normal regions from considering their micro-vessel 3D structure only. We consider a partition of the volume obtained by a watershed algorithm based on the distance from the nearest vessel. Each territory is characterized by its volume and the local vascular density. The volume and density maps are first regularized by minimizing the total variation. Then, a new approach is proposed to segment the volume from the two previous restored images based on hypothesis testing. Results are presented on 3D micro-tomographic images of the brain micro-vascular network

Professors forming policy in the Nineties : the Pedagogy Course from Faculdade de Educação of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas

Orientador: Mara Regina Martins JacomeliDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de EducaçãoResumo: Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar as Políticas de Formação de Professores dos anos de 1990, tomando como expressão destas reformulações, o curso de Pedagogia da Faculdade de Educação da Universidade Estadual de Campinas. A partir da referência de estudos já realizados entre pesquisadores e movimentos de educadores envolvidos historicamente com ao curso de Pedagogia, nossas análises recorreram à uma retomada da trajetória histórica do curso de Pedagogia, perpassando o momento de sua criação, até a década de 1990, discutindo questões relacionadas à problemática da formação do pedagogo, identificando os fundamentos teórico-metodológicos da formação e as relações entre Educação, Política e as Políticas de Formação de Professores. Assim, recorremos à organização curricular e institucional e o perfil do Curso de Pedagogia da Faculdade de Educação da Universidade Estadual de Campinas, observando, a partir de posições distintas, um conjunto significativo de conflitos, com as políticas de formação de professores, e entre os grupos envolvidos nas reformulações desse Curso. Para tanto, utilizamos fontes primárias e secundárias que expressaram o debate interno do Curso na FE e a legislação educacional geral.Abstract: This research has the objective to analyze the Professors Forming Policy in the nineties, having as an icon of such reformulations the pedagogy course from Faculdade de Educação da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Educational State College of the State University of Campinas). From the reference of studies already performed among researchers and educationists' movement involved historically in the pedagogy course, our analysis retraced a retaking of the historical trajectory of the Pedagogy Course, going through the moment of its creation up to the nineties decade, discussing matters related to the problems of the pedagogues formation, identifying the theoricmethodologic fundaments of this formation and the relation among Education, Politics and the Professors Forming Policies. Therefore, we go back to the institutional and curricular organization and the profile of the Pedagogy Course from the Educational State College of the State University of Campinas, observing, from distinct positions, a group of significant conflicts, with the Professors Forming Policies and among other groups involved in this course's remodeling. For that we used primary and secondary sources that expressed the internal debate of the course in the State University and the general educational legislation.MestradoHistoria, Filosofia e EducaçãoMestre em Educaçã

Vasopeptidase-activated latent ligands of the histamine receptor-1

Whether peptidases present in vascular cells can activate prodrugs active on vascular cells has been tested with 2 potential latent ligands of the histamine H1 receptor (H1R). First, a peptide consisting of the antihistamine cetirizine (CTZ) condensed at the N-terminus of ε-aminocaproyl-bradykinin (εACA-BK) was evaluated for an antihistamine activity that could be revealed by degradation of the peptide part of the molecule. CTZ-εACA-BK had a submicromolar affinity for the BK B2 receptor (B2R; IC50 of 590 nM, [(3)H]BK binding competition), but a non-negligible affinity for the human H1 receptor (H1R; IC50 of 11 μM for [(3)H]pyrilamine binding). In the human isolated umbilical vein, a system where both endogenous B2R and H1R mediate strong contractions, CTZ-εACA-BK exerted mild antagonist effects on histamine-induced contraction that were not modified by omapatrilat or by a B2R antagonist that prevents endocytosis of the BK conjugate. Cells expressing recombinant ACE or B2R incubated with CTZ-εACA-BK did not release a competitor of [(3)H]pyrilamine binding to H1Rs. Thus, there is no evidence that CTZ-εACA-BK can release free cetirizine in biological environments. The second prodrug was a blocked agonist, L-alanyl-histamine, potentially activated by aminopeptidase N (APN). This compound did not compete for [(3)H]pyrilamine binding to H1Rs. The human umbilical vein contractility assay responded to L-alanyl-histamine (EC50 54.7 μM), but the APN inhibitor amastatin massively (17-fold) reduced its apparent potency. Amastatin did not influence the potency of histamine as a contractile agent. One of the 2 tested latent H1R ligands, L-alanyl-histamine, supported the feasibility of pro-drug activation by vascular ectopeptidase

The alkylation response protein AidB is localized at the new poles and constriction sites in Brucella abortus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Brucella abortus </it>is the etiological agent of a worldwide zoonosis called brucellosis. This alpha-proteobacterium is dividing asymmetrically, and PdhS, an essential histidine kinase, was reported to be an old pole marker.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We were interested to identify functions that could be recruited to bacterial poles. The <it>Brucella </it>ORFeome, a collection of cloned predicted coding sequences, was placed in fusion with yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) coding sequence and screened for polar localizations in <it>B. abortus</it>. We report that AidB-YFP was systematically localized to the new poles and at constrictions sites in <it>B. abortus</it>, either in culture or inside infected HeLa cells or RAW264.7 macrophages. AidB is an acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (ACAD) homolog, similar to <it>E. coli </it>AidB, an enzyme putatively involved in destroying alkylating agents. Accordingly, a <it>B. abortus aidB </it>mutant is more sensitive than the wild-type strain to the lethality induced by methanesulphonic acid ethyl ester (EMS). The exposure to EMS led to a very low frequency of constriction events, suggesting that cell cycle is blocked during alkylation damage. The localization of AidB-YFP at the new poles and at constriction sites seems to be specific for this ACAD homolog since two other ACAD homologs fused to YFP did not show specific localization. The overexpression of <it>aidB</it>, but not the two other ACAD coding sequences, leads to multiple morphological defects.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Data reported here suggest that AidB is a marker of new poles and constriction sites, that could be considered as sites of preparation of new poles in the sibling cells originating from cell division. The possible role of AidB in the generation or the function of new poles needs further investigation.</p

NF95-223 Supporting Stepfamilies: What Do The Children Feel?

This NebFact is part of a series about the special circumstances of stepfamilies

Valeurs foncières et spécificités géographiques des territoires insulaires touristiques

Cet article vise à caractériser les spécificités de l'organisation spatiale des territoires insulaires touristiques au moyen de la distribution statistique et géographique des valeurs du foncier agricole. Il est en effet postulé que le prix de la terre agricole est un bon indicateur des enjeux d'aménagement en cours. La problématique est explorée et discutée à partir du terrain Corse : le littoral insulaire, qui est soumis à une forte fréquentation touristique, est représentatif des disparités spatiales (littoral versus montagne, urbano-touristique versus rural) caractéristiques des îles. Une première typologie permet d'identifier les disparités littorales en appréhendant les caractéristiques communales liées aux usages résidentiels urbano-touristiques et agricoles, ainsi qu'aux aménités environnementales. Les indicateurs issus de cette première analyse servent alors de variables pour expliquer le prix du foncier agricole sur le littoral corse (modèle Logit). Les résultats permettent (1) de préciser la demande touristique et son impact sur le prix du foncier agricole, et (2) de géo-référencer les résultats afin de proposer un socle de réflexion pour l'élaboration d'un zonage stratégique dans le cadre du futur Plan d'Aménagement et de Développement Durable de la Corse.Foncier agricole, gouvernance, insularité, organisation spatiale, tourisme.

Pharmacological profile of a bifunctional ligand of the formyl peptide receptor1 fused to the myc epitope

In human peripheral blood neutrophils or in myeloid PLB-985 cells differentiated towards a neutrophil-like phenotype, the peptide N-formyl-L-norleucyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-norleucyl-L-tyrosyl-L-leucyl-fluorescein isothiocyanate (f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-FITC) binds to and activates formyl peptide receptor1 (FPR1) and is submitted to receptor-mediated endocytosis (microscopy, cytofluorometry). This peptide may be considered a C-terminally extended version of f-Met-Leu-Phe which carries a fluorescent cargo into cells. By analogy to other peptide hormones for which we have evaluated epitope-tagged agonists as carriers of antibody cargoes, we have designed and evaluated f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-myc, C-terminally extended with the 10-residue myc tag. This peptide is as potent as f-Met-Leu-Phe to compete for f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-FITC uptake by PLB-985 cells, but did not mediate (10–1000 nM) the internalization of the fluorescent anti-myc monoclonal antibody 4A6 added to the extracellular fluid at ~ 7 nM (microscopy). The nonfluorescent version of the antibody (28 nM) acts as a pre-receptor antagonist of f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-myc, but not of f-Met-Leu-Phe (superoxide release assay in differentiated PLB-985 cells). A further prolonged analog, f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-(Asn-Gly)5-myc, designed to decrease the possible steric hindrance between FPR1 and the bound anti-myc antibody, has little affinity for the receptor, precluding a direct assessment of this issue. Thus, the relatively low-affinity anti-myc antibody used at a high concentration functionally behaves as a selective pre-receptor antagonist of the agonist f-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-myc